Sales of top-tier premium ciders were worth £75m in the UK’s off-trade market in June as people opt for artisan ciders, this is an increase of £10m from the same period the previous year.
The average price of premium cider has increased 5% year-on-year.
Sales of ‘mainstream’ premium cider sales also grew to £400m in the last year, up £43m from the previous year.
Chair of the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM), Paul Bartlett said: “It is quite an achievement for the sector when you consider that we have just come through a period of economic difficulty. It proves that, even when times are tough, cider drinkers are prepared to pay more for a high quality product that they really enjoy. “
Tesco, winner of Cider Retailer of the Year at the Drinks Retailing Awards, has grown the number of lines of cider it stock by 60% since 2001 and tripled the number of premium products it sells.
Olivia Christou, cider buyer at Tesco, said: “The popularity of ‘craft’ products hasn’t been limited to the beer category either. We are seeing more interest from customers in the heritage of the brands they are buying and the care and expertise that is put into the production of the cider.
“Craft cider has its own destination in the cider fixture, further highlighting the rising popularity and growth of this style of cider.”
