Our history - AG Barr

Our journey

In 1875 Robert Barr started producing and selling aerated waters, as soft drinks were then called. From those early days in a small factory in Falkirk, we've grown into one of the UK's best loved soft drinks companies - with a brand that is famous the world over.

Our History

Family Tree

In 1875 Barr's was one of 100s of soft drinks businesses in Scotland. Today we're the leading independent soft drinks business in the UK.

Our history is what makes us unique. The Barr Family have been the life blood of the company since it was created in 1875.

Robert Barr

Robert Barr took the bold step of starting the business in 1875 with the first drinks produced at Burnfoot Lane in Falkirk.

Robert Fulton Barr

In 1887 his son Robert Fulton Barr started a second Barr soft drinks business in Glasgow, which was taken over by his brother Andrew Greig Barr in 1892. It is from Andrew Greig that the A.G. BARR company takes its name.

Andrew Greig Barr

Under Andrew’s guidance construction started on a major factory complex at Parkhead in Glasgow. He oversaw the launch of Barr’s ‘IRON BREW’ in 1901 and instigated the formation of a Limited Company, A.G. BARR & Co. Ltd. Sadly he was not to live long enough to see all of his plans come to fruition. In 1903 Andrew died suddenly aged only 31. A.G. BARR became a limited company a year later.

W.M. Snodgrass Barr

After Andrew's untimely death his younger brother William Snodgrass Barr, took over and grew the business until 1931 when he handed over the Chairmanship to his nephew Colonel Robert Barr.

Colonel Barr

Under Colonel Barr’s control the Company continued to progress. During the later part of the war years, when a shortage of raw materials forced the government to close many manufacturers, A.G. BARR continued to operate as a unit of the Government’s ‘concentrated’ soft drinks industry.

Robert Barr

In 1947 Robert Barr, on his return from war service, became Chairman. In 1947, under his stewardship, Barr’s IRON BREW was renamed ‘IRN-BRU’ as we know it today; the company was floated on the Stock Exchange in 1965 and Tizer Limited was purchased in 1972.

Robin Barr

His son, Robin Barr, joined the company in 1960 and became Chairman in 1978. Under Robin the company has developed sales and market share in England whilst consolidating IRN-BRU’s position as the soft drinks choice of the Scottish nation.

1800s

1900s

2000s

1830

CORK CUTTING

Robert Barr, the fourth son of a farming family from Beith in Ayrshire, started a cork cutting business in Falkirk in 1830. In 1875 Robert’s son, also called Robert, added a soft drinks business, which quickly grew to become the only activity.

1875

1875 – 1900

THE EARLY YEARS

Robert Barr set the family cork cutting business on an exciting new course when in 1875 he started producing and selling aerated waters, as soft drinks were then called. Within a generation his sons Robert F. Barr and Andrew G. Barr in Falkirk had established a second, independently run, Barr aerated waters business in Glasgow. Andrew developed a successful range of soft drinks which led to the expansion of his Glasgow business and the creation of a purpose built factory complex in the east end of the city. Both Barr Falkirk and Barr Glasgow were among hundreds of soft drinks businesses operating in Scotland towards the end of the nineteenth century. At the time the growing population of the industrial towns in Scotland had problems with poor sanitation, poor quality drinking water and poor diets. Soft drinks became popular because they were not only a treat, as they are today, but they also guaranteed people a safe quality drink combined with a ‘dose’ of energy through their sugar content.

1887

R.F. BARR LABEL

In 1887 Robert Barr’s son, Robert F. Barr, left Falkirk to set up his own soft drinks business in Great Eastern Road, Glasgow (later renamed Gallowgate). His labels bore the new business name R.F. Barr's Glasgow.

1887

ESSENCE BOOK

Many flavours of soft drinks are derived from the essences added to the syrup. It was common at that time for manufacturers to make their own essences from fruit oils and Robert Barr developed his own unique flavours for his growing range of soft drinks.

1892

1892

AG BARR & CO LABEL

In 1892, five years after getting his Glasgow business off the ground, Robert F. Barr decided to seek new challenges and moved to Ireland. It was left to his brother, Andrew G. Barr, to take over as sole proprietor. The name on the labels became AG Barr & Co.

1899

Pre-1900

FALKIRK PREMISES

Robert Barr’s Falkirk factory (pictured) where he started the soft drinks business in 1875. The number of horse drawn lorries in the picture indicates a growing and prosperous operation. Deliveries to shops were restricted to 10 miles out and back each day – the distance a horse could travel.

