C&C Group has reached agreement to buy the Vermont Hard Cider Company for $305 million (€233m) — a deal which, when completed, will give the Dublin-headquartered drinks group control of the two biggest cider producers in the US.

Irish drinks group C&C would make an ideal acquisition target for larger international rivals SABMiller or Carlsberg, according to London industry analyst Phil Carroll of Shore Capital.

MAGNERS cider significantly outperformed its British peers, last month, upping its market share by more than 4% in the process.

DRINKS group C&C has expanded further into the US, with the €20 million acquisition of that market’s second largest cider brand.