THATCHERS cider company has just signed a lucrative three-year deal for its Thatchers Gold range to go stateside.

The Sandford-based brand has gone from strength to strength during the past few years, after agreeing a 10-year deal to be sold in Australia, and forging links with the world-famous Glastonbury festival.

Now it will go on sale in the United States, in an exclusive tie up with Edinburgh-based brewery, Innis & Gunn which will see the cider company hit the American market for the first time in its 110-year history.

Innis & Gunn chief executive Dougal Sharp said: “Thatchers Gold is regarded as being one of the best ciders in the world.

“It will be new to the US, where the cider category is showing explosive growth.

“A new generation of American consumers is looking for ciders with heritage, quality and character, so this is a very exciting step and we are proud to be part of it.”

The entire cider market in America only accounts for one per cent of the overall beer market, but is growing fast.

Thatchers managing director, Martin Thatcher, said: “The reputation of crafted English cider is rapidly spreading in the US.

“Thatchers Gold has gained a well-earned reputation in the UK for its quality and great taste, together with its values of heritage and provenance.

“With Thatchers Gold sitting alongside Innis & Gunn’s range of craft beers, we are very optimistic for the future.”

Innis & Gunn expects to sell three million bottles of its award-winning beers in 2014, across 20 states. It will take on the responsibility of all administrative and promotional support for Thatchers in the US.

Mr Sharp said: “We have agreed with Thatchers to continue to build our US team and if things go as we expect, we will look at accelerating this programme.”