Mac Ivors Cider wins business in Finland and Germany

Mac Ivors, the award winning Northern Irish artisan cider, has won its first business in continental Europe. The company, based in Armagh, Northern Ireland's orchard county, is now supplying its ciders to Finland and Germany.

The company sent its ciders to Helsinki-based Malty Oy, a distributor of speciality beers and ciders, following an approach after winning a silver medal in the prestigious International Brewing Awards 2013.

The business in Germany is with a contact in Hamburg that developed from a recent presentation to the Association of Irish Pubs in Germany.

Cider maker Greg MacNeice, commenting on the latest business for Mac Ivors, says: 'The contracts in Finland and Germany are immensely encouraging and are another stage in the development of our ciders in markets outside Northern Ireland. Both are footholds in significant markets. Malty Oy, in particular, has excellent contacts that should result in further business in Finland.

"The recognition from the International Brewing Awards is proving to be tremendously important to our business. It is an endorsement, the first gained by a Northern Irish producer, which has become an important marketing tool for us. As well as the business in Finland and Germany, we are now following up other business approaches. We are working on approaches, for instance, that could see our cider on sale in the US."

The artisan company's Traditional Dry Cider, launched in October, gained a silver award in the category, Cider 5.0% ABV and above in the International Brewing Awards in February.

Mr MacNeice developed both ciders from a variety of apples from his family's orchards in Armagh, home of the Armagh Bramley apple, which has gained European protected name status.

The ciders are on now sale in almost 300 premium outlets - bars, restaurants and off licences in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and through the Shilling Group of upmarket bars in Scotland.

Mac Ivors Medium Cider is a 4.5% ABV cider. Both Mac Ivors ciders are made from 100% fresh pressed apples and have been developed by Greg, an experienced cider maker, to provide a richly flavoured and aromatic alternative to drinkers of commercial beers and ciders.

The ciders are the outcome of market research in the UK, France and the US by Greg. The family has been growing apples for over 150 years in Armagh.