Heineken introduces Strongbow apple cider from the UK

By The Nation

 

 

TAP Group, brewer and distributor of premium beers such as Heineken, Tiger, Cheers, Guinness and Kilkenny, recently unveiled Strongbow, the best-selling apple cider brand from the UK.

The premium cider brand’s target audiences are Thai millennials between 20 and 35. 

 

The company also plans to roll out activities under "A Fresh Remix of Nature" brand, including marketing activities to increase sales volume and occupy a market share with total number of 500,000 litres, in order to become the leader in the apple cider market in Thailand.

 

Pattapanee Ekahitanond, Heineken and Strongbow Marketing Manager, TAP Group said: “As the company that has been managing and doing marketing for a global premium brand like Heineken, together with a wide range of premium alcohol products in our portfolio, we saw a great opportunity to add an alternative quality beverage like Strongbow into the family.

 

Additionally, drinking behavior of our target audiences are now changing; they are looking for alternative options when purchasing beverages. Strongbow makes form the real apple, manufactured in Hereford, England, which is famous around the world for its apple orchards. 

 

“For Thailand, cider market in 2017 is worth Bt30 million, with 120-per-cent growth. The main growth factor comes from the popularity of apple cider among Thai 'Gen M' drinkers, who constantly look for new opportunities to socialise and seek new things to bring their special occasions to live.”

 

As for Strongbow’s marketing activities, Pattapanee added: “Experiential marketing is the strategy that we use to communicate with our target audiences under 'A Fresh Remix of Nature' brand position statement. Strongbow’s marketing activities will be in the form of music and lifestyle platform with the unique style of Strongbow which aims to connect directly with our target audiences.

 

“Strongbow comes in two distinct flavours including Gold Apple and Red Berries at the price of 59 baht per bottle ... For all the reasons above, we believe that Strongbow will be the leader of apple cider market in Thailand by the year 2018,” Pattapanee said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30331204

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-09

It's been on the shelves for about two months now. Personally I don't think it tastes much like the original Strongbow, as it's sweeter. Must be brewed locally for that price.

Ahhhh Mother's milk, raised on strongbow being a Hereford lad.

4 minutes ago, Tilacme said:

Ahhhh Mother's milk, raised on strongbow being a Hereford lad.

Hampshire and west country for me! Love the stuff, but not overly impressed by this version. Shame. So refreshing in this climate. My favourite is Thatchers.

Edited November 9, 20178 yr by Wiggy

....hard cider has grown to a huge market globally. Stella Artois has their "Cidre." And "Angry Orchard" in USA has kept pace.

5 minutes ago, burgdawg said:

....hard cider has grown to a huge market globally. Stella Artois has their "Cidre." And "Angry Orchard" in USA has kept pace.

Angry Orchard - what a great name!

Moose Cider is pretty good, and does not contain any mooses!

I had a taste of one.  so sickly sugary sweet.  yuck!

32 minutes ago, Wiggy said:

It's been on the shelves for about two months now. Personally I don't think it tastes much like the original Strongbow, as it's sweeter. Must be brewed locally for that price.

 

That's weird...  The OP article talks about a price of 59b per bottle, though they don't mentioned what size. Maybe the standard 320/330 ML size used locally.

 

That's under the cheapest imported ciders I've seen here, which seem to start at about 99b per 500 ML bottle or can. Which would seem to suggest it's going to be brewed locally like Heineken.

 

Except, the OP article talks about using apples from England, and AFAIK, Thailand doesn't seem to have any apple crop of its own.

 

So I wonder, just what's up with this?

1 hour ago, tominbkk said:

I had a taste of one.  so sickly sugary sweet.  yuck!

After a day of hay baling in the hot sun it tastes like nectar. 

Sainsbury's U.K.

                         Strongbow Cider 4x440ml£3.75/unit   (about  B170) for 4 cans.      B43 / can

 

 

Tried it. Didn't like it. I go with Savannah Dry Cider from South Africa. That's good cider.

3 hours ago, Wiggy said:

It's been on the shelves for about two months now. Personally I don't think it tastes much like the original Strongbow, as it's sweeter. Must be brewed locally for that price.

"Must be brewed locally for that price. "           TAP = Thai Asia Pacific.    so, yes, you're correct,.

 

TAP Group, brewer and distributor of premium beers such as Heineken, Tiger, Cheers, Guinness and Kilkenny, recently unveiled Strongbow, the best-selling apple cider brand from the UK.

29 minutes ago, Jimjim1968 said:

Tried it. Didn't like it. I go with Savanna Dry Cider from South Africa. That's good cider.

Available in Thailand?             No doubt it's a real Paarl of a cider.

