Crafting superior ciders for a better planet

Could these sustainable, lower-sugar ciders replace your favourite drink?

Spotted: Cider is one of the UK’s favourite summer drinks, with almost half of the nation’s households buying it regularly. But, despite the beverage’s popularity, South Africa-born Laura Clacey saw plenty of room for improvement in terms of the taste, quality, and eco-credentials of cider. Alongside Karol Ostaszewski, she founded startup SXOLLIE to produce ciders that are better for people and the planet.

“Most cider brands you find today are run by multinationals who focus on creating cheap, poor-quality liquid,” CEO Clacey told Springwise. The most widely drunk ciders also contain much less apple than you’d expect, with HMRC guidelines only requiring a drink to contain 35 per cent apples to be considered a cider. And, instead of the apples you see on most supermarket shelves, today’s ciders are made using cider apples, which taste much more bitter and dry. Because of this, traditional cider needs to be sweetened with a great deal of sugar – with the average glass being up to 10 per cent sugar.

Instead, SXOLLIE uses eating apples that aren’t “pretty enough” to be sold in shops and takes advantage of winemaking techniques to manufacture its cider and get the best out of each fruit. SXOLLIE apples are sourced from sustainable suppliers in developing nations, as these apples can’t be grown at scale in the UK because of the lack of sunshine. Because of its commitment to positive impact, SXOLLIE has also certified as a B Corp – one of a handful of alcohol companies and the only UK cider company to do so, according to Clacey.

The carbon-neutral company produces its vegan ciders from the UK’s favourite varieties of apple, including Pink Lady, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious, as well as a pear cider that’s available exclusively online. Customers wanting a taste can either buy directly from SXOLLIE’s website, from partnering retailers like Waitrose and Tesco, or by ordering a pint in person at establishments like Greene King pubs and Nando’s restaurants.

According to Clacey, the goal of SXOLLIE as the company grows is to “Be David: Beat the Goliaths of cider at their own game with a product that tastes better than other ciders…better for you, better for people, and of course better for the planet!”

Written By: Matilda Cox