Westons cider has secured listings at two of the major mults for a new canned version of its Stowford Press brand.

The cider, previously only available to supermarkets in glass bottles, has gone into 300 Tesco stores and is due to go into 850 Co-op stores in March in 500ml cans.

Following a sponsorship deal agreed last year, Westons plans to promote the brand’s position as official cider of the English Cricket Board on the new cans during the Ashes. Westons has also developed a hard plastic bottle for festivals and other outdoor events.

The company, which also makes Henry Westons and Old Rosie, said it was using Stowford Press to build its presence in the off-trade.

“Stowford Press has a strong following in the on-trade, which should provide a good platform for growth,” said Westons MD Helen Thomas.

Sales at the Hertfordshire-based company jumped 14% to £43.6m in the year to 31 March 2012, according to accounts filed in Companies House last week.

Last year, Westons told The Grocer it was hoping to reach a turnover of £100m in the next 10 years.

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