Vermont Hard Cider Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Bret Williams estimates that when he joined the Middlebury, Vt.-based company in 1996 as its first sales associate that the company shipped approximately 300,000 cases a year. In 2012, the company shipped 3 million cases of its Woodchuck Hard Cider brand, he says.
Angry Orchard Cider Co., a subsidiary of The Boston Beer Co., launched Angry Orchard Iceman and Strawman as part of a new line of artisanal specialty ciders called the Cider House Collection.
St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, expanded its Michelob Ultra brand with the launch of Michelob Ultra Light Cider.
Still cautious from the economic downturn, consumers created an uneven environment for beer once again in 2011. The year’s performance reflected a category of contradictions with trends torn between the ongoing price consciousness of some shoppers and the insatiable taste for variety — even if it carries a higher price — from other demographics.
Staying on top of what is new in the beverage industry can sometimes make you forget about its history. When watching the Ken Burns three-part PBS special “Prohibition,” I was surprised to learn that some of the founding fathers of the United States enjoyed fermented cider.
