Latest news with #AGBarr
The National
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
I tried Irn Bru's two new flavours and I'll never drink them again
Leith, a creative agency based in Edinburgh, has been known for almost three decades as giving the AG Barr brand a unique voice for Scotland's 'other national drink'. It has now moved its marketing contract to a London-based firm, Lucky Generals. The two new ad spots launched the Legend Editions 330ml cans which feature Unicorn Tears and Nessie Nectar flavours or Irn-Bru XTRA. READ MORE: Scottish travel firm closes 'out of the blue' after 20 years with all jobs lost The tears are obtained on Greetin' Acres Unicorn Tear Farm by Kelly, a unicorn tear farmer, where the ancient (and highly emotional) art of making unicorns cry is revealed. The nectar in the other can is 'lovingly milked' from the Loch Ness Monster herself. The ad shows Angus McLean, a fifth-generation Nessie milker, proudly shows off his milking shed, which is adorned with pictures of ancestors 'pulling away at that legendary teat'. Obviously with a set up such as this, I was expecting quite a creative drink. Both new flavours are available in supermarkets and convenience stores across the UK, sold as eight packs or individual cans. The design on both cans is great, showcasing our most famous myth and our national animal, but it is a bit on the nose. Yes, we know Nessie and Unicorns are Scottish, but is that really enough to base a new flavour on? isn't it a tad stereotypical and for the tourists? The colour of both is the same as our Irn-Bru XTRA, no mythical green or glowing purple, but the taste is defiantly very different. I couldn't tell you what they taste like easily, just like an original Irn-Bru to be fair, but there is a flavour which isn't desirable. The unicorn tears drink has an almost watery, chemically-peach flavour. And the Nessie Nectar flavour is fruiter but still has the watery, chemically aftertaste. READ MORE: Lorraine Kelly TV show to be cut back as ITV extends GMB episodes I can safely say when I come home from holiday, I won't be saying to myself, like I do with the original, 'God, I can't wait for a unicorn tears can'. But don't just take my word for it, other avid Irn-Bru drinks in the office called it 'disgusting' and 'rank'. But then, I collected an empty can with one saying it had grown on them. The campaign may be creative, but the story doesn't give us the belly laughs we know and love from Irn-Bru, and the drink definitely falls flat for me.
Scotsman
01-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Irn-Bru makers submit plans to transform The Kelpies in Falkirk into unicorns
The Kelpies in Falkirk would be transformed on one day every year under the plans submitted on behalf of Irn-Bru Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... They are one of the most instantly-recognisable sculptures in Scotland, but they could be getting a dramatic makeover if a soft drinks manufacturer gets its way. AG Barr – the makers of Irn-Bru – have lodged an application to give Falkirk's world-famous Kelpies some added fizz with a magical makeover. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A proposal has been submitted to Falkirk Council's Local Development Plan 3 consultation to mount 15-foot horns onto The Kelpies every year on National Unicorn Day. The day falls on April 9 each year. Irn Bru has supposedly made official moves to equip the Kelpies with unicorn horns (Picture: Submitted) The proposal comes complete with detailed CGI artwork showing how the majestic sculptures would look with their facelift – designed to match the existing steel facade, which already attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The company said the proposal had been submitted to mark the launch of its Unicorn Tears flavoured limited edition Irn-Bru XTRA. Kenny Nicholson, head of brand at Irn-Bru, said: 'The Kelpies are one of the most inspiring sculptures in the UK – an incredible feat of engineering and creativity – so we think they're the perfect spot to celebrate Scotland's most legendary animal. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'By crowning them with a unicorn horn every World Unicorn Day, we can help tell the story of Scotland's centuries-long love affair with the unicorn – from royal seals and ancient coins, all the way to cans of IRN-BRU XTRA's new Unicorn Tears flavour.' The 300-tonne, 98ft (30m) high horse head sculptures were created by artist Andy Scott. They were officially opened in 2014 and sit in Helix Park, Falkirk, close to the M9 motorway.
