Cider makers fear future for orchards as costs grow

Rising alcohol duty, energy bills, packaging costs and other expenses are putting pressure on British cider makers, prompting fears that some larger producers may use fewer British-grown apples. Somerset producer Matilda Temperley says abandoning local orchards would be a serious loss, both for her business and for cider-making traditions.

Temperley says tax on her standard 50cl bottles will have risen by 61% by next February, and that her firm’s tax costs have increased by almost 90% since 2020. The government points to expanded Small Producer Relief and support for pubs, while producers describe mixed prospects: Showerings has grown from 80 to about 350 employees in ten years, and Tricky’s Cider says it intends to keep using local fruit. Analysts warn that some higher costs may reach pubs and consumers.