Gordon Johncox, managing director at Aston Manor Cider has been appointed as deputy chair of the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM), the trade body for the industry.

Taking up the position from 19th October 2016 for two years, Gordon will bring very considerable industry expertise and experience to the role.

Current chair, Helen Thomas, has recently progressed from deputy chair and recommended Gordon to replace her.

Since starting as managing director at Aston Manor in 2011, he has helped the company become a major player in the industry. Having won multiple awards over the last four years, Aston Manor is currently outperforming the market and is in a strong position to continue to make progress. It currently makes six out of the top 10 ciders by sales volume.

Gordon said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge of taking up such a key position representing and championing the interests of the whole cider industry – worth over £3bn in retail sales.

“I have been involved in the leadership of the NACM for a number of years. To be invited to be deputy chair is a great honour and, I hope, recognition of the contribution I have made and will continue to make.

“I believe we have two major challenges to consider – with the profile of cider higher than ever before – we need to create and seize the opportunities to inform people about the quality of ciders now available, the role of cider in rural communities and to educate different audiences just how good our performance is in all aspects of being a sustainable industry.

“At the same time we need to robustly seek to work with all interested parties to reduce the misery of alcohol abuse and explain our stance, defending the industry from misplaced and misinformed criticism of what we do."

The body for the UK cider industry now has two people from Aston Manor Cider appointed in leading roles within the organisation.

Aston Manor’s head cider maker Rodney Clifford is currently head of pomology for the industry group and is responsible for ensuring standards of the UK cider fruit are kept at the highest level and enhancing the already recognised work in sustainability and environmental good practice.