The investment will see two new cider presses installed at the site, which will enable the cider maker to keep pace with demand following a record year for the producer.
Set to be installed in May, the presses will run entirely off renewable energy sources and will be 20% more efficient than the current on-site presses. Westons will be able to press about 30% more fruit in the coming harvest when compared to the 2022 season.
Giles Goodwin, production manager at Westons Cider, said: “Our world-renowned ciders are currently experiencing huge growth, with more than one bottle of our bestselling Henry Westons Vintage now sold every second in the UK. This investment will mean we can fulfil increasing demand while protecting the rural environment.”
Supporting Herefordshire
“Not only will we reduce our own on-site emissions, but we’ll be able to support more growers across Herefordshire and the neighbouring counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.
“What’s more, by expanding our capacity, we’ll be able to take more fruit from established orchards, helping to prevent trees being grubbed up and preserving nature throughout the region.”
This project is the latest in a line of investments made by Westons to help reduce its carbon output. Last year saw the business invest £3m in a new canning line to improve its recyclable packaging capabilities and reduce the need to transport cider elsewhere.
Sustainability investments
Westons also sends its pomace to a local anaerobic digestor where it’s converted into food-grade CO2 used to carbonate its ciders. The programme removes 10,000 road miles from within its supply chain.
Darryl Hinksman, head of business development at Westons Cider, added: “We are currently running feasibility studies on CO2 recovery from our fermentation tanks. If we succeed, we’ll be able to capture CO2, that would otherwise have been released into the atmosphere, and repurpose this to carbonate our ciders.”