Cork husband-and-wife-owned firm Nohoval Drinks Company have signed a five-year contract with Carlsberg subsidiary House of Beer in France to supply it with one of its ciders.

Nohoval, which has been owned and run by Daniel and Geraldine Emerson since 2010, will supply House of Beer with its Finbarra Dry Irish Craft Cider.

House of Beer specialises in international, craft and world beers, and will sell and distribute Finnbarra Cider (known as Stonewell Cider in Ireland) nationally in France.

The total volume ordered by House of Beer in the first three years of the deal alone equates to the entire 2015 output of Finnbarra by the West Cork-based family business. Finnbarra Dry Irish Craft Cider will be sold across France in both bottle and draught formats.

Finnbarra Irish Craft Cider will be distributed nationally in France to both on and off-trade outlets by House of Beer across the company’s eight operational regions.

In Association with

Summer Market

In the early phase of the five-year contract, demand for Finnbarra Irish Craft Cider is expected to come from the core summer holiday market and also the many Irish-themed on-trade premises throughout France. Demand is expected to broaden beyond these core markets over time.

Finnbarra Irish Craft Cider becomes the first cider to be added to the House of Beer portfolio, which includes premium beer brands such as Amarcord (Italy), Brooklyn (US), Guinness Project Beers (Ireland), Kilkenny (Ireland), Mythos (Greece), San Miguel (Spain), Smithwicks (Ireland) and Tuborg (Denmark).

Commenting on the announcement, Arthur Lenormand, House of Beer’s marketing director, said: “The French market is cornered between Brittany farmhouse and overseas industrial ciders.

“As with the micro beer sector, wherein lies our established expertise, we are convinced that there is a latent demand amongst French consumers for a new taste experience which will change their patterns of consumption.

“To enlighten and delight the French consumer with a different style of cider is an exciting challenge and we’re aiming to achieve that with a product of outstanding quality.”

The contract is the largest to date for the Nohoval Drinks Company, which was founded by Daniel and Geraldine Emerson at their Nohoval home in West Cork.

The firm booked a profit of €63,000 in the 12 months to August 2015 and net worth of €53,000. Nohoval Brewing Company Limited is a subsidiary of UK-based firm Stonewell Offshore Investments Limited, which is owned by the Emersons.

Commenting on the contract, Daniel Emerson said: “This is a landmark deal for us on several levels. A large five-year contract for a six-year-old company allows us to plan our business with greater confidence.

“That this contract is for a market of 63 million people and with a subsidiary of Carlsberg is a significant endorsement of both our business and our cider.”

Photo: Daniel Emerson (left) of Finnbarra Cider/Nohoval Drinks Company and Arthur Lenormand, of House of Beer (France)