1900

RECIPE BOOK

The first step in manufacturing a carbonated soft drink is to prepare a syrup containing all the ingredients of the finished product other than the carbonated water. The lists of ingredients were laid down in recipe books used by syrup room staff.

1900

Early 1900s

QUALITY CONTROL EQUIPMENT

Hydrometers were used to check the density of first the syrup and then the finished product – ensuring that the right amount of sugar was present. A pressure gauge, when attached to the top of the bottle, indicated how much carbon dioxide (CO2) was contained in the finished drink. The final check on the quality of the product was a simple taste test!

1901

IRON BREW IS LAUNCHED

Both Barr businesses, Robert Barr, Falkirk and AG Barr & Co. Glasgow, jointly launched their own original recipe ‘IRON BREW’ soft drink on Monday 15th April 1901. Adam Brown, a famous highland athlete from Shotts, featured on the label design.

1901

A DEVELOPING RANGE

Barr’s IRON BREW joined an established and popular range of products including ‘Wee Macgregor Brew’, ‘Japanese Plum’ and ‘Raspberry Cider’. Many of the products were still brewed with the fermentation being cut at the point where the resultant drink was below the maximum alcohol level for sale as a non-alcoholic beverage – in those days 1.1% alcohol, these days it has been reduced to 0.5%.

1903

ANDREW G. BARR DIES SUDDENLY

Tragically, in December 1903, Andrew died within three weeks of contracting Glanders Virus. Following his untimely death, his younger brother, 24-year-old William Snodgrass Barr, took over the management control of AG Barr & Co. Glasgow.

1905

RETURNABLE GLASS BOTTLE DEPOSITS INTRODUCED

The Glasgow and West of Scotland Association members introduced bottle deposits owing to ‘…the great loss and damage sustained by them through the non-return of bottles and syphons...they have found it necessary in the interest of the Aerated Water Trade, to institute a Bottle Deposit System delivered with their goods to customers, at One Halfpenny per bottle and Two pence per Syphon…’

1905

EARLY PRESS ADVERTISING

The company starts to advertise in local newspapers. The adverts feature testimonials from the sporting heroes of the day. Donald Dinnie, All-round Champion Athlete of the World and Alex Munro, Champion Caber Tosser of the World and Undisputed Champion Wrestler of Great Britain, are two athletes featured.

1918

STANLEY STEAMER

This was the first mechanised vehicle owned by the company. It was powered by steam and needed many bags of fuel to keep the boiler well stoked.

1922

IRON BREW LABEL CHANGE

A Cambridge rower replaced Adam Brown on the IRON BREW labels. In the original picture his right hand had held an upright oar, but this was substituted by a glass of IRON BREW

1924

TIZER LAUNCHED

Fred Pickup launched Tizer, coined from the word ‘Appetizer’. Barr acquired Tizer Ltd in 1972.

1938

SIGNED TESTIMONIAL BY BENNY LYNCH

After the company started selling IRON BREW it engaged many sporting heroes of the day to endorse the brand. Benny Lynch, a Glaswegian, became World Flyweight Champion in 1935 and is widely regarded as one of the finest boxers that Britain has ever produced.

1942

1942-1947

IRON BREW REMOVED FROM SALE DURING SECOND WORLD WAR

The Second World War quickly resulted in shortages of raw materials. The Government had little choice but to ‘concentrate’ the soft drinks industry across the UK. It shut down many manufacturers, and those that remained were given a production number – AG Barr’s was No.6. Each was only allowed to produce six ‘standard drink’ recipes like lemonade. IRON BREW was not a designated ‘standard drink’ and so the brand went off sale for the remainder of the war and beyond.

1947

IRN-BRU WAS BORN

In 1946 the industry was making preparations for the end of Government control. Concern mounted that the name IRON BREW would no longer be permitted as a result of proposed new food labelling regulations. The proposed regulations stipulated that brand names should be ‘literally true’. Barr’s IRON BREW did contain iron but it was not brewed. As it turned out the regulations were modified when they finally went through in 1964, but the company had gone ahead with their plans to change the name and launched the phonetic respelling of the brand as IRN-BRU. The new IRN-BRU trademark was first registered on Thursday 18th July 1946, although we believe that the new IRN-BRU brand name wouldn’t have appeared in the market until 1947 when the ‘concentration’ of the soft drinks industry during the war ended.

