Heineken eating into C&C cider sales

Heineken saw strong growth in its cider sales in Ireland during the first half of the year, something analysts view as more pressure for the Bulmers-owning C&C Group.

While Heineken didn’t go into much detail about its broader performance in Ireland, the Dutch brewing giant noted that it generated double-digit (when the UK is excluded) group-wide volume growth in cider — it owns the Orchard Thieves brand amongst others — driven by particularly strong sales growth in Ireland, South Africa, and Vietnam.

“Within two years, Orchard Thieves has shaken up the cider category and is now the fastest growing cider brand in Ireland. Its taste and contemporary positioning is relevant to Irish consumers and sets it apart from other brands,” said a Heineken Ireland spokesperson.