Northern Irish cider maker eyes business with London restaurants

Long Meadow, the Northern Irish cider producer, is launching a smaller bottle size in response to approaches from restaurants in London.

The company, based on a family-owned orchard at Loughgall in county Armagh, Northern Ireland's apple county, is introducing a smaller 250ml bottle aimed at foodservice outlets initially in the London area, where it has developed sales mostly in off licences.

Long Meadow, formed in 2012 by apple grower Pat McKeever with son Peter, has doubled output of its bottle-conditioned ciders in the past year because of strong growth in sales in the UK, Ireland and France.

"We've now developed a good position with off licences in the London area and are keen to expand sales in this important market for us. A number of restaurants have asked us if we would consider supplying the cider, especially our medium and Blossom Burst products because they would be easier to handle than existing sizes. We've already launched a 250ml bottle for our popular cider vinegar and are introducing a similar bottle for the cider," says Pat McKeever.

"Business is going extremely well, and we've had to quadruple output to meet the growing demand for our cider that's made without concentrates, just natural apple juice," he adds.

The McKeever family has been growing apples for more than 50 years on the Armagh farm and had been encouraged to branch out by the feedback from cider enthusiasts across Northern Ireland. It was also the first to develop an oak-aged cider using Irish whiskey casks.

Mr McKeever says the cider project began four years ago and was a natural progression for the farm. "We had been growing apples for the processing and packaging markets and also supplying apples to a number of cider processing companies in the Republic of Ireland and thought it would be a great idea to start producing our own brand of cider.
"We carried out some essential market research into the production process and the market and were encouraged to move ahead with the project."

The family grows and harvests apples from a total of 120 acres, 30 of which are on the home farm. It uses local Armagh bramley and sweet apples.

Cider is now among the most dynamic and successful categories in Northern Ireland's burgeoning artisan food and drink sector. And it's a sector that's increasingly gaining endorsements from prestigious bodies such as the UK Guild of Fine Food in the annual Great Taste Awards in Britain. The Blas na hEireann, National Irish Food and Drink Awards, and the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards have also acclaimed Northern Irish cider for its premium quality and outstanding taste. In addition, Northern Irish cider has won recognition in international awards.