FDBusiness.com

Aston Manor Cider, the UK’s largest independent cider producer, has reported increased profitability, turnover and production volumes enabling very positive progress against its sustainability agenda in its latest financial results. Before exceptional costs, profits for 2018 increased by 1.4% (on an EBITDA basis) on a turnover up 5% to over £133 million.

With the ambition to be the ‘most capable, progressive and professional cider company’ the business has a range of challenging objectives to achieve this goal and deliver greater sustainability on three fronts. By being more financially sustainable the business continues to support significant employment and invests in the partnerships it has with customers, suppliers and others.

As a founding co-signatory of the UK Plastics Pact, the business was the first alcohol producer involved in this important initiative and has already delivered a major contribution by switching 51% of PET packaging to be from recycled content. Ongoing work will see this industry leading performance improved further.

Tackling the need to be socially sustainable and supporting the development of effective approaches to reduce alcohol misuse is an equally important objective for Aston Manor. The business is supporting the Alcohol Education Trust in their work with young adults to ensure they have an informed and responsible relationship with alcohol, whether they choose to drink or not.

Commenting on the progress being made, Gordon Johncox, chief executive of Aston Manor Cider, says: “In a market and a business environment that continues to be challenging, the clarity around our ambition to be a capable, progressive and professional business is being delivered by the commitment and great work of our people. Whilst we expect the future to offer up further challenges to contend with, continuing to invest in our capability and being determined in our focus on what is important to us should mean we are well-placed to build on the progress we are making.”

The business invested £3.4 million in 2018 to improve production capability and deliver on sustainability objectives. A further £3.5 million is earmarked for 2019 to drive further improvement.

The strategy of investing to increase capability and capacity has been a feature of Aston Manor for a number of years. Between 2013 and 2018 over £30 million was invested across the sites in Aston (Birmingham), Stourport-on-Severn, Tiverton and Witton (Birmingham). Having been acquired by Agrial, the French farming, food and beverage co-operative, in August 2018, that strategic approach continues.