News / Thatchers
Cider maker marks highest ever turnover
A family-run cider maker has recorded its highest-ever turnover in its 100-year history.
Thatchers Cider, which celebrated its 120th anniversary last year, has revealed the figures in its latest Strategic Report for the year ending on August 31.
The largest cider maker in the country, Thatchers Cider, reported a turnover of £203m, the highest since the company was founded in 1904. This marks a 16.3 per cent increase from the previous year’s turnover of £175.3m.
However, operating profit only saw a modest rise of 3.4 per cent, reaching £15.6m (15.3m profit from the previous year).
Among the many offerings of Thatchers, Thatchers Gold and Thatchers Haze remain staples
The cider maker, based at Myrtle Farm, is currently run by the fourth-generation cider maker, Martin Thatcher. The fifth generation is also actively involved in the business, with the appointment of Eleanor Thatcher to the board of directors last summer.
In 2024, Thatchers also celebrated its largest apple harvest in years, from their 500-acre farm, which boasts 458 varieties of apples.
Martin Thatcher, fourth generation cider maker is at the helm of the family run company
In the annual report and financial statement, Thatchers said: “The cost-of-living crisis has continued to impact consumers, and an ongoing trend towards premiumisation has seen budget brands decline, while quality, trusted brands like Thatchers are growing in both value and volume, with Thatchers outperforming the category every quarter.
“This success has not fully insulated the company from the impact of the recent economic challenges.
“Like many companies, Thatchers has been affected by inflationary pressures, such as rising raw material costs, increasing wage bills, and additional taxes.
“This has led to significantly reduced margins; however, mindful of the cost-of-living crisis, Thatchers has worked hard to limit the impact on customers and, where possible, absorbed a significant portion of those costs.
“Additionally, the predicted increase in cider sales due to the ‘summer of sport’ was offset by poor weather conditions, with both on- and off-trade markets feeling the impact.
“Thatchers decided to simply remain focused on producing great-quality cider.”
Thatchers grow some 458 varieties of apples in their 500-acre orchard in Myrtle Farm
All photos: Thatchers
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