Gov.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced today that Manchester cidery Blue Bee Cider will move to Scott’s Addition, investing $1 million to triple its production and renovate historic city stables.
The cidery only opened in 2012, but announced in May that they were planning to expand with an orchard and patio on West Clay Street.
According to the release, Blue Bee Cider will purchase more than 850,000 pounds in Virginia-grown apples and berries over the next three years allowing the company to triple its hard cider production to over 100,000 bottles per year. Their new spot will also create four new jobs.
“Blue Bee Cider’s expansion represents another positive step for Virginia as we reinforce our reputation as a key player in the nation’s hard cider sector,” said Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore in the announcement. “Sales of Virginia cider increased over 200 percent from fiscal years 2014 to 2015 and national sales rose by more than 40 percent over the same. Blue Bee’s high-quality, Virginia-grown products have won national acclaim and will continue to be a landmark in Richmond. Indeed, these craft beverages and others are contributing positively to cities and rural communities across the Commonwealth, adding to the Governor’s call to build a new Virginia economy.”
Blue Bee Cider received a $50,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund to help with the expansion, and the city is matching that with local funds.
Owner Courtney Mailer also commented on he expansion.
“As Richmond’s food and beverage reputation was rising, two years ago I started looking for a new facility to accommodate our growth,” she said at the announcement this morning. “I feel very fortunate that Blue Bee Cider has found a home at such a beautiful place with urban-agricultural roots. The Stables are so wonderful as they are. It is a true honor to be part of its story and rebirth.”
Be on the lookout for more news on the upcoming Blue Bee Cider expansion!