1953

1901-1953

A BRAND IS BORN

In this period Barr wrote themselves into Scottish history with the launch in 1901 of their original recipe IRON BREW. Through the success of the brand AG Barr quickly became the No.1 soft drinks business in Scotland. Barr was a pioneer in these early days of marketing, promoting Barr’s IRON BREW as a brand and building the reputation of the unique beverage with testimonials from famous athletes of the day. After the Second World War, in anticipation of changing food labelling regulations, Barr re-launched IRON BREW as IRN-BRU onto the UK national stage and beyond.

1954

BARR ‘INVADE’ ENGLAND

Barr set out to ‘conquer’ England with the acquisition of John Hollows, Bradford.

1954

EARLY ENGLAND IRN-BRU SIGN

A unique find, this IRN-BRU metal sign can be dated by the bottle and label design depicted. We know that the bottle dates from 1947, which was when Barr’s IRON BREW changed its name to the phonetic spelling IRN-BRU. The bottle type is an internal screw cap. These were replaced around 1952 with the first generation of the closures we have today, so we can date this sign from between 1947-mid-1950s. It’s likely this sign was produced to help market IRN-BRU in England when the drink was introduced in England. A similar sign in Scotland from that time would have featured advertising cartoon characters Ba-Bru & Sandy (which would have been unknown south of the border). Photograph reproduced by kind permission Mr A. Dolan.

1969

IRN-BRU ENGLAND LABEL

IRN-BRU introduce a ‘Tartan’ inspired label design in England only.

1972

TIZER LTD IS ACQUIRED BY BARR FOR £2.5m

Barr achieved national distribution throughout Scotland, England and Wales as a result of the purchase of Tizer, which was started by the Pickup family in Bristol in 1907 and became a public company in 1936.

1973

BARR RELAUNCH TIZER

Barr relaunched Tizer after then Chairman Robert Barr insisted that the company’s chemists reproduce a formula as near to the original 1924 Tizer as possible

1974

IRN-BRU 330ML CAN DESIGN

The purchase of Stotherts Ltd. Atherton in 1967 brought soft drinks cans into the Barr portfolio for the first time. In 1974 a new IRN-BRU design was introduced across the range of packs including 330ml cans. This design was replaced in 1988.

1975

BILLY CONNOLLY RECORD

IRN-BRU is known for its apparently magical restorative powers as a hangover cure. Billy Connolly wrote and released an ode dedicated to Mr and Mrs Barr “for saving my life on so many Sunday mornings” in his 1975 album 'Cop Yer Whack For This'.

1976

NON-RETURNABLE 1 LITRE PLASTISHIELD BOTTLE

Plastishield covered glass bottles enabled the supermarkets to sell large bottles of soft drinks for the first time. The covering made it safe to sell glass although the maximum pack size was only 1 litre.

1978

ROBERT BARR RECEIVES O.B.E

The picture shows Robert Barr with his wife Dorothy and son Robin at Buckingham Palace where he received an O.B.E. (Order of the British Empire) for services to the soft drinks industry.

1979

THE FIRST PLASTIC BOTTLES GO ON SALE IN SUPERMARKETS

In the late 1970s PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) packaging was introduced and quickly replaced Plastishield glass bottles since 2 litre, or even 3 litre, bottles could be manufactured and distributed with no safety issues.

1980

ALAN WELLS VISITS BARR TWICE IN A DAY

Olympic 100m Gold medalist Alan Wells officially opened two new Barr Warehouses on the same day – one in Glasgow and one in Atherton, near Bolton, England.

1980

1830-1980

150-YEAR CELEBRATION

A special brochure was produced to mark the Barr family’s 150 years in business.

1984

Mid-1980s

HOME BRU KIT

One of IRN-BRU’s ‘Made in Scotland from Girders’ posters.

1985

IRN-BRU LOW CALORIE 330ML CAN

In 1979 a new low-calorie IRN-BRU variant had been launched in glass and plastic bottles. Low-calorie IRN-BRU became available in 330ml cans from 1985.

1988

MANDORA ST. CLEMENTS LTD. ACQUISITION

Barr purchased Mandora St. Clements Ltd. for £21.5million, diversifying into high juice-based drinks. In addition the acquisition brought the KA brand into the product range.

