The largest independent cider company in the U.S. is expanding distribution to Japan and Alaska
ARMADA, MI, October 28, 2024 – After a year of rapid domestic growth, Blake’s Beverage Company, the recently launched national collaboration of three cider brands—Blake’s Hard Cider, Austin Eastciders, and AVID Cider Co.—is expanding even further. A new opportunity in Japan marks the first international distribution for Blake’s Beverage Company, which is currently the largest independent cider company in the U.S.; plus, Alaskan distribution of Avid Cider Co. will mark the 39th state for distribution across the collective.
Blake’s Hard Cider, currently ranked the #5 cidery in the U.S., will send American Apple Imperial Hard Cider (8% ABV) and its flagship cider, Triple Jam (6.5% ABV), the #9 top-selling cider in the U.S. Avid Cider Co.’s Blackberry (6.2% ABV), Dragon Fruit (6.0% ABV), Royal Apricot Imperial (8.5% ABV) and Blueberry POM Imperial (8.5% ABV) will also hit shelves in Japan in late 2024.
The move for Avid represents a special relationship between Oregon and Japan across the Pacific. Oregon is Japan’s fifth-largest export market, and Portland has been a sister city to Sapporo, Japan, since 1959.
“Bringing our favorite flavors to Japan is an exciting opportunity to share our American-made cider with the world,” said Samantha Roberts, co-founder of Avid Cider Co. “There are beverage lovers in Japan who celebrate American-made cider and we can’t wait for them to taste the uniqueness of Avid and Blake’s later this year.”
Finn Leahy, Avid Cider Co. Brand Manager, visited Japan earlier this year with the Northwest Cider Association. The trip was sponsored by The Oregon Department of Agriculture with the goal of supporting Oregon cider makers’ exploration of the Japanese market. The 10-day outbound mission was organized in conjunction with the people’s choice cider competition, Japan Cider Cup, and coincided with the Japan Cider Cup public festival. For Leahy and the Avid team, the trip confirmed that their ciders would be a great fit for the vibrant Japanese market.
“This is a big step for Blake’s Beverage Company as we continue to grow,” said Andrew Blake, Founder and CEO of Blake’s Beverage Company. “The expansion further proves cider’s strength as a fourth category beverage, equally appealing to consumers worldwide as wine, beer and spirits. Cider has long been America’s drink and now we’re eager to bring our locally grown fruit flavors to cider lovers in Japan.”
Blake’s Beverage Company is partnering with inCiderJapan, an internationally respected cider-focused importer and distributor for distribution across the country. Owned and operated by Certified Pommelier and American Cider Association Licensed Educator, Lee Reeve, who has a long history of promoting growth of the cider industry in Japan, inCiderJapan will distribute, promote and market both Blake’s Hard Cider and Avid Cider Co.
International distribution is part of Blake’s Beverage Company’s plan to continue innovating hard cider flavors beyond the apple and secure hard cider’s position as a top beverage category.
