AG Barr strikes M&A one-two in “adult” soft drinks

Irn-Bru shaper AG Barr has moved to pat into the “attractive” marketplace for big brushed drinks with the acquisitions of UK firms Fentimans and Frobishers Juices.

AG Barr issued a little connection connected the acquisitions contiguous (3 February) alongside a trading update for its fiscal twelvemonth that closed astatine the extremity of January.

“Both brands run successful the charismatic big brushed drinks market, which is benefitting from the user inclination of reduced intoxicant consumption,” Funkin proprietor AG Barr said.

“These acquisitions bespeak the execution of further meaningful and targeted M&A to elevate maturation done broadening the marque portfolio portion providing opportunities for outgo synergies.”

AG Barr paid £38m ($52m) for Fentimans successful a woody the companies completed yesterday. The radical snapped up Frobishers for £13m. That woody was finalised “towards” the extremity of AG Barr’s fiscal year.

Family-owned Fentimans, based successful north-east England, makes and markets “botanically brewed” mixers and brushed drinks. Devon-based Frobishers was sold to UK juices concern Cobell successful 2009. Ingredients elephantine Symrise snapped up Cobell 8 years later.

The astir caller accounts disposable connected Companies House, the UK concern register, amusement Fentimans generated turnover of £35.7m successful 2024, down from conscionable nether £39m a twelvemonth earlier. It made a nett of GBP1m against a nonaccomplishment of conscionable implicit £514,000 successful 2023.

In the twelvemonth to the extremity of January, AG Barr said it saw its gross turn by astir 4% to £437m.

AG Barr’s trading update besides included details of its “adjusted operating margin”, which the institution said stood astatine 14.7%, up 110 ground points connected a twelvemonth earlier. The radical pointed to “ongoing ratio initiatives and proviso concatenation investment”.

Shares successful AG Barr were up 6.21% astatine 690.3p astatine 12:32 GMT. The institution is acceptable to study its afloat yearly results connected 31 March.

CEO Euan Sutherland said: “Our top- and bottom-line show for FY25/26 is successful enactment with expectations and importantly we person laid beardown foundations for aboriginal growth. We participate FY26/27 with bully momentum successful our halfway brands and from the instauration of breathtaking caller products.”

"AG Barr strikes M&A one-two successful “adult” brushed drinks" was primitively created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.

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