Taunton Cider Company eyes new accounts following capital investment

18-Jul-2017 - Last updated on 19-Jul-2017 at 14:22 GMT

Reborn: TCC was relaunched in 2016 after being killed off by the C&C group

A century-old cider brand is aiming to expand into more pubs and bars after receiving investment from a capital lender.

Taunton Cider Company (TCC), which relaunched in 2016 after being killed off in the 1990s has received a confidential invoice discounting facility from Amicus Commercial Finance.

TCC aims to use the additional funds to pay for a new cider press and expand on its 400 accounts (around 350 of which are pubs).

Confidential invoice discounting facilities enable a business to receive capital against sales invoices before payment is received, freeing up additional cash that would otherwise not have been available.

'Flexibility to invest'

TCC sales consultant Jonathan Dunne said that the investment had given the company “the flexibility to invest and expand” both in terms of production and distribution.

“We’re now in 400 accounts, including 350 pubs from Cornwall to Kent,” he told The Morning Advertiser. “We wouldn’t have been able to do it anywhere near as quickly without the funding we’ve received from Amicus.

“We’re in the process of ordering a new cider press, and are hoping to make the bump up to 600/700 accounts in the near future.”

Despite the growth, TCC remains a relatively small cider brand, as Dunne points out. “When you put it into perspective, I think Thatcher’s probably spilt more cider last week than we sold!

“We're not taking over the world yet, just trying to make nice cider.”

Killed off

TCC was originally founded in 1912, and by the 1980s it was the second largest cider maker in the UK behind Bulmers. In 1994, it was acquired by drinks wholesalers Matthew Clark for £256m, before eventually becoming part of Cantrell & Cochrane (C&C) in 2011.

The brand was then effectively killed off in favour of focusing on Dry Blackthorn, but was revived by a small group of cider enthusiasts at a site just 10 miles from the original production facility.

TCC currently produces Taunton Cider Original and Taunton Cider Natural Dry (both 4% ABV), which are available in 50 litre kegs, 20 litre bags and 500ml bottles.

The cider can be bought directly from TCC or through https://www.tolchards.com.