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UK-based cider maker, Westons Cider, has announced a £2 million investment and plans to use the funding to enhance its fruit pressing capacity and reduce energy consumption with new technology. The investment will see two cider presses installed at its Hertfordshire mill to meet growing demand. The presses will run off renewable energy sources and are said to be 20% more efficient than the current on-site presses, helping the cider maker to reduce its carbon footprint. Giles Goodwin, production manager at Westons Cider, said: “This investment will mean we can fulfil increasing demand while protecting the rural environment. Not only will we reduce our own on-site emissions, but we’ll be able to support more growers across Herefordshire and the neighbouring counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. What’s more, by expanding our capacity, we’ll be able to take more fruit from established orchards, helping to prevent trees being grubbed up and preserving nature throughout the region.” Westons Cider also sends its pomace – left behind during the pressing process – to an anaerobic digestor that converts it into food-grade CO2 which is used to carbonate the company’s ciders. This removes the need for the CO2 to be delivered and – according to the cider maker – reduces the supply chain’s road miles by 10,000.