It has been a ‘fantastic’ year for Thatchers Cider, according to managing director Martin Thatcher – who is confident the Sandford-based firm is on course for more success in the coming months.

A number of site improvements at Myrtle Farm are in the pipeline, with plans recently submitted to North Somerset Council for a new warehouse which will be used for storage and lorry loading.

A new canning line is due to be up and running in the company’s flagship Jubilee Building this month which will move the firm closer to being self-sufficient – something which Mr Thatcher deems vital.

He said: “The canning line is being put together which is the culmination of two years’ work.

“Being self-sufficient is really important because we are fanatical about the quality of our ciders.

“If you’re doing it yourself you can do all those little extra bits which make it a little bit better.”

The firm has seen its new variety, Thatchers Haze, do ‘amazingly well’ in its first year, and Mr Thatcher confirmed more new varieties will hit shelves soon.

He said: “We’re really delighted with how many people have taken up Haze.

“We’ve got a whole load of launches planned for spring 2017 which is very exciting.”

Mr Thatcher, though, is focussed on further innovation to keep the firm competitive.

He said: “The biggest challenge for the business is to work out what the next type of cider people want to drink is.

“We think Haze is good and of the moment, but in two or three years time tastes will change again and people will want different things, so we have to start planning that now.”