Spoke + Spy Ciderworks: Growing with Petainer's One-Way Solution for Producers

Founded by Ronald Sansone, Spoke + Spy Ciderworks is an award-winning cidery nestled in Middletown, CT. Ronald’s passion for authentic hard cider began during his time in London, where the lack of interesting local options inspired him to craft his own. Today, Spoke + Spy uses locally sourced ingredients to produce a lineup of “outstanding ciders” that has garnered loyal customer praise.

As the cidery began to expand its tasting room sales and distribution, the team needed an affordable, low-maintenance kegging solution that would allow them to scale without incurring the high costs associated with traditional steel kegs.

The Challenge: Limited Capital, Operational Efficiency & Quality Preservation

Before discovering Petainer, Spoke + Spy Ciderworks encountered several challenges common to startup cideries. They needed a solution that would support growth while preserving the unique flavour and quality of their ciders. Key challenges included:

• Limited Startup Capital: Investing in steel kegs and an expensive keg washer was beyond their budget, especially for a small-scale operation.
• Operational Efficiency: Handling heavy steel kegs and coordinating a return system would require additional labor and resources, which the cidery could not spare.
• Quality Preservation: Ensuring that each keg maintained the fresh taste and natural carbonation of their locally crafted ciders was essential for building a strong local following.

The Solution: Petainer’s One-Way Hybrid Kegs

To address these challenges, Spoke + Spy Ciderworks partnered with Petainer and adopted their one-way hybrid PET kegs. This innovative solution offered a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to traditional steel keg systems, integrating seamlessly with existing filling and dispensing operations. Petainer’s kegs provided several clear advantages:

• No Major Equipment Investment: The one-way design removes the need for a costly keg washer and eliminates the expenses associated with tracking and retrieving used steel kegs.
• Lightweight & Easy to Handle: The reduced weight of PET kegs cuts down on labor for transport and storage, making them ideal for a small operation.
• Budget-Friendly: For a startup working with limited capital, avoiding a large steel keg fleet offered immediate savings that could be redirected to product development and marketing.
• Trusted Product Quality: Petainer’s kegs arrive pre-sanitized, ensuring that the ciders retain their authentic flavors and aromas from production to tap.

Results & Impact: Streamlined Operations, Lower Costs & Expanded Distribution

Implementing Petainer’s one-way kegs has yielded significant benefits for Spoke + Spy Ciderworks. The new system not only reduced operational costs but also enabled the cidery to scale its distribution more effectively. Key outcomes include:

• Streamlined Operations: By eliminating the need for a keg washer and managing a return cycle, the cidery was able to reduce capital expenditures and redirect resources towards enhancing the tasting room experience and product innovation.
• Lower Labor Demands: The lightweight, disposable nature of the PET kegs simplified handling and reduced the physical burden on staff, allowing them to focus on crafting new cider varieties.
• Simplified Logistics: The absence of a return and deposit process enabled smoother distribution, allowing Spoke + Spy to ship products widely without the logistical headaches associated with steel kegs.
• Expanded Market Reach: With a more efficient packaging solution, the cidery can now distribute its award-winning ciders to a broader range of venues—from local retail outlets to high-traffic events.

One-way kegs saved us a ton of money on our initial budget and saved us from moving a lot of heavy kegs too! Petainer kegs are the perfect option for budget-minded cidery start-ups.

Ronald Sansone, Founder Spoke + Spy Ciderworks

Conclusion: A Scalable, Sustainable Future for Cider Producers

By partnering with Petainer, Spoke + Spy Ciderworks has successfully overcome the challenges of high capital costs, labor-intensive logistics, and quality preservation in a startup environment. The adoption of one-way hybrid PET kegs has streamlined operations, reduced expenses, and facilitated broader distribution—all while maintaining the distinctive flavour and quality of their ciders.

This case study demonstrates that even small cideries can thrive by embracing innovative, eco-friendly packaging solutions.