Brewery renews its partnership with cider-maker
ST Austell Brewery has signed a new 10-year deal with fellow West Country drinks brand Thatchers Cider.
As part of the agreement St Austell will stock Thatchers cider in its managed pubs, from the Isles of Scilly to Bath.
Thatchers would also continue to be a key drinks partner for publicans across the company’s 122-strong leased and tenanted estate, the Cornwall head quartered brewery said.
The two companies have been working in close partnership since 2002.
Kevin Georgel, chief executive of St Austell Brewery, said: “We’re delighted to be continuing our longstanding partnership with Thatchers by signing this new 10-year deal. It’s a fellow family-owned drinks company, which shares many of our values.
“Working collaboratively with other businesses in our region, and building strong long-term relationships, is something which has always been important to us. It’s fantastic to continue supporting one another by growing
Thatchers’ West Country distribution while bolstering our drinks portfolio and cider offer for pub guests and wholesale customers.”
Thatchers has been making cider on Myrtle Farm in Somerset since 1904. Martin Thatcher, the fourth generation of the family to be involved in the business, said: “Working in partnership with St Austell
Brewery just makes sense; we share our values, roots and commitment to giving customers a great experience.
“This 10-year deal, which may seem short in comparison to the combined 292 years of family expertise our companies have, is a testament to our shared commitment to collaboration and sustainability. We look forward to raising a glass in a St Austell pub to celebrate.”
St Austell Brewery was founded by Walter Hicks in 1851 and is still an independent, family-owned business.
It owns more than 160 pubs, inns and hotels across the West Country, including managed houses and leased and tenanted sites, and operates two breweries, in St Austell and Warmley, near Bath.