1989

1954-1989

A NATIONAL DRINK

1959 heralded a key period of acquisition and consolidation after Barr became one company with the purchase by AG Barr & Co. Ltd. of Robert Barr Ltd. Falkirk. The company stepped up its expansion into England and became a public company in 1965. From the 1960s onwards a series of innovative advertising campaigns resulted in a period of rapid sales growth across the range of Barr brands. One of the most memorable: ‘Your other national drink – made in Scotland from girders’ confirmed IRN-BRU’s popular status as a national brand. This iconic TV and poster advertising campaign (which ran from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s) is still recalled with fondness by the Scottish public. In 2007 the ‘Made in Scotland from Girders’ campaign was awarded ‘Best Advertising Strapline Of The Last 21 Years’ at the Scottish Advertising Awards.

1993

NEW AG BARR LOGO DESIGN

A new corporate logo, designed by Coley Porter Bell, was introduced in 1993 with the launch event taking place in the yard of our Gallowgate site at Great Eastern Road, Glasgow.

1993

BARR’S D’N’B

Barr’s dandelion and burdock flavour, previously part of the Barr flavour range, was relaunched as D’N’B in 1993 and became the first branded dandelion and burdock product on the market. In 2008 D’N’B announced a new two-year sponsorship deal and became the official soft drink of the Rugby League, the Super League and the National League. In 2008 D’N’B also sponsored Team England in the year of the Rugby World Cup in Australia.

1995

10-YEAR AWARD-WINNING IRN-BRU POSTER CAMPAIGN

A poster campaign was launched in Scotland in 1995 highlighting individuals’ relationships with IRN-BRU. The campaign established a unique tone of voice and an accessible irreverent sense of humour, which has come to be synonymous with the brand. The campaign won many awards over the years including the prestigious Scottish Advertising Awards 2007 ‘Best Poster of the last 21 years’ award for the ‘Bitches’ poster.

1996

1996

CUMBERNAULD FACTORY OPENS

All Barr soft drinks production in Scotland was centralised at a new location in Cumbernauld in this year. The opening ceremony was carried out by three times Formula One World Racing Champion Sir Jackie Stewart. Then, as now, the factory produced Barr 250ml, 500ml and 2 litre plastic bottles as well as 750ml glass returnable bottles. In the later development of the site a new 330ml canning line was installed in 2007 capable of producing 690 million cans per year.

1997

IRN-BRU TARTAN

Our IRN-BRU tartan received its certificate of accreditation (No.97017) on 12th September 1997 from the Council of the Scottish Tartans Society. The tartan substantially incorporates the IRN-BRU orange and IRN-BRU blue colours.

1998

RUSSIAN IRN-BRU

IRN-BRU was first manufactured in Russia in 1998. IRN-BRU was marketed and distributed by partners Moscow Brewing Company (MBC) who manufactured the brand in Russia. Thanks to MBC’s extensive production and distribution network IRN-BRU was widely available in Russia. In 2022 we took the decision not to fulfill further orders to this market as a result of Russia's actions in Ukraine.

2001

100 YEARS OF IRN-BRU

As part of the IRN-BRU centenary celebrations in 2001 the company produced a book ‘Robert Barr to AG Barr PLC. 1875 to 2001

2004

IRN-BRU PHENOMENAL CAMPAIGN

This campaign was launched in Scotland and the North East with a full programme of promotional activity and media support.

2005

DIET IRN-BRU IS RELAUNCHED

Diet IRN-BRU becomes a brand in its own right with new packaging and a new TV Campaign which introduces the world to Raoul ...‘Hey Ladies!’

2006

STRATHMORE ACQUISITION

The Forfar-based Strathmore Spring water business was acquired by AG Barr for £15.5m in 2006. Strathmore Spring water is rich in beneficial minerals and is created by a 50-year filtration process through the sandstone layers of the Vale of Strathmore. The water is drawn by us for bottling from an aquifer deep underground. The most famous building in the Vale is Glamis Castle which appears on every bottle of Strathmore Spring. The Castle is famous for its Royal connections as well as being one of the locations in Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’.

2006

IRN-BRU 32 LAUNCHED

Derek the Cuckoo, played by Scottish actor Brian McCardie was created to launch a new energy drink brand - IRN-BRU 32 - onto TV screens across Scotland in 2006. IRN-BRU 32, launched in 250ml cans, was developed to compete in the fast growing energy drinks market. The brand won the ‘Top Campaign of the Year 2006’ award from leading trade magazine ‘The Grocer’ and was also awarded J Sainsbury’s ‘Best Promotional Launch of the Year 2006’.