4 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

That's weird...  The OP article talks about a price of 59b per bottle, though they don't mentioned what size. Maybe the standard 320/330 ML size used locally.

 

That's under the cheapest imported ciders I've seen here, which seem to start at about 99b per 500 ML bottle or can. Which would seem to suggest it's going to be brewed locally like Heineken.

 

Except, the OP article talks about using apples from England, and AFAIK, Thailand doesn't seem to have any apple crop of its own.

 

So I wonder, just what's up with this?

 

Sounds like maybe importing English apples and making the cider locally, catering for the local sweet tooth?

 

I was talking with Mrs BB about apples the other day funnily enough. She didn't think any were grown in Thailand. 

 

Interesting that the Bell's Whisky being sold very competitively here also tastes different to how I remember Bell's tasting in the UK. A number of people commented on that. I wrote a polite email to their marketing asking if there was any difference. Several weeks have elapsed and no reply! 

 

Selling a branded item but with local variation could possibly contravene EU and UK laws unless it's clearly marked on the labeling. Interesting that the Strongbow is getting the same comments.

All I know is, any/every time I go to buy apples in the stores, they seem to be imported -- depending on the variety -- from China, New Zealand, USA, France, etc.

 

If they're importing UK fresh apples to brew the cider here, that would seem to mean A LOT of apples, unless of course, they're fiddling/adulterating with the recipe. Or perhaps they're importing some kind of apple juice distillate, like what occurs with the South African grapes used to make wine here in Thailand.

 

 

too sweet, Moose and Savannah are better and cheaper

4 hours ago, wgdanson said:

Moose Cider is pretty good, and does not contain any mooses!

I agree with you on that Mr wgdanson, it is pretty good but not as good as the Strongbow, I know this because my neighbour Am liked Moose but then I was daft enough to give her a bottle of Strongbow.. Her verdict, nam apen agrit aloi, nam apen Thai aloi nid noi.

What can I say apart from I slipped up badly giving her Strongbow.

Must be the Thai version, full of sugar not even a bit like the stuff back home, mind you the beer is the same so I am told.

The OP article is poorly written marketing hype full of errors and does not create a good impression for Heineken.

 

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Or perhaps they're importing some kind of apple juice distillate, like what occurs with the South African grapes used to make wine here in Thailand.

Absolutely.

No way that there are apples growing in Thailand in quantities.

 

And using/transporting concentrate is common practice worldwide for different juices particularly orange juice. It's a matter of transport cost.

4 hours ago, Tilacme said:

After a day of hay baling in the hot sun it tastes like nectar. 

Arrrr.  Yes matey, luverly stuff.      Almost makes up for the grass seeds down one's back!

6 hours ago, wgdanson said:

Moose Cider is pretty good, and does not contain any mooses!

Surely the plural is "meese"?

8 minutes ago, David in the north said:

Surely the plural is "meese"?

No it is not,please use correct grammar.The plural of moose is moosesses.

Always wanted to write a grammar police post,no need to thank me.

 

"The premium cider brand’s target audiences are Thai millennials between 20 and 35." 

 

As opposed to slightly (?) more mature West Country expatriates who like the occasional glass of Somerset?

 

I do miss the stuff, but I have never got round to investigating it up here (Chiang Rai).  I am fired with enthusiasm and will have to have a look around. I will dig out my Wurzels CD as well....

 

 

Proper Job!

Edited November 9, 20178 yr by JAG

10 minutes ago, jvs said:

No it is not,please use correct grammar.The plural of moose is moosesses.

Always wanted to write a grammar police post,no need to thank me.

 

A large herd of deer were looking at a smaller herd of moose  looking at an even smaller herd of caribou, when a flock of geese flew overhead.

Thanks accepted with gratitude.

7 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

That's weird...  The OP article talks about a price of 59b per bottle, though they don't mentioned what size. Maybe the standard 320/330 ML size used locally.

 

That's under the cheapest imported ciders I've seen here, which seem to start at about 99b per 500 ML bottle or can. Which would seem to suggest it's going to be brewed locally like Heineken.

 

Except, the OP article talks about using apples from England, and AFAIK, Thailand doesn't seem to have any apple crop of its own.

 

So I wonder, just what's up with this?

My guess would be that they export the concentrate and water is added locally, and possibly sweetener to cater for local tastes

Prolly made with imported apple concentrate from China, god knows what’s in it.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

8 hours ago, Wiggy said:

Hampshire and west country for me! Love the stuff, but not overly impressed by this version. Shame. So refreshing in this climate. My favourite is Thatchers.

Well done Wiggy. Thatchers is indeed the best.

Sounds as though TAP is introducing it, though it's been on the shelves for some considerable time. 

 

And for the record, Somerset is considered cider country.