Somerset cidermaker Thatchers has kicked off the earliest-ever harvest in its 120-year history.
The Somerset cidermaker has begun harvesting apples from its 550 acres of orchards a full 10 days ahead of schedule thanks to “this year’s long, hot summer”.
Extensive sunshine had “produced apples bursting with flavour, with rich sugars and tannins and promising outstanding quality”, said Thatchers.
The first apples to be harvested will be red katy apples. A signature variety for Thatchers known for their “crisp, sweet flavour”, they feature in Thatchers Juicy Apple and single-variety cider Thatchers Katy.
“We’re particularly excited about this year’s harvest,” said Thatchers’ fourth-generation cidermaker Martin Thatcher. “Thanks to the hot summer, the apples are packed full of flavour, rich with sugars and deep, full-bodied tannins.”
Richard Johnson, Thatchers’ head cidermaker, added: “We had an excellent spring, where the warm weather and bountiful blossom gave us good pollination, meaning the trees are laden with fruit. The apples are slightly smaller due to the lack of rain, but the flavours are intensified.
“I’m particularly excited to see our favourite bittersweet varieties like dabinett and Somerset redstreak, rich with the tannins that give our ciders the distinctive depth and character we’re known for.”
Turrnover at Thatchers grew 16.3% to £203.9m in the year to 31 August 2024, with the supplier stealing sales from cheaper rivals such as Strongbow to achieve its highest-ever market share of 17.2%.
Sales of the Thatchers brand in the off-trade, meanwhile, have grown by 7.1% to £198.8m [NIQ 52 we 19 April 2025].
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