The National
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Irn-Bru owner applies to put '15-foot horns' on Kelpies every year
The proposal has been lodged to Falkirk Council's Local Development Plan 3 consultation, which is calling for ideas from "individuals, community groups or other organisations to suggest new uses, improvements, or protection for sites or vacant buildings in their locality". The Irn-Bru submission is part of the brand's launch of a "Unicorn Tears" flavoured drink. However, it is unclear whether the application has been lodged with serious intent to undertake such a project. READ MORE: Actors from JK Rowling movies sign letter 'condemning' Supreme Court sex ruling AG Barr said it "thinks it's time for Scotland's unicorns to finally toot their own horn", referencing the Kelpies, 30m-high equestrian steel sculptures in Falkirk. The proposal was publicised alongside CGI artwork showing how the sculptures would look if the horns were to be installed. Falkirk Council has been contacted for comment. Irn-Bru has also released a limited-edition "Nessie Nectar" flavour as part of the legend editions campaign. Kenny Nicholson, head of brand at Irn-Bru, said: 'The Kelpies are one of the most inspiring sculptures in the UK – an incredible feat of engineering and creativity – so we think they're the perfect spot to celebrate Scotland's most legendary animal. 'By crowning them with a unicorn horn every World Unicorn Day, we can help tell the story of Scotland's centuries-long love affair with the unicorn - from royal seals and ancient coins, all the way to cans of Irn-Bru Xtra's new Unicorn Tears flavour.' "And of course, every drop of our new Irn-Bru Xtra Legend Edition is made with Unicorn Tears, freshly collected at Greetin' Acres - so now feels like the perfect time to give Scotland's unicorn the horn it deserves." The Kelpies have also been contacted for comment.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AG Barr enters sale talks with potential buyer for Strathmore water business
The Strathmore bottled water brand appears to have been saved from sinking as current owner AG Barr announced a potential buyer. UK beverage group AG Barr revealed plans in March to discontinue the brand as Strathmore had 'struggled to compete' in recent years and because the facility in Forfar, Scotland, from which the business operates, was 'no longer sustainable'. However, London-listed AG Barr, which also owns the Irn-Bru soft drinks line, has now entered talks with an unnamed buyer. 'The company is pleased to announce that it has now entered into exclusive discussions with a third party regarding a potential disposal of the Strathmore business,' AG Barr said in a brief stock exchange filing today (30 April). 'These discussions are at an early stage and there can be no certainty that a transaction will ultimately occur.' AG Barr, which also produces the Funkin cocktails range, added that it will make further announcements to the market 'as and when appropriate'. No mention was made today over the future for the workers at Forfar. As AG Barr unveiled the exit plan in March alongside its full-year results, the company said the site was at risk of closure, putting 23 jobs on the line. The scrapping of the Strathmore brand follows an 'organisational simplification' of the beverages group business which the company said was announced to staff in February. The move saw the integration of Barr Soft Drinks and the Funkin cocktails businesses into a 'unified AG Barr operation, streamlining activities and fostering synergies'. In March last year, AG Barr announced a round of redundancies affecting 160 roles as part of a shift from a direct-to-store delivery model to 'an enlarged and enhanced field sales operation'. Around the same time, AG Barr also revealed plans to 'fully integrate' its Boost Drinks subsidiary into the Barr Soft Drinks division to remove 'duplicated activities'. In its full-year fiscal period, AG Barr's revenue rose by 5.1% to £420.4m ($544.5m), driven by 'strong' performance in its soft drinks segment, particularly a 'standout performance' from Rubicon and 'continued strong growth' from Irn-Bru. The business also reported a 6.5% increase in gross profit to £164.3m, while operating profit was up 3.2% year on year at £51.7m. Profit before tax grew 3.7% to £53.2m. "AG Barr enters sale talks with potential buyer for Strathmore water business" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AG Barr to pull Strathmore bottled water brand
UK beverages group AG Barr intends to scrap bottled water brand Strathmore. The brand is to be discontinued later in its 2025/26 financial year In a statement to Just Drinks, an AG Barr spokesperson said the brand had "struggled to compete" in recent years. They noted the move to cease producing Strathmore could result in the closure of its manufacturing site in Forfar in Scotland, putting 23 jobs at risk. 'We believe we have now reached a point where the Forfar site is no longer sustainable,' the spokesperson said. They added: 'The proposals are subject to consultation, and we intend to fully support our employees through this period of change.' The move was announced alongside the release of AG Barr's latest results for its 2024/25 fiscal year, which ended on 25 January. AG Barr, which produces the drinks brands Irn-Bru, Rubicon, Boost and Funkin, said 'current trading is in line with our expectations' and kept its annual outlook for the financial year 2025/26 'unchanged', forecasting continued revenue growth and margin improvement. The scrapping of the Strathmore brand follows an 'organisational simplification' of the business which the company said was announced to staff in February. The move sees the integration of Barr Soft Drinks and the Funkin cocktails businesses into a 'unified AG Barr operation, streamlining activities and fostering synergies'. In March last year, the business announced a round of redundancies affecting 160 roles as part of a shift from a direct-to-store delivery model to 'an enlarged and enhanced field sales operation'. Around the same time, AG Barr also revealed plans to 'fully integrate' its Boost Drinks subsidiary into the Barr Soft Drinks division to remove 'duplicated activities'. In its full-year fiscal period, AG Barr's revenue rose by 5.1% to £420.4m ($544.5m), driven by 'strong' performance in its soft drinks segment, particularly a 'standout performance' from Rubicon and 'continued strong growth' from Irn-Bru. The business also reported a 6.5% increase in gross profit, at £164.3m, while operating profit was up 3.2% year on year to £51.7m. Profit before tax grew 3.7% to £53.2m. Commenting on the company's results, AG Barr's newly appointed CEO Euan Sutherland, said: 'Looking forward, we have a refreshed strategy centred on growth and are committed to our long-term financial targets. I am confident that successful execution of our plans will see another year of positive progress towards our long-term goals." "AG Barr to pull Strathmore bottled water brand" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
