Tesco ups its craft credentials with Sheppy’s Cider

In an effort to expand its craft alcohol offering, supermarket giant Tesco has added Sheppy’s Cider and Vice’s Old Blue Last beer to its drinks range.

Sheppy’s cider, one of England’s oldest cider producers, was previously only available in Somerset despite its 200-year history. Now it will be stocked in Tesco stores nationwide.

330ml cans of the brewer’s medium-sweet VAT 07 Classic Cider and lighter VAT 14 Cloudy Cider will be available in 400 stores across the country and will cost £1 each.

Bottles of the company’s Great Taste award-winning Vintage Reserve Cider and its Original Cloudy Cider will also be stocked.

Tesco cider buyer Rosie Goodson said: “Today cider buyers are becoming more sophisticated in their tastes and we are seeing increasing demand for craft ciders.

“With that in mind, we wanted to expand our range in this area – and so it made perfect sense to work with a long-established craft producer like Sheppy’s.”

Tesco will also stock Vice’s first foray into beer, Old Blue Last. The lager, made in partnership with AB-InBev, was named after the youth media company’s pub in Shoreditch, London.

Launched in the UK last October following its US launch in 2016, the gold-canned beverage carries the strapline “beer for drinking” and is billed as a middle ground between premium and craft beer. It is inspired by salty German gose beer and a six pack will cost £7 at Tesco stores.

The Tesco listing coincides with a week-long launch party this week in Manchester involving pub quizzes, live music and karaoke.