The Craft Cider Market size was estimated at USD 3.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 6.5 billion by 2030, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.50% during the forecast period (2024-2030).

Craft Cider Market

Market Summary

The craft cider market represents a dynamic and evolving segment within the broader beverage alcohol industry, characterized by artisanal production methods and a focus on quality and flavor diversity. This market has matured from a niche offering into a significant category, appealing to consumers seeking authentic, locally sourced, and premium alcoholic beverages. Producers typically utilize traditional fermentation techniques, often emphasizing unique apple varieties and innovative flavor infusions, such as hops, fruits, and spices, to differentiate their products. The consumer base is increasingly discerning, driven by a growing appreciation for craft products and a shift towards supporting local and independent producers. Market dynamics are influenced by changing consumer preferences, with a notable trend towards low-alcohol and gluten-free options aligning with broader health and wellness movements. The competitive landscape is fragmented, featuring a mix of small-scale local cideries and larger craft beverage companies expanding their portfolios. Distribution channels are diversifying beyond traditional liquor stores to include direct-to-consumer sales, taprooms, and prominent placements in restaurants and bars, enhancing accessibility and consumer engagement.

Key Highlights

The craft cider market is distinguished by several key factors that underscore its growth and consumer appeal. A primary highlight is the strong emphasis on localism and provenance, with many consumers actively seeking out ciders made from regionally sourced apples, which supports agricultural sustainability and reduces food miles. The flavor innovation within the category is remarkable, with producers experimenting beyond traditional apple ciders to include pear-based perries, and additions like berries, citrus, and even barrel-aging processes that impart complex notes. Another significant aspect is the alignment with the experiential economy; many craft cideries operate taprooms and offer tours, creating direct consumer relationships and building brand loyalty. The market has also benefited from the premiumization trend across the food and beverage sector, where consumers are willing to pay higher prices for perceived superior quality, authenticity, and unique tasting experiences. Furthermore, the rise of hard seltzers and other ready-to-drink beverages has prompted craft cider makers to innovate in packaging and marketing to maintain relevance, leading to the introduction of canned formats and variety packs that cater to convenience and exploration.

Drivers, Opportunities & Restraints

Several powerful drivers are propelling the craft cider market forward. The most prominent driver is the shifting consumer preference towards authentic, handcrafted, and locally produced beverages, which is part of a larger cultural movement supporting small businesses and artisanal goods. The growing consumer interest in gluten-free alcoholic options has also been a significant boon, as cider is naturally gluten-free, attracting those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Furthermore, the premiumization wave, where consumers trade up to higher-quality and more expensive products for perceived better experiences, directly benefits craft cider producers who can command a price premium over mass-market alternatives. Opportunities for market expansion are abundant, particularly in leveraging e-commerce and direct-to-consumer sales channels, which saw accelerated adoption recently. There is also significant potential in international market expansion, as craft cider is still an emerging category in many regions. However, the market faces notable restraints. Fluctuations in apple harvests due to climatic conditions can impact supply and pricing for key raw materials. Intense competition from other craft beverage segments, especially craft beer and hard seltzers, which often have larger marketing budgets, poses a challenge. Additionally, navigating the complex and varying regulatory landscapes for alcohol production and distribution across different regions can be a significant barrier for smaller producers looking to scale.

Concentration Insights

The competitive concentration within the craft cider market is notably fragmented, comprising a vast array of small to medium-sized independent producers. This fragmentation is a hallmark of the craft movement, reflecting its grassroots origins and the relatively low barriers to entry for small-batch production at a local level. Despite this, there is a growing presence of established alcoholic beverage companies that have entered the space through acquisitions or by launching their own craft-style cider brands, thereby increasing competition for shelf space and consumer attention. These larger entities, such as C&C Group with its Magners brand or Heineken's Strongbow, often have advantages in distribution networks and marketing reach. However, the market's heart remains with independent cideries like Angry Orchard, Seattle Cider Company, and Austin Eastciders, which have built strong regional followings. The concentration is also geographic, with certain regions like the Pacific Northwest, New England, and the UK having a much denser cluster of craft cider producers, fostering a vibrant community but also creating highly competitive local markets. This structure suggests a market where brand authenticity, local connection, and product quality are more critical determinants of success than sheer scale alone.

Type Insights

The craft cider market showcases a diverse range of product types, catering to a wide spectrum of consumer palates and preferences. The most fundamental segmentation is between apple cider and perry, which is made from fermented pear juice. Within apple ciders, there is a vast differentiation based on sweetness levels, ranging from dry and semi-dry to sweet and dessert-style ciders. A significant and growing segment includes flavored and innovative ciders, where producers infuse the base cider with other fruits like cherry, berry, or citrus, as well as botanicals, hops, and spices to create unique flavor profiles. Another key type is the heritage or vintage cider, often made from specific, sometimes rare, apple varieties known as cider apples, which are prized for their tannins and complexity, contrasting with ciders made from common culinary apples. The market has also seen a rise in low-alcohol and session ciders, responding to the demand for lighter drinking experiences. Furthermore, packaging innovation has led to the growth of canned craft ciders, which offer portability and convenience, appealing to a younger demographic and occasions like outdoor activities, directly competing with canned wines and hard seltzers.

