History

Founded in 1983, Aston Manor Brewery has become a leading producer of apple and fruit cider. By 2008, 40 million bottles and cans had been supplied to the off-trade through retailers, wholesalers and discounters: 60% under own-brand names such as Frosty Jack’s Cider and 40% under own-label names. A private company 100% family owned, Aston Manor is now the UK's third-largest cider producer, now producing 1.4 Million hectolitres a year and boasting some of the most modern PET and glass-bottling lines in the UK. This rise has been achieved through dedication to innovation and to new concepts in cider and packaging.

The acquisition of Knights Cider in 2006 further increased capacity and growth potential. The appeal of cider has increased in recent years and the company has maximised every opportunity. Frosty Jack’s Cider is a case in point, which has grown to become the third-largest take-home cider by volume in the UK, supported by effective marketing, TV and trade advertising.

The latest success is Kingstone Press a 4.7% Premium Dry Cider, listed in Premier League football clubs and venues such as Twickenham, O2 Arena, NEC/NIA and Liverpool Arena. Packaged in 500ml PET crown cork, a glass alternative, Kingstone Press is perfect for markets where safety is a concern. Aston Manor also provides a variety of contract packaging optionsd. On three of the five lines, we offer large traditional PET formats from one to three litres, with many sizes in between. On the newest Aston line, we can pack glass or PET up to 1.8 litres, with the most popular being 330ml and 500ml crown cork PET for all the leading breweries. Aimed at the outdoor events, arenas and late-night city bar market, it also comes with the ability to use metal or plastic screw caps, too, making the line highly versatile.

Key Dates in History

1983 Supply cask ales to Midlands pubs. Installed one of the UK's first PET bottling lines for 2 litre beers and lagers.

1992 Production outgrows original premises. A new 24,000 sqft production hall built to house two PET lines and one glass line, providing a very successful service for the 'own label' industry.

1996 Installed a cider-fermentation facility with a million-gallon capacity, which leads us to become the UK's third-largest cider producer.

1997 Partner Bass Brewers (now Coors) to develop crown closure of PET bottles. We expand this specialist packaging and now supply Coors, Carlsberg UK and Sweden, Heineken, AB - Inbev and C&C (Magners)

1999 Awarded British Retail Consortium (BRC) Technical Accreditation standard.

1999 Acquisition of the Highgate Brewery to secure own supply of ales as well as an estate of 12 public houses.

2001 Partner farmers from Hereford and Worcester by planting 300 acres of new orchards to provide Bittersweet cider apples to produce premium amber ciders.

2005 New processing building with automated filtration and Pasteurisation that improve consistency, quality and efficiency.

2006 Acquisition of Knights Cider Company

2007 Sale of the Highgate Brewery as no longer core business

2008 Multi Million pound investment in new State-of-the Art Krones Pet and Glass 24,000 bottles per hour bottling line

2009 Opened a new cider plant in Tiverton Devon

2011 Multi Million pound installation of 72,000 cans per hour canning line at Devon