Bulmers
{{Short description|Cider brand of H. P. Bulmer.}}
{{About|the British cider brand|information about the parent company|H. P. Bulmer|the Irish cider maker, whose product is marketed as Magners outside the Republic of Ireland|Magners}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
Bulmers cider is one of a number of brands owned by British cider maker H. P. Bulmer of Hereford, a Heineken subsidiary. It is one of the biggest selling British bottled cider brands in the UK with a number of variants including Bulmers Original & Pear. It should not be confused with Bulmers Irish Cider, sold outside the Republic of Ireland as Magners.
History
Fred and Percy Bulmer grew the apples at their family orchard at Credenhill in Herefordshire which would be later used to make the cider for which they became known. Production was initially at Ryelands Street in Hereford, the original buildings, including cider cellars survives today as the Cider Museum and King Offa Distillery.{{cite web | url= http://www.cidermuseum.co.uk/ | title= The Cider Museum | accessdate= 13 April 2013}} Production moved to the current Plough Lane site in the late 1970s. Today HP Bulmer makes 65% of the UK's five hundred million litres of cider sold annually, and the bulk of the UK's cider exports.{{cite web|url=http://www.bulmer.com/hpbulmers/company_history.html |work=HP Bulmer Ltd |title=HP Bulmer Company History |accessdate=27 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209072436/http://www.bulmer.com/hpbulmers/company_history.html |archivedate=9 February 2010 }} From 1937 to 1949, Bulmers operated with Wm. Magners of Clonmel, expanding into Irish distribution markets. From 1949 Magners withdrew from this partnership but retained rights to trade under the name HP Bulmer Ltd in Ireland.{{cite web | url= http://bulmers.ie/history.html | title= HP Bulmers LTD. (Ireland) History | accessdate= 13 April 2013 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130203005852/http://bulmers.ie/history.html | archive-date= 3 February 2013 | url-status= dead }}
In 2003, the Hereford-based firm was bought for £278 million by Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) with the loss of some 200 jobs initially.{{cite news | url= https://www.theguardian.com/business/2003/apr/29/9 | title= £278m Bulmers buy completes S&N u-turn | accessdate= 13 April 2013 | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Jill | last=Treanor | date=29 April 2003}} In 2008, S&N were bought for £7.8 billion by the Carlsberg and Heineken groups.{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=anIDH9amUooc | title= Carlsberg, Heineken Agree to Buy Scottish & Newcastle (Update7) | accessdate= 13 April 2013 | work=Bloomberg | date=25 January 2008}} Bulmers now only survives as a brand name and subsidiary of the Dutch Heineken group, with operations in Hereford scaled back to focus mainly on the production of cider.
During spring 2006, the company relaunched Bulmers Original in the UK, aimed at the "served over ice" market, which had grown in popularity over the past few years. Bulmers Original is a 4.5% ABV cider, primarily sold in pint bottles (568 ml). In November 2007, Bulmers pear cider was launched.{{cite web | url= http://www.talkingretail.com/products-news/alcohol/s-and-n-to-launch-bulmers-pear-cider/ | title= S&N to launch Bulmers Pear Cider | date= 5 October 2007 | accessdate= 5 October 2007}}
In summer 2011, Bulmers relaunched with a new look and new bottles. In reference to the Bulmers naming tradition dating back to the early 1900s (at the time these were Bulmers 1 through to 8), they number-coded the then-current and all future varieties with Original as "No. 9", Pear as "No. 10" and Crisp Blend as "No. 15". At the same time, the Red Berry and Lime flavour was launched as "No. 17".{{cite web | url= http://sltn.co.uk/2011/04/28/bulmers-plays-numbers-game-with-new-cider/ | title= Bulmers plays numbers game with new cider | date= 28 April 2011 | accessdate= 28 April 2013}}
In March 2013, two new flavours; "Bulmers Cider Bold Black Cherry" and "Bulmers Cider Pressed Red Grape", number-coded "No. 19" and "No. 20" respectively, were added to the range.{{cite web | url= http://www.heineken.co.uk/article.php?article=1234567851 | title= HEINEKEN Unveils Exciting New Additions To Bulmers Cider Family | accessdate= 16 February 2013}} In March 2014, two lower-alcohol flavours were added: Bulmers Cider Five Fruit Harvest and Bulmers Cider Indian Summer, number-coded "No. 21" and "No. 22" and with an ABV of 2.8%.{{cite web | url= http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/fmcg/heineken-offers-more-lower-or-zero-abv-bulmers-and-radler/354734.article | title= Heineken offers more lower or zero abv Bulmers and Foster's Radler lines | accessdate= 23 February 2014}}
In 2015, the red grape flavour was discontinued and replaced with a new flavour "Zesty Blood Orange", number-coded as "No. 23". The black cherry flavour was discontinued the following year and replaced with "Wild Blueberry and Lime", number-coded as "No. 24".
