Home drinkers have boosted sales for Somerset craft cider producer Harry’s Cider Company..
The business lost around 70% of its trade sales overnight when the first lockdown forced the closure of pubs, bars and restaurants.
But a boost in consumer sales since the end of March has lifted overall figures back up to almost 75% of where they were before.
This has meant the business was able to go ahead with plans to recruit an apprentice cider maker.
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Founding cider maker Harry Fry said, “When the first lockdown came in, everything was turned upside down and we had no real idea of how long it would last. May to September is normally our busiest time of the year, yet the pubs and restaurants were all closed, and we couldn’t visit most of our customers, or attend the many shows and events we would normally take part in.
"It was a challenging time but we turned our attention to selling cider via our website instead, as well as supporting our retailers and food service distributors, and it’s gone surprisingly well, all things considered."
Harry’s partner Alison Chapman, who oversees finance and marketing at Harry’s Cider Company said consumer sales via the website increased threefold since March, and farm gate sales have more than doubled, with sparkling ciders and three litre traditional cider pouches proving particularly popular.
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Small retailers, farm shops, village shops and off licences have helped sales of bottled ciders almost pound for pound against last year.
And the business has now started supplying Morrisons supermarkets in Taunton, Glastonbury and Wincanton.
Alison said: “Now, as we find ourselves in this second national lockdown, we remain positive in our outlook. We continue to prioritise deliveries to our customers across the county, as well as maintaining our farm gate presence, all the while observing any social distancing measures that are in place.”
This year's harvest was completed at the end of October but it was a lower yield than usual this year.
Harry said: "This was possibly due to the extremely wet autumn last year. That said, the quality of the apples is excellent."