AUSTIN, Texas — An Austin-based cider company is merging with a Michigan-based beverage company, with the goal of dominating the U.S. cider category and dethroning rival Angry Orchard.
According to the Austin Business Journal (ABJ), Austin Eastciders has merged with Blake's Beverage Co., the largest independent cider company in the U.S. Blake's already has two other hard cider companies under its umbrella: Oregon-based Avid Cider Co. and its own brand, Blake's Hard Cider.
The ABJ reports that Austin Eastciders' taproom on Springdale Road in East Austin will remain open. Blake's CEO Andrew Blake said customers can expect a "lot of great innovation" at the so-called "collaboratory" in 2024.
Blake also said he foresees 25% growth in the Austin Eastciders brand in the next year.
According to Nielsen Consumer LLC, in 2022, local and regional hard cider off-premise sales increased by 5.7% compared to 2022. Meanwhile, national hard cider brand sales dipped by 9.8% during the same timeframe.
Straits Research found that hard cider will become a $6.7 billion global market by 2030, an increase from $5 billion in 2021.
To learn more, read the ABJ's full report.