The company has secured support from the Growth Loan Fund, which provides mezzanine finance to develop business. As a result of the funding, Armagh Cider is investing in new equipment such as a tunnel pasteuriser to "increase efficiency and assist a major international marketing drive".

Armagh Bramley apples have EU PGI status and brands currently produced by the company include Carson’s Crisp and Madden’s Mellow.

Co-founder Helen Troughton said: “County Armagh is known to be the home of the apple business in Northern Ireland. Until we introduced Carson’s Crisp, Armagh was the only apple-growing area in the UK without its own cider producers.

“To allow us to cope with the growing demand for our product range, we required investment from the Growth Loan Fund which would enable us to purchase new machinery and therefore increase our product yield and expand the business into new export markets.”

The company also produces apple juice and cider vinegars.