Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | October 1, 2018 | Worcester Business Journal 13 Each client's situa on is different and results may vary from those presented here CLIENT: NOT-FOR-PROFIT SCHOOL Their 403(b) re rement plan was riddled with inefficiencies, lacking adequate record keeping and employee educa on. Learn how we helped at hhconsultants.com/success Put our knowledgeable professionals to work for your business. We offer a full range of comprehensive actuarial, investment advisory and re rement plan consul ng services designed to iden fy, achieve and exceed each client's specific need. RETIREMENT PLAN SERVICES THAT PASS THE TEST T H E F O O D & D R I N K I S S U E F O C U S so many apple orchards in Massa- chusetts, the state appears to have a potential for far more growth. In Central Massachusetts, hard cider is made at Lookout Farm Brewing & Cider Co. in Natick, Ragged Hill Cider Co. in West Brookfield, and Stormalong American Hard Cider in Sherborn, which last year added a second location in Leominster. Lookout Farm began making hard cider in 2015, when the Belkin family sought to diversify its business on the 180-acre farm. e hard cider business grew by 72 percent from 2016 to 2017 and another 68 percent so far from last year to this year, said Jay Mofenson, the farm's operations manager. "at speaks to the staying power of cra cider and the versatility of it as a beverage," Mofenson said. Steve Garwood, a co-owner at Ragged Hill, attributes the hard cider trend, perhaps ironically, to Angry Orchard, a hard cider owned by Sam Adams parent Boston Beer Co. Angry Orchard, he said, introduced, or rein - troduced, many to hard cider, which ferments just like wine or beer. at, Garwood said, combined with a renewed interest from many con- sumers in local products has pushed hard cider to new highs. Ragged Hill began making hard cider last Septem- ber and had already embarked on its expansion two months later. "It's a renewed interest in cider and spirits, and also a renewed interest in agriculture and agricultural products and local products. All of these things are working in the same direction," Garwood said. "From the past 10 years or more, I've been moving in this direction [of doing hard cider]. I knew it was going to take off." PHOTO/COURTESY Jay Mofenson, the operations manager at Lookout Farm in Natick, which added hard cider in 2015. Anne Garwood- Hampp, a sales and marketing manager at Ragged Hill Cider Co. in West Brookfield. PHOTO/COURTESY Changing habits Beer still far outsells other alcohol sectors, but its lead is projected to continue falling. Volume percent change, 2017 to 2022 Category Volume (2017) 2012 to 2017 (forecast) Beer 2,659.60 -0.4% -1.2% Wine 363.7 1.1% 1.1% Spirits 225.9 2.5% 2.0% Mixed Drinks 100.4 3.7% 1.0% Cider 22.8 20.2% 3.1% Total 2,372.5 0.1% -0.6% Note: Volume is in millions of 9-liter cases Source: IWSR W

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