Company Description – Ironwood Cider is a Niagara-on-the-Lake craft cidery founded in 2014. Known for its modern, artisan ciders and welcoming tasting room, the business produces premium ciders and small-lot wines using heritage apple and pear varieties sourced from Ontario growers. Its year-round retail venue supports Niagara’s agritourism economy and community events. Approximately 70 per cent of sales are generated through direct-to-consumer and hospitality channels, with products sold exclusively in Canada.

Project Description – Before the project, customer information from Ironwood’s online store, tasting room, and event bookings was spread across separate systems. This limited the business’s ability to understand purchasing behaviour, manage customer relationships, and assess customer value across channels. Manual spreadsheets and email-based processes also made it more difficult to manage subscriptions, target communications, and grow online sales efficiently.

Through DCC’s Retail Modernization Project Grant, Ironwood implemented an integrated customer relationship management and subscription platform. The new system consolidates customer data across Shopify, the tasting room, and event channels, creating a more complete view of each customer. It also automates communications and subscription processes, streamlines order management, and provides clearer insight into customer preferences and purchasing behaviour.

Project Impact – Since implementation, the modernization has established a more efficient, data-driven sales system that supports online sales growth through targeted engagement, automated subscriptions, and improved forecasting. By reducing reliance on spreadsheets and manual processes, Ironwood can better retain customers, encourage repeat purchases, and build recurring revenue through its direct-to-consumer channels. “The project has already generated $1,000 in incremental sales and is projected to deliver a 50% increase in productivity and 20% cost savings. By strengthening the digital infrastructure of a locally owned agri-food business, the initiative supports rural employment, Ontario-based supply chains, and the province’s digital innovation ecosystem.” — Richard Liu, President, Ironwood Cider