In 2016, Bulmers rebranded yet again, now with bottles of smaller volume at 500 ml
2017 introduced the "Orchard Pioneers" range, 'artisanal' ciders created by the company's suppliers; the range opened with "Kier's Cloudy Apple Cider" (Kier Rogers) and "Sarah's Red Apple Cider" (Sarah Hawkins), number-coded as "No. 25" and "No. 26" respectively.
As of 2021, only the Original and Red Berry & Lime flavours remain available.
Ingredients
In 2014, a study by The Daily Telegraph found that a pint of Bulmers cider contained five teaspoons (20.5g) of sugar, nearly as much as the WHO recommends as an adult's daily allowance of added sugar, and 5-10 times the sugar of lager or ale.{{cite news|last1=Malnick|first1=Edward|title=Hidden levels of sugar in alcohol revealed|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/10731418/Hidden-levels-of-sugar-in-alcohol-revealed.html|accessdate=20 July 2014|work=The Telegraph|date=29 March 2014}}
By law, all cider produced in the UK must contain a minimum of 35% apple juice, but this can be imported concentrate.{{cite news|last1=Thring|first1=Oliver|title=Consider cider|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2011/aug/09/consider-cider|accessdate=28 October 2015|work=The Guardian|date=9 August 2011}} Bulmers do not disclose the percentage of apple juice in their product.{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Pete|title=So I drank some Stella Cidre...|url=http://petebrown.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/so-i-drank-some-stella-cidre.html|accessdate=28 October 2015|work=Pete Brown|date=25 April 2011}}
Current range
There are currently{{When|date=November 2024}} only two flavours.
- Bulmers Original Cider
- Bulmers Crushed Red Berries and Lime Cider
- Orchard Pioneers: Kier's Cloudy Apple Cider
- Orchard Pioneers: Sarah's Red Apple Cider
Limited edition variants
Bulmers have produced several limited edition flavours:
Bulmers Light, introduced in Spring 2008, had the same ABV as Bulmers Original but with 30% fewer calories. However this was delisted a year later due to poor sales.
In Summer 2010, a limited edition version was made, combining both apple and pear flavours in one and named 'Summer Blend'.{{cite web | url= http://www.thedrum.com/news/2010/05/18/bulmers-launches-summer-blend-campaign | title= Bulmers launches summer bland campaign | accessdate= 18 May 2012}} In Autumn 2010, another limited edition version was created, made using Katy apples which are allowed to fully ripen in the orchards before harvesting, and named "Red Apple".{{cite web | url= http://www.talkingretail.com/products-news/alcohol/bulmers-limited-edition-red-apple-cider/ | title= Bulmers limited edition Red Apple cider | date= 11 October 2010 | accessdate= 11 October 2010}}
In the Summer 2011, Bulmers released the limited edition "Crisp Blend" which is made from sharper tasting apples, with a crisp and slightly drier flavour than Original.{{cite web | url= http://www.fdin.org.uk/2011/02/bulmers-introduces-new-limted-edition-crisp-blend-cider/ | title= Bulmers Introduces New Limited Edition Crisp Blend Cider | accessdate= 21 February 2011 | archive-date= 29 November 2020 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201129154712/http://www.fdin.org.uk/2011/02/bulmers-introduces-new-limted-edition-crisp-blend-cider/ | url-status= dead }} It was available in pint bottles only. To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the brand in 2012, Bulmers released Bulmers Vintage Reserve ("No. 18"), made with 100% bittersweet apples from the previous year's crop.{{cite web | url= http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Drinks-Brands-News/Bulmers-new-Vintage-Reserve | title= Bulmers' New Vintage Reserve | date= 7 March 2012 | accessdate= 7 March 2012}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.bulmers.com/ Bulmers brand website]
{{Heineken International}}
{{British Royal Warrant holders}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Food and drink companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Drink companies of the United Kingdom