A.G. Barr, the company behind popular UK beverage brands like IRN-BRU and Rubicon, has on Tuesday announced its decision to discontinue its Strathmore brand.
This announcement comes as the company reported its results for the year ended 25 January 2025, showcasing strong revenue growth and increased profitability.
The discontinuation of Strathmore could lead to the closure of the manufacturing site in Forfar, Scotland, subject to employee consultation.
Despite this, the company's overall performance has been robust. Revenue increased by 5.1 per cent to £420.4 million, driven largely by a 6.4 per cent growth in soft drinks. Rubicon and IRN-BRU were particular highlights, with distribution gains and successful new product launches contributing significantly to this growth.
Adjusted profit before tax saw a substantial increase of 15.8 per cent, reaching £58.5 million. The company's strategic programme to improve operating margin is reportedly ahead of schedule, with adjusted operating margin up by 130 basis points to 13.6 per cent.
A.G. Barr also reported a strong financial foundation, with net cash at bank of £63.9 million. Shareholders are set to benefit, with adjusted return on capital employed improving to 20.1 per cent and adjusted EPS up by 17.4 per cent. The company has also recommended a final dividend of 13.76p.
A.G. Barr said current trading aligns with expectations, and the outlook for the 2025/26 financial year anticipates continued revenue growth and margin improvement. This positive forecast takes into account the 53-week year, the proposed Strathmore discontinuation, and additional regulatory compliance costs.
“2024/25 was a successful year for the company,” Euan Sutherland, chief executive, 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.”
In February 2025, A.G. Barr announced an organisational simplification, integrating Barr Soft Drinks and FUNKIN into a unified operation.
