The apple orchards and cider pubs of the West Country may seem a million miles away from Chicago’s skyscrapers but the Windy City is about to hear how British cider leads the world.
Thatchers Cider managing director Martin Thatcher has been invited to give a keynote speech at this year’s CiderCON in Chicago, the major annual gathering of US cider makers organised by the United States Association of Cider Makers.
Martin, chair of the UK’s National Association of Cider Makers, will share the lessons he has learned over the past 25 years at Thatchers and how these could be applied to the developing US cider market. 
Martin, a fourth-generation cider maker, said: “The UK has the largest cider market in the world but it has changed dramatically over recent years and will undoubtedly change again over the coming years.
“I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts with those passionately producing and promoting cider in the USA.”
In September his family-run business struck a deal to make its flagship cider Thatchers Gold available in the US through an exclusive tie-up with Scottish craft brewer Innis & Gunn through its US subsidiary.
Thatchers ciders are produced at the family’s Myrtle Farm, Sandford, North Somerset, where the Thatcher family has been tending its orchards since 1904. Thatchers is exported to 20 countries worldwide including much of Europe and Australia.
CiderCON takes place from February 3 to 6.
