A.G. Barr
A.G. Barr plc (
LSE Stockcode: BAG) is a
British soft drinks manufacturer, based in
Glasgow,
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.
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 launched in 1901. In the
1970s, the
Tizer brand was purchased.
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 [
1]. 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
Pepsico would attempt to buy A.G.Barr [
2].
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,
Lemonade and
Limeade. 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
Spain,
The Netherlands,
Germany,
Greece, and
Cyprus, as well as parts of
Africa and
Asia. It is available sporadically in
Ireland*
A.G. Barr corporate website
