FAIRFIELD, Iowa — After nearly a decade of self-distribution and organic growth, Jefferson County Ciderworks is celebrating several major milestones as the company enters its second decade of business.
The family-owned Iowa cidery has expanded distribution across the state through partnerships with 7G Distributing, Fahr Beverage, Golden Eagle Distributing, L&L Distributing, House of Beer, and Confluence Brewing Company. The company has also entered the Omaha market and is currently in discussions with distribution partners in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Wisconsin as it continues its Midwest expansion efforts.
The expansion follows a year of significant growth for Jefferson County Ciderworks. Since partnering with 7G Distributing, the company has expanded its retail footprint and dramatically increased draft placements across Iowa. More recently, the addition of Confluence Brewing Company’s distribution division has opened new opportunities in central Iowa and other markets that were difficult to consistently service from Fairfield. Early results in Omaha through House of Beer have exceeded expectations and reinforced the company’s belief that demand exists for independent Midwestern cider brands beyond Iowa’s borders.
At the same time, Jefferson County Ciderworks is launching The Sweeter Side, a new brand created to complement its existing portfolio and reach a broader audience of cider drinkers.
Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Jesse Narducci and Katie Greenfield, Jefferson County Ciderworks grew from a small self-distributed cidery in Fairfield into one of Iowa’s most recognized cider brands. Built without outside investors, the company spent years personally delivering product, pouring samples, attending festivals, and building relationships with retailers and consumers throughout the state.
“We’ve always believed growth should be earned,” said Greenfield. “For ten years we focused on building strong relationships and creating a sustainable business. These milestones are the result of a lot of hard work from our team, our distributors, our retail partners, and our customers.”
The company believes it is positioned for its largest year in history and expects to become Iowa’s largest hard cider producer as expanded distribution and increased production capacity continue to drive growth.
Jefferson County Ciderworks has earned dozens of national and international awards over the years, including multiple GLINTCAP medals and Best in Class honors, along with recognition as Iowa Cider Producer of the Year at the New York International Cider Competition.
While Jefferson County Ciderworks will continue producing the craft ciders that built its reputation, The Sweeter Side was developed as a separate brand with its own identity and packaging.
“We didn’t want to change what JeffCo is,” said Narducci. “We’ve spent ten years building a loyal following around quality, innovation, and balanced cider. Instead of asking JeffCo to be everything to everyone, we created a second brand.”
The initial Sweeter Side lineup includes Country Peach, Cherry Vanilla, and Berry Bliss, with Orchard Apple planned for release later this year.
“We created The Sweeter Side because we listened to our customers,” said Narducci. “Some people want an Oaked Dry. Some people want a Cherry Vanilla. There’s room for both.”
For Narducci, the company’s growth is especially meaningful because it comes after years of intentionally focusing on Iowa first.
“Iowa isn’t our launch pad. It’s our foundation,” he said. “We wanted to build something real before expanding into neighboring states. We’ve seen too many brands grow too fast and lose sight of the people who got them there. We never wanted that to be us.”
As the company enters its second decade, Jefferson County Ciderworks plans to continue investing in innovation, distribution, and new product development while remaining committed to the values that helped build the business.
“Too many brands end up chasing trends instead of creating them,” said Narducci. “We’ve grown by listening to customers, supporting our retail partners, and continuing to innovate. The big brands have national sales goals. We have local relationships. To them, Iowa is a market. To us, it’s home.”
ABOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY CIDERWORKS
Founded in 2015 in Fairfield, Iowa, Jefferson County Ciderworks is a family-owned cidery producing award-winning hard ciders made from 100% fresh-pressed apples. The company operates both the Jefferson County Ciderworks and The Sweeter Side brands and distributes throughout Iowa, with expansion planned across the Midwest.
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