Application Insights

The application of craft cider, referring to its primary consumption channels and use cases, is multifaceted and continues to expand. The dominant application remains through off-trade channels, which include supermarkets, hypermarkets, liquor stores, and specialty beverage shops, where consumers purchase bottles, cans, or growlers for consumption at home. This channel has been bolstered by the growth of e-commerce platforms and online alcohol delivery services, making craft cider more accessible than ever. The on-trade segment, encompassing bars, pubs, restaurants, and taprooms, is equally crucial. Here, craft cider is often featured on draft, providing higher margins for producers and a fresh product for consumers. Taprooms at cideries themselves have become a destination application, offering tastings, flights, and direct sales, which enhances brand building and customer loyalty. Beyond these, craft cider is increasingly finding application at events and festivals, both as a standalone beverage and as a mixer in cocktails, demonstrating its versatility. Its perception as a premium product also makes it a popular choice for gifting and in gourmet food pairings, further broadening its application scope.

Regional Insights

The craft cider market exhibits distinct regional characteristics, with maturity and consumer adoption varying significantly across the globe. Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, stands as the historical heartland of cider production. Regions like Somerset and Herefordshire in the UK are renowned for their traditional cider-making heritage, fostering a mature market with a strong consumer base for both mass-market and craft offerings. France, with its Normandy region producing Calvados and cider, also represents a significant and traditional market. In North America, the market is experiencing robust growth. The United States, with hotspots in the Pacific Northwest, New England, and New York, has seen an explosion of craft cideries capitalizing on local apple harvests and a thriving craft beverage culture. Canada's market, particularly in provinces like British Columbia and Ontario, is also growing steadily. The Asia-Pacific region presents an emerging but promising landscape, with countries like Australia and New Zealand developing their own craft cider scenes, often linked to local tourism. Meanwhile, markets in Latin America and parts of Asia are in earlier stages of development, representing significant future growth opportunities as consumer awareness and disposable incomes rise.

Company Insights

The craft cider market's company landscape is a blend of dedicated craft pioneers and strategic moves by larger beverage conglomerates. Prominent independent craft cideries that have achieved national recognition in key markets include Angry Orchard in the United States, known for its innovation and widespread availability; Seattle Cider Company, which helped pioneer the dry cider movement in the US; and Aspall in the UK, a family-owned producer with a long history. These companies compete not only with each other but also with the craft-style offerings from much larger players. For instance, C&C Group, through its Bulmers and Magners brands, holds a significant share in the UK and Ireland. Heineken's Strongbow is a globally recognized name that has introduced craft-inspired variants to compete in the segment. Furthermore, many regional craft breweries, such as Boston Beer Company in the US, have successfully expanded into cider, leveraging their existing distribution and brand equity. The strategic approach for independent companies often focuses on deep regional penetration, authenticity, and direct consumer engagement, while larger companies compete on scale, distribution, and brand marketing power.

Recent Developments

The craft cider market has been active with recent developments reflecting trends in innovation, sustainability, and corporate strategy. A significant trend is the continued investment in sustainable and organic production practices. Many cideries are obtaining organic certifications, implementing water conservation measures, and adopting regenerative agricultural practices in their orchards to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. In terms of product innovation, there has been a surge in the development of low-calorie and low-sugar cider options to align with health and wellness trends, alongside more experimental flavors involving exotic fruits and hop infusions that blur the lines with craft beer. On the corporate front, merger and acquisition activity persists as larger alcoholic beverage companies seek to acquire successful craft cider brands to diversify their portfolios and tap into the growing segment. For example, the acquisition of smaller regional cideries by private equity firms or larger brewers has been noted. Additionally, many cideries have invested heavily in expanding their direct-to-consumer capabilities, enhancing their e-commerce platforms, and opening new taproom experiences to build stronger community ties and improve margins.

Report Segmentation

This comprehensive market research report on the craft cider industry provides a detailed and structured analysis segmented to deliver actionable insights. The segmentation allows for a granular understanding of the market dynamics across different dimensions. The report is segmented by type, delving into the variations between traditional apple cider, perry (pear cider), and the rapidly growing category of flavored ciders which includes fruit-infused and hopped varieties. It is further segmented by application, analyzing the distinct dynamics of off-trade channels such as supermarkets and liquor stores versus on-trade channels including bars, restaurants, and brewery taprooms. A crucial component of the report is the regional segmentation, which provides a comparative analysis of market performance, consumer behavior, and competitive landscapes across key geographies including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the rest of the world. This multi-faceted segmentation enables stakeholders to identify precise growth pockets, understand regional preferences, analyze competitive strategies, and tailor their business approaches to specific product types and distribution channels for maximum impact and return on investment.

FAQs

What is driving the growth of the craft cider market?

