INNIS & Gunn, the Edinburgh-based beer firm, has signed a three-year deal to distribute Thatchers cider in the US.

The two companies have linked up to take advantage of the "explosive" growth in cider sales currently being seen on the other side of the Atlantic.

And the deal, which is focused on the 4.8 per cent alcohol by volume Thatchers Gold brand, will bring an immediate jobs boost for Innis & Gunn USA.

The North American subsidiary will initially take on four staff - doubling its headcount - as Thatchers is sold in the US for the first time in its 110-year history.

Innis & Gunn hopes to have between 20 and 30 staff on its US payroll within the next five years, and to ultimately double that figure in the longer term.

Chief executive Dougal Sharp said: "Innis & Gunn's growth in the US has been phenomenal and the addition of another brand to the portfolio is enabling us to accelerate our programme of building staff infrastructure in the US.

"It is a 'feet on the street' market, so the more people you have, the more your retail partners and distributors will sell.

"It's really exciting and my vision for the US within the next five years is to have between 20 and 30 people out there promoting the portfolio of Innis & Gunn and Thatchers. And longer term we want to double that."

Discussions over the venture began just a year ago, when a chance meeting between managers of the two companies led to a conversation over the growth of cider in the US market.

Mr Sharp said the short time it took to reach a deal reflected the "clear upside for both parties in working together, and the great depth of mutual respect that exists between the two businesses". He added: "Obviously Thatchers and Innis & Gunn are non-competing products, and having them in our portfolio does nothing but augment what we are trying to do."

Although cider and perry account for less than one per cent of overall beer sales in the US, sales of "hard" cider have tripled over the last three years, according to Euromoniter International. It said the category will grow to 1.3 billion litres in 10 years.

Mr Sharp said the growth has been generated by all forms of cider, from US-style "hard" cider such as Samuel Adams' Angry Orchard - the biggest brand in the market - to fruit-led imports from Kopparberg and Magners.

With cider broadly marketed in the same "space" as craft beer, he explained cider offers a flavour alternative to the increasingly dominant "hop-led" beer style.

He said cider has also become popular among consumers who are gluten intolerant.

Thatchers' managing director Martin Thatcher said: "The reputation of crafted English cider is rapidly spreading in the US. Thatchers Gold has gained a well-earned reputation in the UK for its quality and taste, together with the values of heritage and provenance that it represents.

"With this continued growth in understanding and awareness of cider, the time is now right for Thatchers Gold to enter this exciting US market and engage with those consumers seeking out new and interesting brands."

Mr Sharp added: "This new relationship with Thatchers is a wonderful development for us this year, and something which we hope will enable us to build a much stronger route to market for both parties in the future."