Yates Cider Mill
Yates Cider Mill is a family-owned, sixth-generation cider mill in Rochester Hills, Michigan, producing fresh apple cider using a 1894 water-powered press. It serves families, corporate catering clients, and event hosts through two retail locations, e-commerce shipping, and event catering.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1863
- HeadquartersRochester Hills, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Yates Cider Mill does
Yates Cider Mill is a family-owned, multi-generational cider production and agri-tourism business headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan, operating continuously since 1863. The company produces fresh, preservative-free apple cider using a traditional water-powered production process centered on a 26-inch water turbine installed in 1894 and a Dunning & Boschert screw press capable of producing 300 gallons of cider per hour. Approximately 25,000 bushels of Michigan-grown apples are processed each season, with cider treated via UV light filtration before bottling. Beyond core cider production, the product portfolio includes handmade donuts (a tradition since the 1930s), baked goods (pies, cookies, turnovers), jarred preserves, honey, maple syrup, ice cream, and Yates-branded apparel and gifts.
The business operates a direct-to-consumer model across two physical locations: the historic Rochester Hills mill (open March through November) and the year-round Yates at Canterbury Village in Lake Orion. Both function as destination experiences with trails, a petting zoo, picnic areas, and an ice cream shoppe. Revenue streams include on-site retail, e-commerce shipping of frozen cider and baked goods, DoorDash local delivery, large event catering for corporate clients and weddings, and merchandise sales. The primary customer base is families and the general public seeking traditional fall experiences, supplemented by corporate catering clients (including Rocket Mortgage, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Henry Ford Health, Borg Warner, and Magna International) and wedding/event hosts. The business is currently owned by Katie and Mike Titus under the Posey-Titus family, representing the sixth generation of ownership, with no external investment or institutional capital.
Yates Cider Mill firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Yates Cider Mill
- Legal name
- Yates Cider Mill
- Website
- https://yatescidermill.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1863
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Yates Cider Mill is a family-owned, sixth-generation cider mill in Rochester Hills, Michigan, producing fresh apple cider using a 1894 water-powered press. It serves families, corporate catering clients, and event hosts through two retail locations, e-commerce shipping, and event catering.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Yates Cider Mill industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fresh Apple Cider & Bakery
- NAICS
- Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing (31211)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cideries & Meadery Tasting Rooms (THAFALAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cider & Perry Production (AFAFAAAD), Non-Alcoholic Beverage Bottling/Canning & Packaging Operations (AFAFABAO), Cider & Perry Producers & Brands (CRADAIAE)
Keywords
Where Yates Cider Mill is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rochester Hills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Yates Cider Mill business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- On-site Retail Sales: Direct retail sales of fresh cider, donuts, baked goods, ice cream, and specialty items at two physical locations. Products include apple cider, donuts, fritters, pies, turnovers, jams, honey, maple syrup, and apparel.
- E-commerce and Shipping: Online ordering with shipping of frozen cider, baked goods, apple fritters, and jarred goods delivered to customers. DoorDash delivery available for local orders.
- Large Event Orders and Catering: Bulk orders for corporate events, weddings, parties, and gatherings including donuts, cider, baked goods, and wedding favors. Provides delivery and pickup options with volume discounts.
- Gift Shop and Merchandise: Sales of Yates branded merchandise including apparel, gift cards, notecards, keychains, magnets, coasters, shopping bags, and candles.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Apple Fritters - Pre-order item available on Fridays |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Frozen Cider for Shipping |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Large Event Orders - Donuts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Large Event Orders - Cider |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Large Event Orders - Baked Goods |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Baked Goods - Pies |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Honey Products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Maple Syrup |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Yates Cider Mill product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Yates Cider Mill produces fresh, preservative-free apple cider using a 26-inch water turbine installed in 1894 and a traditional double-table screw press, then sells it — alongside handmade donuts, baked goods, jarred goods, honey, maple syrup, ice cream, and Yates-branded gifts — directly to consumers at two Michigan retail locations and via e-commerce. The company also provides large-order catering and wedding favors for corporate events, weddings, and parties with delivery across Metro Detroit.
Product overview
Yates Cider Mill operates as a historic water-powered cider mill with two locations (Rochester Hills and Lake Orion's Canterbury Village). The product portfolio centers on fresh apple cider produced using a 26-inch water turbine installed in 1894, complemented by donuts, baked goods (pies, cookies, turnovers, crisps), and preserved products (jams, jellies, honey, maple syrup). Additional offerings include ice cream at the Canterbury Village location, catering services for large events and weddings, apparel and gift merchandise, and seasonal fall activities including trails, a petting zoo, and pony rides. The business combines traditional food production with agri-tourism experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Apple Cider Fresh-pressed apple cider made from Michigan-grown apples using a traditional water-powered press. Available by the jug, frozen shipping boxes, and as sparkling varieties.
- Apple Fritters Golden and crispy apple fritters with soft centers filled with tender apple pieces and hints of cinnamon. Pre-order available on Fridays only.
- Baked Goods Assortment of pies (caramel apple, dutch apple, double crust apple, pumpkin, pecan), cookies (molasses, triple chocolate chunk, M&M monster), turnovers, crisps, pocket pies, and seasonal treats.
- Jarred Goods Preserved products including jams, jellies, preserves, apple butter BBQ sauce, apple salsa, peach salsa, bread & butter pickles, peach slices, pickled baby beets, and vinaigrette salad dressings.
