Five years of investment totalling over £30m has supported increased sales for the award-winning Aston Manor Cider.

The independent cider-maker has announced turnover of almost £113m in 2016 – a 4% increase on 2015 – and an EBITDA for the year amounting to £8.2 million.

The results demonstrate the Midlands-based business is on track with its five-year plan to ‘consolidate and broaden’ operations.

In recent years, Aston Manor Cider has planted an additional 400,000 trees – the first of which will contribute to the harvest this autumn.

Investment in production facilities means that the quality of facilities and systems are recognised to be of a standard no other UK drinks producer can match. It also means that Aston Manor has the capability and capacity to now accelerate performance as the scale of future investment reduces.

Gordon Johncox, chief executive at Aston Manor Cider, said: “We are delighted with the progress we are making.

“Our strategic plan is delivering ahead of expectations meaning we are confident that no other cider maker, perhaps no other drinks producer, is better established and better placed to respond to challenges and develop opportunities.

“We regard being responsive and nimble, even with our scale, as absolutely essential. Hence investment has focused on developing our manufacturing and packaging capability as much as expanding capacity.

“I believe Aston Manor now offers a greater breadth of ciders in more packaging formats than any other producer. With 17 product and business awards in 2016, and more already in 2017, it looks like others recognise what we have achieved and what we are capable of.”

Investment in a new R&D facility is helping to drive innovation as evidenced by new products in the growing market for craft cider in cans and in mini-kegs – a sector that Aston Manor is driving.

For 2017 and beyond, James Ellis, chief financial officer said: “Given that the intensive investment of recent years will reduce, we anticipate that our continued performance will grow income and profits.

“Having also invested time and effort into overseas markets, we expect to see exports making an even greater contribution.”

Gordon Johncox added: “We expect the extended Kingstone Press partnership with the RFL to flourish with the World Cup this autumn whilst our expanded sales and distribution footprint in the on-trade will support our ambitions in that key market.

“Although the challenges facing the cider industry remain, we are confident that as an independent, nimble and very capable business we can continue to make progress.”