Aston Manor, the UK’s largest independent cider maker based in Birmingham,is celebrating a record year for award wins, including the Drinks Business Green Awards’ Water Management category. In total the drinks producer, whose brands include Kingstone Press, Friels and Crumpton Oaks, has scooped 17 accolades and been shortlisted for a further five.
The achievements recognise Aston Manor’s excellent quality of products and high production standards.
Each of the company’s sites, which includesStourport-on-Severn and Tiverton, has also been recognised with theBritish Retail Consortium’s highest accreditation for excellence in food and drink production.
The cider maker’s new craft variety, Friels First Press Vintage, was acknowledged for its great, authentic taste and scooped the top prize at the International Cider Challenge and the British Bottler Institute Awards,as its first year as being entered.
Kingstone Press, Crumpton Oaks, Knights Malvern Oak and Knights Malvern Gold have also secured medals this year, as has the Aston Manor-produced Spar Premium Reserve.
Gordon Johncox, Aston Manor’s managing director, said: “Aston Manor’s success in 2016is thanks to the team’s commitment in creating the best quality products and raising the bar of industry excellence at every stage of the manufacturing process.”
Aston Manor made it on to two shortlistsof the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2016 – categories ‘Beverage manufacturing company of the year’ and ‘Supply chain initiative of the year.’
Contributing to the success, the drinks producer’s key compliance and training head, Chris Carnegie, made it as a finalist for ‘Best Trainer’ at the Society of Food Hygiene and Technology (SOFHT) awards.
Gordon Johncox added: “Although we’ve earned 17 awards this year we will not become complacent. We strive to lead by example and as the UK’s largest independent cider maker this means that our business, and the people within it, will continue to deliver at an exceptional standard.”
