UK’s Thatchers to expand production capacity at Myrtle Farm site

UK-based company Thatchers Cider has announced plans to expand production capacity at its Myrtle Farm site.

The company intends to invest £14m in the expansion, which will see the installation of a new cider mill at the site. The move will allow Thatchers Cider to meet the growing demand for its cider products.

Thatchers Cider’s managing director Martin Thatcher was quoted by foodbev.com as saying: “This investment is about our confidence in the cider market and in the future of world-class cidermaking here at Myrtle Farm.

“Our aim has always been to produce fantastic ciders at Thatchers that are best in class on both quality and consistency.

“Our existing mill has served us well for many years, but we are now looking to increase our capacity to meet growing demand.”

To be located at Myrtle Farm, the new mill will use less energy and will be sustainably powered by energy generated on site.

Thatchers is said to have submitted a planning application to the concerned authorities for its new mill.

The sales volume of Thatchers Cider’s canned apple cider is said to have registered a significant increase. To meet the rising demand, the company claims that around £10m a year will be invested into its cider-making facilities at Myrtle Farm, ranging from the development of new orchards to bottling and canning lines.

The company has planted 150,000 new apple trees over the last five years.