The growth is primarily driven by consumer demand for authentic, locally produced, and craft beverages. This aligns with trends towards premiumization, where consumers seek higher-quality experiences, and the preference for gluten-free alcoholic options, which cider naturally provides. The expansion of distribution channels, including e-commerce, also facilitates greater accessibility.

How does craft cider differ from regular cider?

Craft cider is typically produced by smaller, independent manufacturers who emphasize traditional methods, quality ingredients, and unique flavor profiles. It often uses a blend of specific cider apple varieties for complexity, whereas regular or commercial cider is often mass-produced, sometimes from concentrate, with a focus on consistency and cost-effectiveness over artisanal character.

Which regions are key players in the craft cider market?

Key traditional regions include the United Kingdom, particularly areas like Somerset, and France's Normandy region. In terms of growth and innovation, the United States, with strong markets in the Pacific Northwest and New England, is a major player. Australia and Canada are also emerging as significant regions for craft cider production and consumption.

What are the popular types of craft cider?

Popular types include traditional dry and semi-dry apple ciders, heritage ciders made from specific cider apple varieties, and perry (pear cider). There is also high demand for innovative flavored ciders, which incorporate other fruits like berries or cherries, as well as hopped ciders that appeal to craft beer drinkers. Session ciders with lower alcohol content are also gaining popularity.

Who are the leading companies in the craft cider market?

The market features a mix of leading independent craft producers and larger beverage companies. Notable independents include Angry Orchard, Seattle Cider Company, and Aspall. Larger entities with significant market presence include C&C Group (owner of Magners and Bulmers) and Heineken (owner of Strongbow), which have both developed craft-style offerings to compete in the segment.

Citius Research has developed a research report titled “Craft Cider Market Report - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Trends, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies and Segment Forecasts 2024 - 2030” delivering key insights regarding business intelligence and providing concrete business strategies to clients in the form of a detailed syndicated report. The report details out the factors such as business environment, industry trend, growth opportunities, competition, pricing, global and regional market analysis, and other market related factors.

Details included in the report for the years 2024 through 2030

• Craft Cider Market Potential
• Segment-wise breakup
• Compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for the next 6 years
• Key customers and their preferences
• Market share of major players and their competitive strength
• Existing competition in the market
• Price trend analysis
• Key trend analysis
• Market entry strategies
• Market opportunity insights

The report focuses on the drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges in the market based on various factors geographically. Further, key players, major collaborations, merger & acquisitions along with trending innovation and business policies are reviewed in the report. The Craft Cider Market report is segmented on the basis of various market segments and their analysis, both in terms of value and volume, for each region for the period under consideration.

Craft Cider Market Segmentation

Regions Covered

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• MENA
• Asia Pacific
• Sub-Saharan Africa and
• Australasia

Craft Cider Market Analysis

The report covers below mentioned analysis, but is not limited to:

• Overview of Craft Cider Market
• Research Methodology
• Executive Summary
• Market Dynamics of Craft Cider Market
  • Driving Factors
  • Restraints
  • Opportunities
• Global Market Status and Forecast by Segment A
• Global Market Status and Forecast by Segment B
• Global Market Status and Forecast by Segment C
• Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions
• Upstream and Downstream Market Analysis of Craft Cider Market
• Cost and Gross Margin Analysis of Craft Cider Market
• Craft Cider Market Report - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Trends, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies and Segment Forecasts 2024 - 2030
  • Competition Landscape
  • Market Share of Major Players
• Key Recommendations

The “Craft Cider Market Report - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Trends, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies and Segment Forecasts 2024 - 2030” report helps the clients to take business decisions and to understand strategies of major players in the industry. The report delivers the market driven results supported by a mix of primary and secondary research. The report provides the results triangulated through authentic sources and upon conducting thorough primary interviews with the industry experts. The report includes the results on the areas where the client can focus and create point of parity and develop a competitive edge, based on real-time data results.

Craft Cider Market Key Stakeholders

Below are the key stakeholders for the Craft Cider Market:

• Manufacturers
• Distributors/Traders/Wholesalers
• Material/Component Manufacturers
• Industry Associations
• Downstream vendors

Craft Cider Market Report Scope

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

Like most other markets, the outbreak of COVID-19 had an unfavorable impact on the Craft Cider Market worldwide. This report discusses in detail the disruptions experienced by the market, the impact on flow of raw materials, manufacturing operations, production trends, consumer demand and the projected future of this market post pandemic.

The report has helped our clients:

• To describe and forecast the Craft Cider Market size, on the basis of various segmentations and geography, in terms of value and volume
• To measure the changing needs of customers/industries
• To provide detailed information regarding the drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges influencing the growth of the market
• To gain competitive intelligence and uncover new opportunities
• To analyse opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying high-growth segments in Craft Cider Market
• To strategically profile key players and provide details of the current competitive landscape
• To analyse strategic approaches adopted by players in the market, such as product launches and developments, acquisitions, collaborations, contracts, expansions, and partnerships

Report Customization

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