06/09/2017

Armagh Firm Scoops Exclusive Deal With George Best Belfast City Airport

Long Meadow Cider in Armagh has been awarded an exclusive craft cider contract in the Bushmills Bar at George Best Belfast City Airport.

The firm's deal with HMSHost International, the leading provider of food and beverage outlets in over 100 airports worldwide, was secured following the company's Blossom Burst Cider beating over 70 local suppliers to be named Northern Ireland's 'Best' local food and drink product in a competition launched by Belfast City Airport in partnership with Food NI earlier this year.

The Bushmills Bar and the recently rebranded St George's Market restaurant in the airport, both managed by HMSHost, will both stock the award-winning Blossom Burst flavour.

Peter McKeever, one of the Founders and Managing Directors at Long Meadow Cider, said: "Having our Blossom Burst Cider named Northern Ireland’s 'Best' local food and drink product and receiving £30k of marketing support at Belfast City Airport has been a real turning point in our business, it has been the icing on the cake in what has been an incredible four years.

"As a small, family owned business, we never imagined getting to the finals, let alone winning! We are so grateful for the relationship we now have with the airport which has opened doors and has now led to our exclusive cider contract with HMSHost in Belfast.

"The first order was placed in mid-Summer with a second, larger, order placed the following week, and we believe this contract has the potential to be our biggest.

"Belfast City Airport welcomes approximately 2.7million passengers through its doors each year from domestic and international locations providing us with a considerable platform to showcase our product.

"Alongside the news that both Bushmills Bar and St George's Market will be stocking our cider, we launched our new Rhubarb and Honey flavour in July and it has surpassed all sales expectations.

"This new flavour is not only to celebrate our fourth year in business but also in response to demand for flavoured ciders."

The company already exports to France, Mexico, Italy and the Republic of Ireland, and regularly receives international interest.

(CD)

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