2006

IRN-BRU SNOWMAN ADVERT

The IRN-BRU ‘Snowman’ Ad was the first-ever Christmas TV advert produced by the brand. Inspired by Raymond Briggs classic 1982 animated film ‘The Snowman’ it gave a very funny twist to this traditional Christmas tale. ‘The Snowman’s’ famous soundtrack ‘Walking in the Air’ by Howard Blake was re-written with alternative IRN-BRU lyrics. The advert was first screened in Scotland during Christmas 2006 and has since become very popular with the Scottish public, who have viewed it over 1 million times on YouTube. In 2007 it was also screened in England.

2007

NEW’ TIZER

The Tizer brand was relaunched in 2007 with a new logo, packaging and formula based on the original 1924 recipe. The new recipe contains 10% fruit juice with no artificial flavourings, artificial sweeteners or artificial colours to appeal to more health conscious consumers.

2007

CUMBERNAULD FACILITY NEARS COMPLETION

AG Barr operations in Scotland are centralised into a new £37million production, warehousing, distribution and Head Office facility located at Cumbernauld, nine miles east of Glasgow.

2007

STRATHMORE ‘MORE SPRING’ TV ADS

AG Barr’s first advertising campaign for Strathmore Spring Water was launched in 2007 as part of a £1million marketing drive in Scotland. The new advert brought a vibrant, modern focus to the brand with an exciting urban dance sequence set to an uplifting soundtrack. Amazing digital images of the water itself also made for a memorable advert. Popular with consumers the advert was also used for the brand’s 2008 TV campaign.

2008

THE PRINCE’S TRUST

Barr signs a partnership agreement with The Prince’s Trust. Barr will support the work of The Trust by investing in a number of its core community programmes across the UK, with a particular focus on Scotland.

2008

ACQUISITION OF GROUPE RUBICON LTD

AG Barr PLC. announced on 5th August 2008 that it had entered into a conditional agreement to purchase Groupe Rubicon Limited for a total initial cash consideration of £59.8 million. The Rubicon Group is a UK-based manufacturer and distributor of branded exotic juice drinks.

2008

STRATHMORE IS RELAUNCHED

Strathmore, the No.1* water brand in the on-trade introduced a new label design. The new label design built on Strathmore’s brand strengths of purity, contemporary Scottishness and quality, placing Glamis Castle at the core of the design because its location at the heart of the Vale of Strathmore marks the source of the water.

2009

IRN-BRU SPONSORS RUGBY LEAGUE AND SKY SPORTS SUPER LEAGUE COVERAGE

IRN-BRU becomes the official soft drink sponsor of the Rugby League until 2010 and the broadcast sponsor of Sky Sports’ Super League coverage for 2009. The sponsorship with Sky Sports and the Rugby Football League raised the profile and visibility of IRN-BRU reaching over 10 million viewers through the 60 live games broadcast during the season.

2009

ROBIN BARR RETIRES AS CHAIRMAN

Robin Barr (71), steps down as Chairman at the Company's AGM in May 2009. Robin held the position of Chairman for 31 years and was a director of AG Barr for 44 years. Robin agrees to remain on the Board in a non-executive role. Ronnie Hanna (61) who served as a non-executive Director on the AG Barr Board for the last five years becomes non-executive Chairman in May. Jonathan Warburton (51), Chairman of Warburtons Ltd., is appointed as independent non-executive Director.

2009

IRN-BRU MUSICAL

On Tuesday 5th May the 60-second IRN-BRU Musical TV advert was premiered on STV as part of the brand’s £2million summer campaign. Set in the corridors and grounds of the fictional ‘Auchendookit Senior High’, IRN-BRU Musical shows the school’s students performing their own very Scottish musical number, ‘It's Fizzy, It’s Ginger, It’s Phenomenal’. The campaign featured a then 18-year-old Jack Lowden who has since gone on to success on the big screen - but he started with IRN-BRU!

2009

IRN-BRU WORLD RECORD BREAKER

Nearly 10,000 people attended the IRN-BRU Can Clan event held on Sunday 13th September 2009 in Glasgow Green as part of Scotlands ‘Homecoming’ year. Hosted by popular actor and writer Sanjeev Kohli with music from ‘The Zutons’ and ‘Pearl And The Puppets’ IRN-BRU smashed the world record for the cancan dance. An official adjudicator from Guinness World Records, Jack Brockbank, confirmed that the new record had been set after the required five minutes of cancan moves.