- Honey Local Michigan honey products including raw honey, cinnamon-enriched honey, ginger-enriched honey, royal jelly honey, honey squeezers, and specialty honey bear containers.
- Maple Syrup Michigan maple syrup in various grades (A and B) and flavors including whiskey-flavored syrups, infused syrups (cherry, apple cinnamon, salted caramel, vanilla), and standard grade options.
- Large Event Orders / Catering Catering service for weddings, parties, corporate events, and large gatherings offering donuts, cider, baked goods, and wedding favors with delivery options and volume discounts.
- Gifts & Apparel Yates-branded merchandise including notecards, keychains, magnets, coasters, shopping bags, gift cards, hats, hoodies, t-shirts, and postcards.
- Wedding Favors Custom wedding favors including donuts, caramel apples, and cider packaged in decorative bags or boxes for weddings, rehearsals, and receptions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 6,000+ positive Google Reviews and 17,000+ positive Facebook Reviews demonstrating customer satisfaction and brand loyalty
Companies that use Yates Cider Mill
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Yates Cider Mill technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Yates Cider Mill partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Yates Cider Mill competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Uncle John's Cider Mill: St. John's, Michigan cider mill established in 1914, producing fresh apple cider, donuts, baked goods, and hosting seasonal fall activities. Closest direct peer to Yates: same Michigan heritage cider mill model, similar product mix (cider, donuts, family destination), and overlapping target audience of families and fall-activity seekers in Michigan.
- Franklin Cider Mill: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan cider mill started in 1903, producing fresh-pressed apple cider, donuts, and baked goods with seasonal operations. Direct competitor in the southeast Michigan cider mill market, with similar product offerings, customer base, and seasonal operating model.
- Wiard's Orchard & Cider Mill: Ypsilanti, Michigan orchard and cider mill offering U-pick apples, cider, donuts, and a fall festival with family attractions. Comparable Michigan cider mill with similar agri-tourism model, family destination positioning, and cider-centric product portfolio.
- Country Mill: Charlotte, Michigan orchard, cider mill, and winery producing fresh cider, donuts, pies, and hosting U-pick activities. Direct peer in Michigan's cider mill and family agri-tourism segment, with overlapping product mix and seasonal family appeal.
- Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill: Armada, Michigan family-owned orchard, cider mill, and hard cidery with U-pick, bakery, and family attractions. Comparable Michigan heritage operation spanning fresh cider, donuts, baked goods, and broad agri-tourism experiences.
Regional players
- Crane's U-Pick & Orchard: Fennville, Michigan orchard featuring U-pick apples, cider, donuts, pies, and a pie kitchen restaurant. Comparable regional cider-mill-and-orchard-destination format serving West Michigan families with similar product offerings.
- Lehman's Orchard: Niles, Michigan family-owned orchard producing cider, fruit, and seasonal products. Regional peer in Michigan's heritage orchard and cider production landscape with similar family-owned brand and cider-centric product.
- St. Julian Winery: Michigan's oldest and largest winery, producing fruit wines, hard ciders, and spirits with tasting rooms and retail. Comparable as a Michigan heritage beverage brand with tasting room/retail presence and overlapping cider category, though wine-focused rather than fresh cider.
Broad incumbents
- Blake's Hard Cider: Michigan-based hard cider producer operating as a sister brand to Blake's Orchard. Comparable to Yates as a Michigan cider brand, though Blake's Hard Cider produces alcoholic craft cider rather than fresh-pressed cider, making it a broader market overlap in the Michigan cider category.
- Angry Orchard: National hard cider brand owned by Boston Beer Company, producing bottled craft ciders across multiple varieties. Broader incumbent in the Apple/Cider beverage category; comparable only at the category level since it's an alcoholic, packaged, mass-market product versus Yates' fresh-pressed, experiential model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Yates Cider Mill social profiles
Digital presenceYates Cider Mill financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Yates Cider Mill leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Yates Cider Mill subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Yates Cider Mill funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Yates Cider Mill M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Yates Cider Mill
What does Yates Cider Mill do?
Yates Cider Mill produces fresh, preservative-free apple cider using a 26-inch water turbine installed in 1894 and a traditional double-table screw press, then sells it — alongside handmade donuts, baked goods, jarred goods, honey, maple syrup, ice cream, and Yates-branded gifts — directly to consumers at two Michigan retail locations and via e-commerce. The company also provides large-order catering and wedding favors for corporate events, weddings, and parties with delivery across Metro Detroit.
Is Yates Cider Mill a public or private company?
Yates Cider Mill is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Yates Cider Mill founded?
Yates Cider Mill was founded in 1863.
Where is Yates Cider Mill based?
Yates Cider Mill is headquartered in Rochester Hills, United States, in the North America region.
How does Yates Cider Mill make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. On-site Retail Sales are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce and Shipping, large Event Orders and Catering and gift Shop and Merchandise.
Who are Yates Cider Mill's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Uncle John's Cider Mill, Franklin Cider Mill, Wiard's Orchard & Cider Mill, Country Mill and Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill. Regional players are Crane's U-Pick & Orchard, Lehman's Orchard and St. Julian Winery. Broad incumbents are Blake's Hard Cider and Angry Orchard.
Does Yates Cider Mill have an API?
No public API is recorded for Yates Cider Mill.
What industry is Yates Cider Mill in?
Yates Cider Mill's product category is Fresh Apple Cider & Bakery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFALAI, Cideries & Meadery Tasting Rooms, with a secondary code of AFAFAAAD, Cider & Perry Production. Its NAICS code is 31211 and its SIC code is 2080.