A.G. Barr plc
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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.
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History
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.
Competition With Coca-Cola
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].
National and International Sales
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, 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