2009

IRN-BRU HERITAGE CAN

Five million IRN-BRU heritage cans – enough for everyone in Scotland – were produced as part of ‘Homecoming’. They featured the IRN-BRU logo that was first introduced in 1947, when the spelling of Barr’s IRON BREW was changed to Barr’s IRN-BRU for the first time. Former Chairman Robin Barr and original IRN-BRU delivery boy, Jimmy Allen, now 87, unveiled the can in Callendar Park in Falkirk.

2010

HELP US MAKE SCOTLAND MAGIC AT FOOTBALL

IRN-BRU appealed to the men and women of Brazil to help us create the next generation of Scottish football legends. BRUzil: Road to 2034' was a simple yet potentially revolutionary idea. The focus was to unite Scots and Brazilians in the summer of 2010, to forever enhance the Scottish footballing gene pool and create phenomenal future players for the world's biggest football tournament in 2034.

2011

DIET IRN-BRU CHANGES TO IRN-BRU SUGAR FREE

Diet IRN-BRU was renamed IRN-BRU Sugar Free in January 2011, but the new name did not mean a change to its secret recipe, which remained exactly the same.

2011

BRU-JET SENDS SALES SKY HIGH

BRU-JET was IRN-BRU’s biggest ever instant win on-pack promotion with 100 seats on the BRU-JET to be won by consumers. BRU-JET whisked the lucky winners away for an all inclusive, week-long holiday in the sun-drenched island of Tenerife.

2011

FIERY IRN-BRU

In the autumn of 2011, IRN-BRU launched its first ever limited edition Fiery IRN-BRU, with all the traditional taste of IRN-BRU but with a fiery kick. A dramatic launch - staged in Glasgow's George Square - saw former AG Barr Chairman Robin Barr pull the first ever bottle of Fiery IRN-BRU from a blazing furnace, in scenes reminiscent of IRN-BRU's legendary 'made in Scotland from girders' past. Assembled fans were then given a first taste of Fiery IRN-BRU.

2012

IRN-BRU SUPER LEAGUE

IRN-BRU renewed its sponsorship deal with Sky and the RFL during January 2012 – the fourth year of the sponsorship deal. Our iconic brand continues to be the ‘official soft drink of the Super League’ and sponsored Super League on Sky Sports’ for the 2012 season.

2012

£6M ‘LOVE THE EXOTIC’ MARKETING CAMPAIGN

Rubicon launched a massive £6 million ‘Love the Exotic’ nationwide marketing campaign which featuring the brand’s biggest ever TV advertising campaign. Two new 30-second commercials appeared in May 2012 and ran for three months.

2012

‘IRN-BRU GETS YOU THROUGH’ TV CAMPAIGN

The next chapter in IRN-BRU’s advertising history was inspired by the Scots’ irrepressible character. This campaign celebrated the Scottish people’s ability to bounce back from tough situations with determination and by facing whatever life throws at them with a sense of humour. Each of the three new 30-second adverts brings to life the campaign mantra ‘IRN-BRU gets you through’.

2012

ICONIC AG BARR UNVEILED AS OFFICIAL SUPPORTER OF GLASGOW 2014 GAMES

AG Barr is revealed as an Official Supporter of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Our links with Glasgow date back more than 100 years, and we were honoured to support the Games through our wide portfolio of brands. Two years after signing the sponsorship deal, the Games gave everyone an unforgettable experience.

2012

NEW BARR WAREHOUSE BUILD AT MILTON KEYNES

Construction started on our new £41M manufacturing and logistics facility at Magna Park and Barrs Operations Director Andrew Memmott and Head of Financial Planning Peter Waddell joined directors at our contactors Gazeley on 25th Oct 2012, to formally mark the occasion. When fully operational the facility will employ approximately 100 people from the local area.

2012

EVERY CAN COUNTS

EVERY CAN COUNTS, NOVEMBER 2012 A new drinks can recycling programme, Every Can Counts (ECC), is launched in Scotland to help businesses improve their recycling rates. The programme is backed by AG Barr and the Scottish Government’s delivery partner Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS).

