Craft cider export boom in sight

18 May 2018

BATLOW, NSW

The Australian Craft Cider industry is coming of age according to the national cider industry body.

Members of Cider Australia deliberated the organisation’s evolving industry growth strategy at its Annual General Meeting yesterday in Batlow, NSW.

Sam Reid, co-owner of Tasmania’s Willie Smith’s Organic Apple Cider was returned for the fifth year as president of Cider Australia to work alongside a talented and dedicated executive team.

“The Australian Government’s $500,000 investment in the Australian Craft Cider industry under the Export and Regional Wine Support Package is bringing the industry together and helping us to define what makes us unique”, said Mr Reid.

Wine Australia representatives and brand strategist Guy Taylor, who has been engaged by Wine Australia and Cider Australia to build a brand proposition for Australian Craft Cider, spoke about the Package and the projects that will help competitively differentiate the sector in international markets.

“The brand proposition and go-to-market strategy being developed as part of this investment will help Craft Cider producers to enter export markets in a unified fashion, increasing exports and achieving better results”, noted Mr Reid.

Cider Australia is also developing an industry-sponsored ‘trust mark’ to enable consumers to identify ciders made with 100% Australian grown fruit, and an R&D agenda that engages researchers across Australia on projects that deliver long term sustainable growth in the Australian cider industry.

“With so much happening in cider the industry is growing up very fast, and we are more than ready for the challenge”, said Mr Reid.

Cider Australia’s 2018 Executive Committee

President – Sam Reid, Willie Smith’s Organic Cider (TAS)
Vice President – Warwick Billings, LOBO Cider (SA)
Vice President – Nyall Condon, Flying Brick Cider Co (VIC)
Treasurer – Shane McLaughlin, Hillbilly Cider (NSW)
Secretary – Gus Kelly, Kelly Brothers Cider Co (VIC)
Category Development – Ben Clifton, Beechworth Cider (VIC)
Digital – Mark Ellis (VIC)

For more details contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au