Brief

AG Barr says supply‑chain problems cost £10 m in sales

The Scottish drinks maker said internal and external supply‑chain issues cut sales, but it now sees a stronger, more efficient chain and a 8.5% revenue increase.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:02:07 GMT

AG Barr, the maker of Irn‑Bru and Rubicon, said the first half of 2026 saw a £10 million shortfall in sales because of supply‑chain problems. The company blamed both internal capacity changes and external manufacturing issues with a third‑party partner. It added that stock availability and customer service had returned to normal in the second half of the year.

Despite the hit, AG Barr reported an 8.5% rise in total revenues to £247.4 million for the six months to 1 August. The increase was helped by the recent acquisition of the Fentimans and Frobishers brands, which the company said had been successfully integrated. Adjusted pre‑tax profit rose 2.6% to £36.1 million, a figure that the firm said reflected the offsetting effect of the new brands against investment costs and cost inflation from the Middle East that had not been fully passed on to customers.

Chief executive Euan Sutherland said the company had made strong progress against its strategic priorities during the first half of the year, noting continued momentum across its brands and strong execution of its growth drivers. He added that the majority of the Cumbernauld operational change programme had been completed and that the Milton Keynes manufacturing upgrade was firmly on track, giving confidence in a stable and efficient supply chain for the second half and beyond.

Key facts

AG Barr estimated a £10 million loss in sales in the first half of 2026 due to supply‑chain disruptions (standard.co.uk)
AG Barr reported an 8.5% increase in total revenues to £247.4 million for the six months to 1 August (standard.co.uk)
Adjusted pre‑tax profit rose 2.6% to £36.1 million for the same period (standard.co.uk)
The company acquired Fentimans and Frobishers, which helped offset investment costs (standard.co.uk)
Supply‑chain issues were partly internal and partly linked to a third‑party manufacturer (standard.co.uk)
The Cumbernauld operational change programme is largely complete and the Milton Keynes upgrade is on track (standard.co.uk)