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LIVE24SEVEN // Interview


Three years ago, Ivor and Susie decided it was time to step back from the running of the business and I took over along with Jeremy (Bean) Benson who looks after the day-to-day management of the company. I had been good friends with Bean for many years, knowing he was running a successful fruit juice business in Cheltenham so he was a natural choice to partner with.


Susie & Ivor were progressive for their time in creating the UK’s first dedicated organic cider brand. What was their thought process behind this? The decision to make organic cider was driven by Susie and Ivor’s love for nature – first and foremost they believed in looking after the countryside by not using any pesticides and fertilisers and set about creating award winning ciders in harmony with nature. Dunkertons today still believe that our job as organic cider makers is to let the apples and pears do the talking, which is why we have crafted the art of blending different varieties to create unique ciders. We wholeheartedly carry on the heritage of what Ivor and Susie started as pioneers of organic cider production. As Ivor once said, “We’re deep into flavour here. Our ciders really taste of apples.”


When did you decide and why, to continue the development of the business and move the production to the Cotswolds?


This is not a decision that was taken lightly. After the death of my father last year and having spent 35 years’ operating in Pembridge we decided to move the production of our cider to a specially developed site just outside Cheltenham in Dowdeswell. Unfortunately, our Pembridge site did not allow for further expansion so the business had very limited capacity in terms of growing our volume of production; the move to a purpose developed premises allowed for future growth. The move will also allow us to develop new ciders to complement our existing range.


How important is it for you that it is now based here and what parts of the business continue in Herefordshire? There was no choice in my mind but to continue the family business. Accessibility to London and awareness of the brand are key drivers in choosing this new location. Bean already has a thriving business in Cheltenham, plus my acquiring the retail park allows us to work locally and expand the business in terms of production capacity. Susie (Dunkerton) still owns the orchards in Herefordshire, as do most of our organic growers, some of which have been supplying Dunkertons with their fruit since the early 80’s. We recognise that provenance is critical to our history and to our customers and we will continue to honour our heritage and consolidate our legacy.


How do you feel the brand benefits the local economies in both Herefordshire and the Cotswolds? Dunkertons now uses growers of organic apples and pears from three counties; Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. Our 8 growers under our own organic license as part of our growers group will continue to supply us. We are also delighted to be able to encourage new growers to convert to organic standards and we are working closely with 3 new producers to start that process already which takes 3 years to complete. We also have Helen Browning who is Chief Executive of the Soil Association coming on board as a supplier once her newly planted orchards produce their first crop of cider apples and perry pears.


Do you take on apprentices to learn the skill of cider making? If so, what is the training duration and what, if any qualifications do the individuals need? We strive to bring young people into the business, although at present we don’t have an “official scheme” we are always keen to bring in ambitious youngsters. Working closely with the original production team from Pembridge is how they learn skills, process and knowledge.


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