The Apple Thief expands footprint

By Amy Looker

Boutique cider producer, The Apple Thief, will start ranging its products in Coles liquor outlets across New South Wales and Queensland from today.

The Apple Thief's Pink Lady cider will be part of core ranging across First Choice, Vintage Cellars and Liquorland stores, which Apple Thief director, Charlie Ostaszewski, says is a big win for the Batlow-based cider maker.

"We're delighted to finally have struck a deal with Coles, and we're hoping it translates into international exposure across our three lines," he said. "This is continuing evidence of the strength of the category."

Ostaszewski said the recent proposal by the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia (DSICA) to increase the way traditional cider is taxed is a threat to apple and pear growers.

"It's a big threat to a category that's performing well and lending support to farmers and growers across Australia," Ostaszewski said.

"We do a lot of regional development work in Batlow, looking at how we can use the cider boom to develop the Batlow tourist region and cider production is providing the apple and pear growers with another source of revenue other than Coles and Woolworths.

"Critically, Australian farmers are hardest hit and this is another blow to farmers."