A SOMERSET cider will be hitting the shelves of hundreds of Tesco stores after a new deal was struck.

The two new cans of Sheppy's Cider have been chosen by the supermarket giant to receive a national listing.

The brand has been selling its cider in store across the South West, but the new listing means the cans, the VAT 14 Classic and VAT 07 Cloudy ciders, will be available at more than 400 stores across the UK.

David Sheppy said: “We’re delighted to have secured this listing with Tesco, it’s an exciting step for the brand.

"The launch of our contemporary cans came after a strategic rebrand last year, where we unveiled a new look bottle design as well. This cemented our premium positioning and reinforced the authenticity of the brand.

"Our cider stays true to our traditional, craft cider making roots and heritage."

Sheppy’s cans will be joined on Tesco’s shelves by 500ml bottles of Sheppy’s award-winning Vintage Reserve Cider, a medium-dry cider with a light sparkle - and Original Cloudy Cider, a sweeter cider with a crisp, fruity flavour

Tesco says it was looking to expand its range of craft ciders, so it made 'perfect' sense to work with the Somerset-based family cider company.

Rosie Goodson, cider buyer for Tesco, said: “Today cider drinkers are becoming more sophisticated in their tastes and we are seeing increased demand for craft ciders.

"With that in mind, we wanted to expand our range in this area - and so it made perfect sense to work with a long-established craft producer like Sheppy’s, which already has a strong track record with us in the South West.

"With the provenance behind the Sheppy’s brand, we are hoping that the new cans will appeal to craft cider drinkers across the UK.”

The news of the listing has been welcomed by Visit Somerset in hopes that it will encourage more people to visit Somerset to experience the range of food and drink available.

Visit Somerset’s chief executive, John Turner, said: “We are delighted that Sheppy’s products will now find a UK-wide market. Somerset has a wealth of quality local produce, but the county is famous for its cider, so it seems fitting that these new product lines are helping to fly the flag for Somerset across the UK.

"We hope that Tesco shoppers will enjoy a taste of Somerset and it will spark their interest in visiting Somerset and finding out more about the food and drink made in the county.”