2013

IRN-BRU LIMITED EDITION GLASGOW 2014 CAN

This limited edition can design marked Barr’s sponsorship of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and enlisted the help of Olympian and Commonwealth Games medallist Peter Kirkbride. The special design draws on Barr’s packaging from 1901, when moustachioed Highland strongman, Adam Brown, featured on the original label of Barr’s ‘IRON BREW’ as it was then known.

2014

THE QUEEN’S BATON RELAY VISITS CUMBERNAULD

The baton received a warm welcome at AG Barr HQ from Chief Executive Roger White and over 200 members of staff when it visited Cumbernauld on 23rd June 2014.

2014

IRN-BRU BORN TO SUPPORT TV ADVERT

IRN-BRU captured the mood of the Scottish nation as it prepared to back the national team at the Commonwealth Games with the launch of a new TV advert. The campaign ‘Born to Support’ captured the essence of what it means to be a Scottish supporter.

2014

SNAPPLE ARRIVES

AG BARR enters into a 10 year agreement with the Dr Pepper Snapple Group (“DPSG”) commencing on January 2015, which gives it exclusive rights to sell, market and distribute the Snapple brand in the UK and certain other EU territories. Snapple is a leader in great-tasting premium beverages. Founded in 1972 by three childhood friends, Snapple got its start in Greenwich Village, New York and is now available throughout the United States and Europe.

2015

COCKTAILS ON DECK – FUNKIN ACQUISITION ANNOUNCED

AG BARR announces the acquisition of Funkin Limited for an initial cash consideration of £16.5 million. Funkin was founded in the late 1990s and offers a broad range of premium cocktail solutions including fruit purees, cocktail mixers and syrups. Funkin will operate within the Group as a supported, yet stand alone, business unit.

2015

AG BARR JOINS THE CLEAN UP SCOTLAND CAMPAIGN

AG Barr pledges its support for the Clean Up Scotland mass-engagement campaign organised by Scotland’s charity for the environment, Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB). The Clean Up Scotland Campaign aims to change long-term behaviour and attitudes in Scotland by making littering unacceptable. It encourages people across the country to sign the pledge and become anti-litter champions in their local communities.

2015

GET A GRIP ADVERT LAUNCHED

IRN-BRU treated fans across the UK to the first viewing of its latest Gets You Through ad; ‘Get a Grip.’ The ad tells the story of a mother who is left red-faced when she catches her oblivious teenage son working out. Thankfully, she has a can of IRN-BRU to get her through the apparently awkward moment. The ad was the second from the Gets You Through campaign to be successfully launched in 2015, following the success of the ‘Train’ ad.

2015

£5 MILLION INVESTMENT IN CUMBERNAULD FACTORY

We announced an investment of £5m in our Cumbernauld facility with the installation of new, high-speed filling capability for our glass bottle range. The investment secures the future of Barr’s iconic 750ml glass bottle, ensuring that loyal fans can continue to enjoy their IRN-BRU and Barr flavours in glass. The investment replaces Barr’s current glass line, which was almost 20 years old, with faster more efficient glass filling capability, and saw the energy-hungry returnable glass bottle washing equipment decommissioned. The investment brought an end to the returnable glass bottle scheme.

2015

NEW ADVERT SHOWS HOW TO COPE WITH AWKWARD CHRISTMAS GIFT

We revealed our Christmas advert. 'Jumper' which shows how an IRN-BRU drinker handles getting a little extra surprise from his gran for Christmas. The new advert was released on social media and offered some light relief from the usual festive season's pressures.

2016

RETAILERS ENCOURAGED TO KEEP SCOTLAND BEAUTIFUL

Our iconic IRN-BRU brand promotes an anti-litter message. We launched a new initiative encouraging retailers to support an anti-litter message in partnership with environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Scottish Grocers’ Federation. The ground-breaking initiative, led by the iconic IRN-BRU brand, promoted a strong anti-litter message. More than 3,500 local retailers from across Scotland are being encouraged to take steps to help improve Scotland’s environment.

2016

DEAL WITH SCOTTISH RUGBY KICKS OFF

AG Barr was announced as the Official Soft Drink Partner of Scottish Rugby for the next three years, days ahead of the Scottish national team kicking off their RBS 6 Nations campaign. The three-year deal sees AG Barr’s range of brands – including IRN-BRU, Scotland’s favourite soft drink, Strathmore Water and Barr Cola – support the Scotland national team, Scotland 7s team and the country’s two professional clubs, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby.

