A.G. Barr plc
TypePublic limited company
LSE: BAG
FTSE 250 Component
IndustrySoft drink
Founded1875 (1875)
FounderRobert Barr
HeadquartersCumbernauld, Scotland, UK
Key people
Mark Allen, Chairman
Roger White, Chief Executive
BrandsIrn-Bru
Tizer
RevenueIncrease £268.6 million (2022)[1]
Increase £42.0 million (2022)[1]
Increase £27.8 million (2022)[1]
Number of employees
879 (2022)[1]
Websitewww.agbarr.co.uk

A.G. Barr plc, commonly known as Barr's, is a Scottish soft drink manufacturer based in Cumbernauld, Scotland widely known for manufacturing the drink Irn-Bru. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

History

A sculpture of Robert Barr is erected in Camelon, near Falkirk.

The company was founded in 1875 by Robert Barr in Falkirk.[2] In 1887, his son, Robert Fulton Barr, set up a division of the original company in Glasgow, which had a much larger population.[2] In 1892 the Glasgow branch passed to Andrew Greig Barr (where the name A.G. Barr comes from), a brother of the branch's founder.[2] In 1899, they soft launched Irn Bru, eventually launching it in 1901. [3] The Falkirk and Glasgow divisions merged in 1959, and the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1965.[2]

In 1972, A.G. Barr acquired the Tizer brand.[2] In 2001 the company acquired Findlays Mineral Water which is sourced in the Lammermuir Hills.[4] In 2002, Roger White joined A.G. Barr as managing director, and in 2004 became the first chief executive from outside the Barr family.[5]

The Company acquired Forfar-based Strathmore Mineral Water in May 2006.[6] The Irn-Bru 32 energy drink variant was launched in 2006.[2] In 2008, the company purchased the Taut sports drink range,[7] and exotic fruit drink company Rubicon.[8]

In November 2012, the company agreed to merge with Britvic, which produces drinks like J2O, Tango and Robinsons, as well as holding the authority to produce Pepsi for the UK market, to create one of Europe's largest soft drinks companies.[9] The merger was abandoned in July 2013.[10]

In December 2022, the company acquired Boost Drinks for £20 million from founders Simon and Alison Gray.[11]

In October 2023, it was announced A.G. Barr had acquired the Rio Tropical Limited soft drinks brand from the independent brewer and pub company, Hall and Woodhouse Limited, for £12.3 million.[12]

On 14 July 1961, the Coca-Cola Company asked Lord Walker[note 1] for an interim interdict about the type of bottle used by A.G. Barr's "Kolabar", "Cydrap" and "Stilkrush" in the Court of Session. Coca-Cola's argument was that "real danger that the bottle used by [A.G. Barr] for containing Kolabar will be mistaken by the public for [Coca-Cola].", while A.G. Barr's argument was "the position of Coca-Cola in the soft drinks industry in Scotland is insignificant in comparison with that of [A.G. Barr]". Lord Walker refused the interim interdict, as a large part of their business could've been disturbed, additionally because Coca-Cola made no sales in the country at that point.[13][14]

Operations

A.G. Barr produces a variety of soft drinks from production sites at Cumbernauld, Forfar and Milton Keynes.[15] Irn-Bru was launched in 1901.[2]

Brands

Barr brand bubblegum-flavoured soft drink
  • Boost Drinks energy and sports drink acquired in December 2022
  • Irn-Bru Scotland's most popular soft drink
  • Tizer bought in 1972
  • Barr Flavours including Cola, Lemonade, Limeade and Cherryade
  • Bundaberg (manufactured under license for the UK and Ireland markets)
  • D'N'B dandelion and burdock
  • KA
  • OMJ!
  • Rubicon Drinks
  • San Benedetto soft drinks (manufactured under license for the UK market)
  • Simply Fruity
  • Snapple (manufactured under license for the UK and Ireland markets)
  • Strathmore Scottish spring water
  • Sun Exotic
  • Xyber energy drinks

Notes

  1. ↑ Judges within the Outer House of the Court of Session are named as "Lord [name]" or "Lady [name]", the full name of Lord Walker is James Walker.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Annual Report 2022". A.G. Barr. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "History". A.G. Barr.
  3. ↑ Leishman, David (April 2017). ""Original and Best"? How Barr's Irn-Bru Became a Scottish Icon". Études Écossaises (19). doi:10.4000/etudesecossaises.1206.
  4. ↑ A.G. Barr buys up Findlays The Scotsman, 27 December 2002
  5. ↑ The Big Profile: Roger White Archived 31 July 2012 at archive.today Insider Magazine, 25 November 2008
  6. ↑ William Lyons (28 May 2006). "Barr hopes water deal will help it fizz again". The Scotsman.
  7. ↑ Jeremy Lemer (25 January 2008). "AG Barr grows in sports drinks". Financial Times.
  8. ↑ Loulla-Mae Eleftheriou-Smith (29 September 2010). "AG Barr profits bolstered by exotic fruit drink Rubicon". Marketing Magazine. Haymarket.
  9. ↑ "AG Barr and Britvic agree to merger". BBC News. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "AG Barr abandons bid for Britvic". BBC News. BBC. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  11. ↑ Walsh, Dominic. "Boost energy drink nets £20m for founders Simon and Alison Gray". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  12. ↑ "A.G. Barr Acquires Rio Soft Drinks Brand". ESM Magazine. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  13. ↑ "Coca-Cola Co. v. Barr (AG) - Reports of Patent, Design and Trade". paperzz.com. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  14. ↑ "SOFT DRINK COMPANIES ARE IN DISPUTE". The Glasgow Herald. 15 July 1961. p. 8.
  15. ↑ "A.G.Barr factshire". Citywire. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
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