A FORMER industrial chemist with BP who invented a device for homebrew hobbyists to turn discarded apples into cider has turned his creation into a commercial enterprise.
Retired Scot Nevin Stewart, who amassed around 30 patents in his name during his career at the oil and gas giant, has struck a deal with Vigo Presses to make the Juice and Strain (J&S) kit available online and at its retail outlet in Devon. It means consumers will be able to buy Mr Stewart’s kit for the first time.
Now based in Guildford, Surrey, Mr Stewart said Vigo has the reach to supply his device “anywhere in the world”. He said he “can see Juice & Strain having appeal to apple tree owners the world over”.
The inventor developed the process with neighbours and friends Nick McDuff and Dick Nevitt. He feels it will put to good use the estimated 90 per cent of apples grown in the UK which are ultimately discarded.
A price has yet to be set for the kit, but Mr Stewart noted that it is capable of producing one gallon of juice from 8kg of apples.
The kit itself has a “high performance centrifugal juicer” which is connected to a “juice containment and delivery adaptor”. It is the latter part which does the straining. “In J&S the two operations occur at the same time making it a simple step process,” he said. “J&S is a clean, efficient, quick, relatively low-cost and it transforms accessibility for the aspiring home cider maker who may have an annual surplus of garden apples.”
The deal with Vigo Presses comes after Mr Stewart has spent the last four years building up the profile of Juice & Strain since his retirement. He has had articles about the product published in six countries, and has featured in numerous radio interviews, including on Radio 4.
Mr Stewart, who has also been featured in the BP Pensioner magazine, said: “I would like to see more people enjoying making their own fresh clear apple juice and crystal clear ciders at home.”
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