Polish cider market sees substantial growth
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
25.07.2014 10:36
Popularity in cider has grown in Poland, with investors believing that the market may be worth some 1 billion zloty (around 250 million euro) within a decade.
Apples ready for the cider press... Photo: freeimages.com
“In the first half of 2014, sales of cider were twice the volume for the entire year of 2013,” Michal Rozalicz, marketing director of the Ambra group, which produces Cydr Lubelski, told the Rzeczpospolita daily.
“And the summer season has only just begun,” he added.
The increase is better than producers had expected. With sales amounting to 2 million litres of cider in 2013, earlier estimates pointed to some 4-6 million litres for 2014.
However, sales in the first half of 2014 are already matching estimates for the entire year.
Meanwhile, analysts from the Millennium brokerage house think that sales of cider will reach 400-500 million zloty in 5-7 years, hitting the 1-billion-zloty mark within 10 years.
“Cider has become popular, and consumers are reaching out for the drink as a tasty and natural alternative to beer,” Ambra’s Rozalicz.
Cider became a popular drink in Poland in 2013. Despite being the largest apple producer in Europe, the nectar was relatively unknown previously.
Nevertheless, cider production took off in Poland due to a decision by the Finance Ministry to lower excise on the drink from 1 January 2013 from 158 to 97 zloty per hectolitre. (jb)