A.G. Barr
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| A.G. Barr plc | |
|---|---|
| Type | Public (LSE: BAG) |
| Founded | 1875 |
| Founder | Robert Barr |
| Headquarters | Cumbernauld, Scotland, UK |
| Key people | Robin Barr, Chairman Roger White, Chief Executive |
| Industry | Beverages |
| Products | Irn-Bru Tizer Red Kola Barr Cola D'n'B American Cream Soda St Clements Lemonade Ginger Beer Limeade Lipton Iced Tea Orangina |
| Revenue | ▲ £128.8 million GBP (2006) |
| Operating income | ▲ £17.9 million GBP (2006) |
| Net income | ▲ £12.2 million GBP (2006) |
| Employees | 915 |
| Website | http://www.agbarr.co.uk |
A.G. Barr plc (LSE Stockcode: BAG) is a British soft drinks manufacturer, based in Cumbernauld, Scotland. It is particularly notable for the manufacture of the popular Scottish drink, Irn-Bru. A.G. Barr is the largest manufacturer of soft drinks in the United Kingdom.
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[edit] History
The company was founded in 1875 by Robert Barr in the town of Falkirk. His son, also called Robert, set up a division of the original company in Glasgow which had a much larger population. The two divisions merged in 1959. Irn-Bru was first launched in 1901. 1980 saw the introduction of Low Calorie Irn-Bru, this changed in 1991 to Diet Irn-Bru and the Irn-Bru 32 energy drink variant was launched in 2006. In 1972, the Tizer brand was purchased. In 2001 the company acquired Findlays Mineral Water which is sourced in the Lammermuir Hills, this brand was joined by Forfar based Strathmore Mineral Water in May of 2006.[1] In 2008 the company purchased the Taut sports drink range. [2] The company also manufactures Red Kola, Barr Cola, D'n'B, American Cream Soda, St Clements and its own brands of Lemonade, Ginger Beer and Limeade. In the UK, the company also has a partnership with Unilever to market Lipton Iced Tea and a manufacturing franchise with Cadbury Schweppes for the Orangina soft drink range.
[edit] Competition with Coca-Cola
In Scotland there is fierce competition between Irn-Bru and Coca-Cola. Irn-Bru has long been the most popular soft drink in Scotland, but recent times have seen the two brands sales at roughly equal levels.[3] This success in defending its home market (a feat claimed only by Irn-Bru and Peru's Inca Kola) has led to ongoing speculation that either Coke or arch-rivals Pepsi would attempt to buy A.G.Barr.[4]
[edit] National and international sales
As of 2006, A.G. Barr produces a whole variety of soft drinks for the UK market including Irn-Bru, Tizer, Red Kola (One of the few cola drinks still made using actual Kola nuts), Barr Cola, D'n'B, St Clements, Lemonade and Limeade at its UK manufacturing plants in Cumbernauld and Mansfield.[5]. Irn-Bru is currently manufactured in five factories in Russia, and is also manufactured under licence in Canada and Australia. Bru and various other Barr products are exported to The United States, Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Greece, and Cyprus, as well as parts of Africa and Asia. It is available sporadically in Ireland.
[edit] References
- ^ William Lyons (28 May 2006). Barr hopes water deal will help it fizz again. The Scotsman.
- ^ Jeremy Lemer (25 January 2008). AG Barr grows in sports drinks. Financial Times.
- ^ Sharon Ward (30 Sep 2003). Coke takes sparkle off Irn-Bru. The Scotsman.
- ^ Ian Dey (6 Mar 2005). Cash reigns supreme amid share buyback spree. Scotland on Sunday.
- ^ Advertising Barr's Irn-Bru
