Irn-Bru maker AG Barr buys Fentimans and Frobishers for £50 million

AG Barr has confirmed the acquisition of Fentimans and Frobishers Juices as part of a major expansion drive. The deals come after the Scottish drinks giant reported a “strong” financial year, with rising sales and profits.

The company told shareholders it completed a roughly £38 million purchase of Fentimans earlier this week, funded through a mix of cash and debt.

It also confirmed that it closed a separate £13 million deal to buy Devon-based juice firm Frobishers at the end of its financial year in January.

Both brands operate in the adult soft drinks market. Family-owned Fentimans was founded in 1905 and is best known for its botanically brewed soft drinks and mixers made with natural ingredients, including ginger beer, rose lemonade and curiosity cola.

Frobishers, established in 1969, is a premium fruit juice brand offering juices, fusions, sparklers and presses across a wide range of flavours.

Euan Sutherland, chief executive of AG Barr, said: “Our top and bottom-line performance for full-year 2025/26 is in line with expectations, and importantly we have laid strong foundations for future growth.

“We enter FY26/27 with good momentum in our core brands and from the introduction of exciting new products.

“In line with our strategy of enhancing our organic growth with M&A, we are delighted to announce the acquisitions of Fentimans and Frobishers.”

The news follows confirmation that Scotland’s most iconic soft drink is set for a makeover ahead of its 125th anniversary in 2026.

Irn-Bru will refresh its packaging, bringing back the ‘Made in Scotland from Girders’ strapline to mark the milestone year.

The redesign nods to labels from 1988, when the slogan became one of the brand’s most recognisable features, while celebrating Irn-Bru’s industrial heritage with a modern, high-energy update.