He said it all started from a borrowed tractor, a garden shed and the generosity of farmers who “gave me the leg up”.
While many other successful cider producers have been bought by global companies, Sandford remains independent, and Butterfield said the business had grown consistently.
“There was a much bigger demand (for cider) than supply. I would make more every year, and people would buy it all , so I made some more.”
“You cannot make great cider, without great apples, and you cannot grow great apples without the right soil and the right climate, and Devon has the perfect ingredients for making great cider,” he said.
Despite his business success, Butterfield still feels more of a farmer than an entrepreneur.
“I love farming and making cider – those are my passions, and my business has grown, simply because the product is good”.
His lifetime achievement award was in recognition of his wider contribution to the cider industry over many years. He has mentored emerging producers, as well as working with the University of Bristol to identify and preserve lost apple varieties.