A.G. Barr
Encyclopedia
A.G. Barr plc or commonly known as Barr's is a British soft drinks manufacturer, based in Cumbernauld
, North Lanarkshire
, Scotland
. It is particularly notable for the manufacture of the popular Scottish drink, Irn-Bru
. A.G. Barr is the largest manufacturer of soft drink
s in the United Kingdom
. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange
and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index
.
. In 1887 his son, Robert Fulton Barr, set up a division of the original company in Glasgow
, which had a much larger population. Then in 1892 the Glasgow
branch passed to Andrew Grieg Barr, a brother of the founder of that branch. Irn-Bru was first launched in 1901. The Falkirk and Glasgow divisions merged in 1959. The Company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange
in 1965.
In 1972, the Tizer
brand was purchased. The year 1980 saw the introduction of Low Calorie Irn-Bru: this changed its name in 1991 to Diet
Irn-Bru, and then in 2010 to Irn-Bru sugar free. In 2001 the company acquired Findlays Mineral Water which is sourced in the Lammermuir Hills
.
In 2002 Roger White
joined A. G. Barr as managing director and in 2004 became Barr's first ever non-family chief executive.
The Company acquired Forfar
based Strathmore Mineral Water in May 2006. The Irn-Bru 32 energy drink
variant was launched in 2006. In 2008 the company purchased the Taut
sports drink range.
, Mansfield
, Forfar
, Tredeger and Pitcox.
In 2010 the price of the glass bottle range is around £1.30, the shops and Barr's buy the bottles back for 30p.
Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld is a Scottish new town in North Lanarkshire. It was created in 1956 as a population overspill for Glasgow City. It is the eighth most populous settlement in Scotland and the largest in North Lanarkshire...
, North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. It borders onto the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains much of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It also borders Stirling, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is particularly notable for the manufacture of the popular Scottish drink, Irn-Bru
Irn-Bru
Irn-Bru is a carbonated soft drink produced in Westfield, Cumbernauld, Scotland. It is made by A.G. Barr of Glasgow since moving out of their original Parkhead factory in the mid-1990s and at a second manufacturing site in Mansfield, England...
. A.G. Barr is the largest manufacturer of soft drink
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
s in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index
FTSE 250 Index
The FTSE 250 Index is a capitalisation-weighted index consisting of the 101st to the 350th largest companies on the London Stock Exchange. Promotions to and demotions from the index take place quarterly in March, June, September and December...
.
History
The company was founded in 1875 by Robert Barr in the town of FalkirkFalkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
. In 1887 his son, Robert Fulton Barr, set up a division of the original company in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, which had a much larger population. Then in 1892 the Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
branch passed to Andrew Grieg Barr, a brother of the founder of that branch. Irn-Bru was first launched in 1901. The Falkirk and Glasgow divisions merged in 1959. The Company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
in 1965.
In 1972, the Tizer
Tizer
Tizer is a red-coloured soft drink sold in the United Kingdom. The name originally comes from the phrase 'Tizer the Appetizer'. It was launched in 1924 by Fred Pickup of Manchester when it was known as 'Pickup's Appetizer'. After the death of Pickup it was owned by the Armour Trust before being...
brand was purchased. The year 1980 saw the introduction of Low Calorie Irn-Bru: this changed its name in 1991 to Diet
Diet soda
Diet sodas are typically sugar-free, artificially sweetened, non-alcoholic carbonated beverages generally marketed towards health-conscious people, diabetics, athletes, and other people who want to lose weight, improve physical fitness, or reduce their...
Irn-Bru, and then in 2010 to Irn-Bru sugar free. In 2001 the company acquired Findlays Mineral Water which is sourced in the Lammermuir Hills
Lammermuir Hills
The Lammermuir Hills, usually simply called the Lammermuirs , in southern Scotland, form a natural boundary between Lothian and the Scottish Borders....
.
In 2002 Roger White
Roger White (executive)
Roger White from Dumfries in Scotland is the Chief Executive Officer of soft drinks group A G Barr.Roger White went to Dumfries Academy and then Edinburgh University where he studied geography, economics and business...
joined A. G. Barr as managing director and in 2004 became Barr's first ever non-family chief executive.
The Company acquired Forfar
Forfar
Forfar is a parish, town and former royal burgh of approximately 13,500 people in Angus, located in the East Central Lowlands of Scotland. Forfar is the county town of Angus, which was officially known as Forfarshire from the 18th century until 1929, when the ancient name was reinstated, and...
based Strathmore Mineral Water in May 2006. The Irn-Bru 32 energy drink
Energy drink
Energy drinks are beverages whose producers advertise that they "boost energy." These advertisements usually do not emphasize energy derived from the sugar and caffeine they contain but rather increased energy release due to a variety of stimulants and vitamins....
variant was launched in 2006. In 2008 the company purchased the Taut
Taut
A taut object is one under tension.Taut is also a surname, and may refer to:* Bruno Taut , prolific German architect, urban planner and author* Max Taut , German architectTAUT, an acronym, may refer to:...
sports drink range.
Operations
A.G. Barr produces a variety of soft drinks from production sites at CumbernauldCumbernauld
Cumbernauld is a Scottish new town in North Lanarkshire. It was created in 1956 as a population overspill for Glasgow City. It is the eighth most populous settlement in Scotland and the largest in North Lanarkshire...
, Mansfield
Mansfield
Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
, Forfar
Forfar
Forfar is a parish, town and former royal burgh of approximately 13,500 people in Angus, located in the East Central Lowlands of Scotland. Forfar is the county town of Angus, which was officially known as Forfarshire from the 18th century until 1929, when the ancient name was reinstated, and...
, Tredeger and Pitcox.
Glass bottles
Since Barr's was founded the whole range of soft drinks that they produce are also sold in glass bottles as well as plastic bottles and cans. The glass bottles that Barr's manufacture are usually recycled. The way it happens with these glass bottles is simple. You buy a glass bottle of their drinks, you drink the juice in the bottle and take it back to a shop that sells the bottles. The shop will then buy the bottle from you and then the next time there is a delivery from A.G. Barr then they buy the bottles from the shopkeeper for the same price they buy it from the consumer.In 2010 the price of the glass bottle range is around £1.30, the shops and Barr's buy the bottles back for 30p.