Brewers press cider producer

C&C Group Plc, the maker of Magners cider, sold 33% less of the beverage in Britain in January compared with a year earlier as the company faced increased competition from brewers, analysts said.

The Irish company’s share of British cider sales in pubs and bars also fell to 16% in January, down from 24% in the same month last year, stockbroker Davy said yesterday in a research note, citing data from market researcher ACNielsen.