HEREFORDSHIRE CIDER MAKER SET FOR GROWTH FOLLOWING SIX FIGURE FUNDING BOOST

An award-winning craft cider producer in Herefordshire is expanding its operations and launching a new visitor centre after securing a £300,000 funding package from the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation.

Leominster-based Newton Court Cider, which is part of organic working farm Newton Court Farm, is on track to complete the extension and refurbishment of its farm shop and a 95-seater café by August. The new facilities will sell the farm’s own cider, locally reared meat and other organic produce including seasonal vegetables, honey, milk and bread.

The expansion also includes construction of a 600-metre square visitor centre.

Around seven new jobs are expected to be created, including a chef and head cider maker, taking the farm’s total number of employees to 10 full and part-time staff.

The business, which also received funding through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development Project, expects its annual turnover to more than double following the investment.

Paul Stephens, Director and Partner at Newton Court Cider, said: “Our original farm shop was at capacity, so we’d have really struggled to grow without AMC’s investment and support.

“Our incredible new facilities will be open to the public before the end of the year and we hope people will join us to see where the farm’s apples are nurtured and harvested, before being transferred to the production facility where the apples are turned into cider.”

The deal with the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation was completed with support from agents Ashley Lilley and Arthur Witchell at Savills.

Worcestershire food gifting company secures £200K from Midlands Engine Investment Fund

A Worcestershire food gifting company has secured a £200,000 loan to support growth through increased marketing and product development, The loan will also help create eight new jobs.

Ross & Ross Gifts, based in Evesham, secured the finance from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, provided by the FSE Group, Debt Finance Fund and backed by the Recovery Loan Scheme.

Ross & Ross Gifts sells locally-sourced food as part of its homemade curing kits, food hampers, British roasts, British bar-b-que and vegetarian.

All products are developed in-house by the founder, Ross Bearman, and made by another local business. The vegetarian range has been created in response to the recent increase in consumers choosing a more plantbased diet.

Ross said: “Due to our existing set-up and the speed with which we can innovate new ideas, we are in a strong position to take advantage of new trends and tastes.

“We are delighted to secure this loan to put the impact of Covid-19 behind us, allowing us to drive our expansion strategy and add a new focus on personalisation and corporate gifting, both of which have huge potential to grow our sales.”

Personalisation is a growing market trend in the gifting industry, and the corporate gift market is worth £78 million in the UK. Ross & Ross will concentrate on expanding its success in this market through sales of luxury hampers.