Wholesaler Matthew Clark has announced a new partnership with Orpens, an Irish premium craft cider. Matthew Clark saw an 11% increase of total cider volume last year, with premium/craft cider increasing by a massive 45%, and they are hoping to capitalise further with Orpens.
The brand is the brainchild of Chris Hill and Matt Tingall, both formerly involved in the wine trade, who hoped to craft a cider that featured the pedigree of a fine wine.
Kathryn Chabowska, cider buyer for Matthew Clark, says, ‘The cider market is in a really exciting place right now. It is reflecting the craft beer category with an explosion of ‘trendy/easy-drinking’ craft style brands which have wide appeal to a younger consumer. Craft cider consumers are on the rise and are driven by authenticity – they are looking for ‘real’ flavours and taste profiles. Orpens is a premium craft cider made from the fresh juice of real Irish apples, using absolutely no concentrate. It balances refreshing crispness with authentic richness and we see it being a big hit with this audience.’