2016

AG BARR AND SSE HYDRO TAKE SCOTTISH ENTERTAINMENT TO FIZZY NEW HEIGHTS

We became the Official Soft Drink Partner of the SSE Hydro, celebrating the deal with a phenomenal late night projection onto the iconic Clyde skyline. The skyline was turned orange and blue, with Scotland’s favourite soft drink projected onto the Glasgow Armadillo The two Clydebuilt icons came together in a five year deal which sees the AG Barr range of brands – including IRN-BRU, Strathmore Water, Rockstar, Rubicon and Barr Flavours – support Scotland’s busiest and favourite entertainment venue.

2016

THE IRN-BRU CUP IS REVEALED

Scotland’s other national drink agreed the biggest signing of the summer as it was unveiled as the new headline sponsor of the revamped Scottish Challenge Cup – which was renamed the IRN-BRU Cup. Following a decade of support for Scottish football, IRN-BRU’s long-standing backing of the beautiful game will continue, with a three-year sponsorship of the Cup, which also celebrated a fresh and exciting new format.

2016

AG BARR ‘REINVENTS WATER’ WITH RUBICON SPRING

The Rubicon Spring range is healthy like water, but big on taste, combining sparkling spring water with fruit juice and has 15 calories or less per bottle.

2016

EMPLOYEES VOTE FOR MACMILLAN SPONSORSHIP

AG Barr announced a three-year sponsorship programme to donate over £150,000 to help Macmillan Cancer Support. Barr Soft Drinks employees will also raise funds for the charity, who provide much needed support for people diagnosed with cancer, and their family and friends.

2017

IRN-BRU XTRA LAUNCHED

IRN-BRU XTRA is revealed as the first permanent new product from IRN-BRU in 35 years. XTRA includes even more of the IRN-BRU taste that consumers love but leaves out the sugar for a new flavour experience.

2018

SAN BENEDETTO PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED

AG Barr brings the authentic taste of Italy to the UK with San Benedetto. The range contains 12% juice and is made with the first squeeze of the fruit which ensures only the highest quality juice is used.

2019

FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH BUNDABERG BREWED DRINKS

Bundaberg is an iconic, Australian family-owned business. The range uses time-honoured brewing methods and the best quality ingredients to deliver great tasting adult beverages.

2019

IRN-BRU FLIPS THE SWITCH ON ENERGY

IRN-BRU Energy launched, combining the iconic flavour of IRN-BRU’s top secret essence with taurine, caffeine and B vitamins.

2019

MENTAL HEALTH UK CHARITY PARTNERSHIP

AG Barr announced a new three-year sponsorship programme to donate over £150,000 to Mental Health UK. Barr Soft Drinks employees will also raise funds for the charity that supports people affected by mental health problems including friends, family and carers. The partnership ended in 2022.

2019

IRN-BRU 1901 RELEASED

We launched a new top-end tipple in IRN-BRU 1901, made the old-fashioned way, using an ‘old and unimproved’ IRN-BRU recipe first created way back when BRU was born in 1901. Made to the authentic 1901 recipe from a handwritten book stored deep in the company archives for over 100 years, IRN-BRU 1901 is like nothing anyone has tasted before.

2021

ROYALS VISIT OUR HEADQUARTERS

Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn travelled to our factory in Cumbernauld on June 28th. The royal party was there to officially open our new £14million process facility as well as meeting several of our employees.

2022

MARIE CURIE ELECTED NEW PARTNER

Marie Curie UK became our new Corporate Charity Partner after an employee vote in June 2022. Our donation will help Marie Curie support several services, including its overnight nursing support and Rapid Response Nurses, so they can be there for more families when it really counts.

2022

2022

MOMA ACQUISITION COMPLETED

In December AG Barr acquired the remaining 38.2% equity stake in MOMA Foods Limited (“MOMA”) from founder Tom Mercer, and the other minority shareholders, for a total cash consideration of £3.4m - completing an acquisition that began in December 2021.

2022

BOOST BRAND ACQUIRED

In December AG Barr acquired functional beverage company Boost Drinks Holdings Limited as part of our strategy to grow the business through targeted acquisitions.

2023

2023

ROBIN BARR RETIRES FROM THE BOARD

In May, Robin Barr stood down from the AG Barr Board after 58 years. Robin has been with the business for 62 years and served as chairman for 31 years. Robin's daughter Julie joined the Board as a non-executive director.