Sea Cider Prohibition
Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse joins Creek & Gully Cider as the only two BC farm-based craft cideries selling products through BC Government Liquor Stores. On the cusp of Father’s Day, Sea Cider launched their Prohibition cider into 26 of the nearly 200 BCL stores in the province, with the hope that BCL stores will open their doors to more farm-crafted BC beverages. BC is home to more than three dozen farm-based craft cideries, most of whom are members of the BC Farm Crafted Cider Association.
“We are thrilled that BC’s Liquor Distribution Branch is exploring craft cider as a business opportunity, one that hundreds of private liquor stores in the province embraced a decade ago. It's surprising that, at a time when British Columbians want to buy local, BCL stores are not fully mobilized to sell local,” says Kristen Needham, Sea Cider’s Owner and Cidermaster.Sea Cider’s Prohibition cider, a barrel aged specialty cider crafted with certified organic BC apples, is one of Sea Cider’s most awarded ciders. Until this point, Prohibition had always been exclusively exported to the US. As a result of the Covid-19 shutdown, exports to the US were cut back, leaving Sea Cider looking for new market opportunities. As the largest single alcohol purchaser in the province, the BC Government’s Liquor Distribution Branch was an obvious choice. Numerous hurdles present challenges for small BC craft beverage producers to supply BCL stores but ultimately with patience and dedication, Sea Cider was given the opportunity to supply Prohibition to select stores.
“We believe in free trade and we don’t need special pricing concessions,” says Needham, “But what would really help would be dedicated shelf space for farm-crafted cider, and Buy BC Program's support to promote BC beverages not just to consumers, but to BCL store staff and category managers.”
Needham sits on the Agriculture, Food and Beverage Committee of the South Island Prosperity Partnership, which has launched a multi-stakeholder initiative to coordinate a strong response to the urgent economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jacques van Campen, who chairs the Committee, sees the challenges that BC beverage producers face with the pandemic. van Campen echoes Needham’s sentiments, “You can’t just say "Buy Local”; you have to change metrics and motivation. If BCL stores begin assessing performance in part on devoting a certain percentage of their shelf space to BC farm-crafted cider, for example, then managers can measure their results and consumers can find more of their favourite local products. We need to put targets in place that support local.”
Sea Cider’s Prohibition is listed for a limited trial period. “It’s now or never,” says Needham. “We have a chance to show BCL stores that we can compete with global brands, that British Columbians are looking for more local craft beverage options, and that BC farm-crafted cider makes good business sense for BCL stores.”
About Sea Cider
Sea Cider is a certified organic orchard and ciderhouse located minutes from downtown Victoria. Situated on 10 acres on the Saanich Peninsula overlooking the Haro Strait, the farm-based business has been producing award-winning ciders since 2007. Sea Cider is available through private liquor stores throughout BC, as well as through Western Canada and the United States. seacider.ca