| A.G. Barr plc | |
| Traded As: | FTSE 250 Component |
| Founder: | Robert Barr |
| Area Served: | Worldwide |
| Key People: | Mark Allen, Chairman Euan Sutherland, Chief Executive |
| Industry: | Soft drinks, energy drinks |
| Revenue: | £317.6 million (2023)[1] |
| Operating Income: | £45.3 million (2023) |
| Net Income: | £33.9 million (2023) |
| Num Employees: | 937 (2023) |
| Brands: | Irn-Bru Tizer Rubicon Boost |
A.G. Barr plc, commonly known as Barr's, is a British soft drink and energy drink manufacturer based in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, Scotland widely known for manufacturing the drink Irn-Bru. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
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]
The company acquired a cocktail mixer business, Funkin, in February 2015.[11]
In December 2022, the company acquired Boost Drinks for £20 million from founders Simon and Alison Gray.[12] The company also took full control of Moma Foods at that time.[13]
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.[14]
On 14 July 1961, the Coca-Cola Company asked Lord Walker 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.[15] [16]
A.G. Barr produces a variety of soft drinks from production sites at Cumbernauld, Forfar and Milton Keynes.[17] Irn-Bru was launched in 1901.