AG Barr beverage business news, company profile, analysis, comment and interviews

Are full-sugar soft drinks the new niche? - Comment

5 Nov 2019

Has the sugar tax changed the playing field so much that full-sugar is now considered a niche selling point for soft drinks? Lucy Britner takes a closer look.

AG Barr's Irn Bru 1901 - Product Launch

24 Oct 2019

AG Barr has launched a limited-edition Irn Bru with an added-sugar recipe that supposedly dates back more than 100 years.

AG Barr hatches streamlining plans as H1 sales, profits slump

24 Sep 2019

AG Barr intends to take action to reverse first-half sales and profits declines, which have been partly blamed on last year's sugar tax implementation in the UK.

How did Nichols perform in H1 2019? - results data

17 Jul 2019

UK soft drinks group Nichols has reported a strong set of results for the first half of this year, with sales in the six months rising by low double-digits.

Bellwether AG Barr can show UK soft drinks how to survive sugar tax woes - Analysis

16 Jul 2019

A profits warning from AG Barr this morning brought a strong reaction from London's financial market. The Irn-Bru owner's forecast that full-year profits will be down 20% on the year-prior sent shares spiralling by almost 30%. Consequently, the gains AG Barr had made since the UK Government implemented its sugar tax last April were almost completely wiped out.

AG Barr issues profits warning over sugar tax slump

16 Jul 2019

Irn-Bru owner AG Barr has warned that its profits will be down by 20% over the fiscal year as the fallout from the UK sugar tax hits the bottom line.

AG Barr readies biggest marketing push for Funkin canned cocktails in UK

16 Jul 2019

AG Barr is giving the recently-released Nitro Canned Cocktail line from its Funkin unit a UK-wide push over the summer.

The Coca-Cola system on the mend, the growing reluctance to drink and the good old days for analysts- The just-drinks Analyst

18 Jun 2019

Every month, Ian Shackleton, just-drinks' resident analyst, takes a look at the drinks industry through an investor lens. Here, he considers the improving relationship between The Coca-Cola Co and one of its bottlers, the cooler relationship between younger consumers and alcohol and how the drinks industry used to live.

AG Barr buys 20% stake in Stryyk-owner Elegantly Spirited for US$1.3m

7 Jun 2019

AG Barr has entered non-alcoholic spirits with the GBP1m (US$1.3m) purchase of a minority holding in Elegantly Spirited, the owner of zero-proof brand Stryyk.

AG Barr’s FunkinPRO Hibiscus Syrup - Product Launch

6 Jun 2019

AG Barr has launched a hibiscus flavour for its range of FunkinPRO cocktail syrup mixtures.

AG Barr's Irn-Bru Energy - Product Launch

17 May 2019

AG Barr is to launch an energy drink under its Irn-Bru brand.

AG Barr's Funkin Nitro Canned Cocktail - Product Launch

9 Apr 2019

AG Barr has lined up the roll-out to the UK on-premise of a range of nitrogen-infused pre-mixed cocktails.

How did AG Barr perform in fiscal-2019? - results data

26 Mar 2019

AG Barr has posted a mid-single digit sales lift from its latest fiscal year, as the positioning of the portfolio below the UK's sugar tax level benefitted from a "good year" for soft drinks in the country.

AG Barr's Funkin swaps Pink Grapefruit Gin Collins for Pink Gin Fizz in draught line-up

25 Mar 2019

AG Barr's Funkin cocktails and mixers brand has introduced a Pink Gin Fizz to its on-tap cocktails range in the UK, as it looks to take advantage of the trend for pink gin.

AG Barr marks Funkin anniversary with redesign

15 Feb 2019

AG Barr's fruit purée and cocktail mixer company, Funkin, has rolled out new packaging to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

AG Barr's Rubicon Mango Zero Added Sugar - Product Launch

12 Feb 2019

AG Barr's Barr Soft Drinks unit has added a Mango Zero Sugar sparkling variant to its Rubicon line up, as it looks to capitalise on the growing popularity of low-calorie flavoured carbonates sector in the UK market.

The soft drinks & bottled water categories in 2018 - just-drinks' Review of the Year, Part II - FREE TO ACCESS

17 Dec 2018

The past year has seen significant change in the soft drinks and water sectors, precipitated by that immutable force - necessity. A look back over the past 12 months reveals how environmental and health concerns are shaping company strategy, investment decisions and new product development.

AG Barr's FunkinPRO Hemp Syrup - Product Launch

21 Nov 2018

AG Barr has released a hemp syrup under its Funkin cocktail ingredients brand. According to the company, FunkinPRO Hemp Syrup is the UK's first hemp syrup product.

AG Barr appoints former Superdry CFO to board

30 Oct 2018

Irn-Bru owner AG Barr has appointed Nicholas Wharton to its board as an independent non-executive director.

AG Barr updates H1 sales increase to 6%, but still lags UK market - results

25 Sep 2018

AG Barr has provided clarity on last month's trading update, revealing that sales for the first half of its fiscal year were slightly higher than anticipated.

AG Barr confident as Irn-Bru outpaces market in H1 2018 - results

1 Aug 2018

Soft drinks maker AG Barr hailed an "especially positive" 5% rise in first-half revenue and highlighted the continued momentum of its Irn-Bru brand.

AG Barr takes Funkin to Spain

4 May 2018

AG Barr has signed a distribution deal to launch its cocktail mixers range to Spain.

How prepared are soft drinks companies for UK sugar tax? - Focus

28 Mar 2018

On 6 April, the UK will bring into effect the Soft Drinks Industry Levy. The so-called sugar tax comprises: GBP0.18 per litre if the drink has 5g of sugar or more per 10cl GBP0.24 per litre if the drink has 8g of sugar or more per 10cl

AG Barr to distribute Bundaberg Brewed Drinks in UK & Ireland

15 Mar 2018

AG Barr's Barr Soft Drinks unit will handle Australia's Bundaberg Brewed Drinks in the UK and Irish markets.

AG Barr's Strathmore Botanics - Product Launch

5 Mar 2018

AG Barr has released a range of botanical- and fruit-infused waters, under its Strathmore brand.

AG Barr reveals 99% of portfolio to escape sugar tax; FY 2018 sales to rise - trading update

1 Feb 2018

AG Barr has confirmed that almost all of its portfolio will fall under the upcoming UK sugar tax.

AG Barr launches on-draught Funkin cocktail range

1 Feb 2018

AG Barr’s pre-made cocktail unit, Funkin, has unveiled its first on-draught cocktails.

AG Barr backs taste profile as low-sugar Irn-Bru hits shelves

5 Jan 2018

AG Barr has reassured consumers its new reduced-sugar Irn-Bru tastes the same as the original after fans reportedly started stockpiling reserves ahead of the switch over.