Pabst GETS INTO THE CIDER BIZ

IF THERE’S a hot trend right now besides craft beer, it’s cider. Pabst Brewing Company has entered into a partnership agreement to distribute, market and sell all of Vermont Hard Cider Company’s brands in the United States. The agreement will take effect March 1. Pabst will have an exclusive license to sell all of the company’s premium craft cider brands, including Woodchuck, Gumption, Wyder’s and Hornsby’s, in addition to its portfolio of imported cider brands from Ireland and England, including Magners and Blackthorn. All the ciders will continue to be made in Vermont. Pabst’s field sales and national accounts organizations will be responsible for sales of the portfolio to distributors and retailers in the US. Vermont’s sales and marketing organization will continue to operate as an independent business focusing on marketing activation and will retain ownership of its US cider brands and related assets, including a cidery in Middlebury.