Latest news with #OrchardPig
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Son taking on challenge in memory of Orchard Pig founder
A son is attempting to journey from a mountain peak to a palace in a challenge inspired by his late father. Andrew Quinlan died in September 2022 - six months after he was diagnosed with retroperitoneal liposarcoma, a rare form of soft tissue was an ex-marine and later went on to be the founder of Somerset cider business, Orchard Pig. His son, Henry Quinlan, started the Peak2Palace challenge alongside his father-in-law, Damian Lawrence, earlier. They are beginning with a climb of 4,000m (13,123 ft) up Mont Blanc, followed by a 550-mile (549km) cycle across pair will then row 90 miles (144km) across the English Channel, before running almost 100 miles (160km) – the equivalent to nearly four marathons - to the gates of Buckingham Palace. Henry said the challenge was exactly the kind of thing his dad enjoyed Quinlan was in the Royal Marines for eight years and would often tell the family about his excursions."He cycled and ran around Australia in the 1980s and I'd always heard about that story. He really inspired me," Henry said. The 33-year-old, who lives in Bristol and is originally from Glastonbury, said his family was devastated when Mr Quinlan was diagnosed with cancer in April 2022."By the time he was finally diagnosed he had a tumour the size of a rugby ball in his stomach," he said. Mr Quinlan underwent surgery two months after the diagnosis, but the cancer returned within three months and he died five weeks later at 59 years old. The Peak2Palace challenge comes five years after Henry and a group of friends cycled a pedalo across the Atlantic Ocean, raising almost £250,000 for the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust. Henry said he was glad to be completing the challenge with his wife's step-father, who has climbed Mont Blanc twice."Damian and I are very close - I was planning this with my friends and they had to drop out for various reasons. "I was with Damian when I heard and asked him to join me over a few beers," he pair are aiming to raise £25,000 for Sarcoma UK.
Irish Independent
29-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Cider maker C&C hopes for a long hot summer as shares rise and annual profits hit €77m
But the company has warned that consumer confidence in the UK and Ireland 'remains subdued' and the prospect of US tariffs 'add further uncertainty'. Revenue at the group, which also owns brands including Tennent's, Orchard Pig and Five Lamps, was flat at €1.66bn for the year ended February 28. Its pre-exceptional operating profit jumped 29pc to €77.1m however, which was also in line with analysts' forecasts. The drinks firm saw Tennent's and Bulmers secure market share gains during the year, it noted. The key summer trading period lies ahead, and tourism always helps sales In Ireland, C&C said that on-trade volumes of long alcoholic drinks were in line with last year's numbers, with value growth of 9pc that reflected pricing activity and growth. 'The market saw a shift towards stout, premium beer and ready-to-drink categories, with standard lager and cider seeing share declines,' it added. 'Positively, tourism provided a welcome tailwind to the industry, with international visitor spend estimated to have increased 13pc in the year.' In the off-trade sector, long alcoholic drink volumes fell 5pc (2pc by value). Cider category volume and value declined 6pc and 3pc respectively in the year. 'The large supermarket operators have responded with increased targeted advertising campaigns and deep discounting promotions as actions to stimulate category volume,' noted C&C. C&C also owns the Matthew Clark-Bibendum distribution business in the UK. It said the unit saw 'recovering customer momentum' in the year, with numbers of customers up 8pc. ADVERTISEMENT Despite the group's optimism for 2025, it said that total employment costs in the UK will rise in the coming year – due to the increase in Britain's national minimum wage, and in employer national insurance contributions. It said the planned Extended Producer Responsibility Levy in the UK, a tax on producers' packaging, will also have an impact. Tax and the Deposit Return Scheme that is already in effect in Ireland 'will cause further price inflation, as these costs and taxes are passed on to customers and consumers,' it said. 'With the key summer trading period ahead, we are executing our plans for the year, supporting our customers, investing in innovation and brand-building, people, and systems, whilst continuing to simplify the business and control costs,' said chief executive Roger White.
