Euan Sutherland – CEO of AG Barr

However, the company also revealed plans to discontinue its Strathmore water brand, potentially leading to the closure of its Forfar manufacturing site and 23 job losses, subject to employee consultation.

The Cumbernauld-based drinks group, known for brands like Irn-Bru and Rubicon, reported a 5.1% rise in revenue, driven by a 6.4% growth in soft drinks. Rubicon’s “standout performance” and Irn-Bru’s continued growth, aided by new product launches, contributed significantly to this success. Statutory pre-tax profit stood at £53.2m, after accounting for £5.3m in one-off costs related to operational changes.

The group’s strategic margin improvement programme is ahead of schedule, with adjusted operating margin rising by 130 basis points to 13.6%. The company also boasts a strong net cash position of £63.9m.

CEO Euan Sutherland said: “2024/25 was a successful year for the Company. I would like to take the opportunity to thank my colleagues across the business who delivered these excellent financial results.   

“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.”

Zoe Gillespie, investment manager at RBC Brewin Dolphin, said: “AG Barr continues to pop, with another strong set of results. Revenues and profits are on the rise, despite a challenging economic backdrop, and many of its brands are growing ahead of the market.

“The discontinuation of the Strathmore water brand is unlikely to have a material impact on the company and, with plenty of cash in the bank and an appetite for acquisitions, it seems that another strategic move could be in the offing in the not-too-distant future.

“AG Barr has a lot of qualities as a business and continues to invest in its operations – while the drinks market is highly competitive, the company should remain in a strong position when others may struggle.”