Drinks manufacturer shrugs off sluggish market

Irn Bru-to-Tizer company AG Barr lifted underlying half-year profits today, despite a “sluggish” market for the carbonated drinks sector.

Barr said the figure rose 5.7% to £8.7m (€12.7m), although bottom-line profits were slightly lower at £8 million because of the cost of an ongoing programme to consolidate operations in the company’s Scottish heartland.