A RENOWNED Somerset cider has been recognised as the most forward-thinking and innovative business in the South West.

Sandford-based Thatchers Cider was the regional winner in the HSBC initiative, and will now vie for the Overall Winner of Business Thinking 2010 title in Honk Kong later this year.

The announcement was made a gala dinner at the Assembly Rooms in Bath following the finalists’ return from a trip to Turkey to meet like-minded business thinkers and consider business development opportunities.

The company’s managing director Martin Thatcher said: “Not only is this a tremendous opportunity to work with HSBC and a number of leading business mentors to further grow our business despite the tough economic climate, above all it is a huge accolade for us to be recognised as a stand-out business thinker.”