[vc_row][vc_column][vc_images_carousel images=”40040,40041″ img_size=”full” autoplay=”yes” hide_pagination_control=”yes” wrap=”yes”][vc_column_text]An award-winning Cornish drinks producer is expanding to increase production capacity at its farm by more than 25% this year after significant growth in sales of its flagship cider.
Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm has seen a strong national performance of its established brand Rattler after the drink was listed for sale in some of the UK’s leading supermarkets, including Morrisons, which recently announced it is now selling the popular Cornish cider at stores across the country.
The business is now on a significant recruitment drive to bring in the range of highly-skilled staff that it needs to ensure that the business can sustain its growth projections into 2017 and beyond.
The company’s farm also experienced a strong summer season as the family visitor attraction near Newquay opened a new restaurant, expanded its range of cider tours, and welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on a Royal visit.
Commercial director, Joe Healey, said: “The growth in Rattler sales has been phenomenal over the past 12 months. The demand is there across the UK and brands like Morrisons are rolling out distribution because of its popularity.
“Coupled with substantial growth across the business, this success means we are expanding rapidly at our base near Newquay, and we are looking for the right people to help us continue our success. It’s a very exciting time for Cornish producers, and ‘brand Cornwall’ has never been stronger.”
Healeys recently signed a deal with retailer Marks & Spencer to create a new cloudy Cornish Farmhouse Cyder. The 6% ABV cider is being sold in 468 M&S stores around the UK.
After planting its first orchards in 1986, Healeys now grows nine different varieties of apples on site. Blending sweet, bittersweet and bittersharp varieties, they create their own uniquely tasting cider.
Joe added: “We have a very short window to harvest and press the apples, so during October the farm is a 24-hour operation to make sure we gather as much juice as we can from the fruit. These apples will be used to produce our award-winning range of ciders and fruit juices on sale for the coming year, so it is very important to process as much as possible while the time is right.”
It takes around two days to press enough juice to fill a 50,000-litre tank at Healeys. When a tank is full, yeast and nutrients are added to boost fermentation before a team of master cider makers transform the matured alcohol into the award-winning Healeys range of drinks.
Healeys runs regular tours of its bottling plant and orchard, as well as operating the recently expanded visitor centre where visitorscan learn more about how the popular drinks are made.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
