Irn Bru maker to discontinue Strathmore bottled water brand, putting 23 jobs at risk in Forfar

The company behind Irn Bru has announced plans to discontinue Strathmore bottled water in a move that could see the closure of its Forfar factory.

Global drinks company AG Barr announced the proposed closure of the distribution site after revealing their annual results for the year ending January 25, 2025.

The proposed closure of the factory on West High Street will see 23 jobs subject to redundancy.

It comes after the Cumbernauld-based drinks group – whose brands include Irn-Bru, Rubicon, Boost and Funkin – reported a 15.8% increase in adjusted profit before tax to £58.5m.

Strathmore water has been discontinued. Supplied

This was driven by strong growth in 6.4% growth in soft drinks including a “standout performance” from Rubicon.

AG Barr also stated its position of £63.9m net cash in the bank.

A spokesperson from AG Barr said: “We have announced a proposal with our Strathmore Water colleagues in Forfar which could see the closure of the site and 23 roles becoming redundant.

“The Strathmore brand has struggled to compete in recent years, and we believe we have now reached a point where the Forfar site is no longer sustainable.

“The proposals are subject to consultation, and we intend to fully support our employees through this period of change.”

The business is holding a capital markets event in London on June 3 to share further details of the refreshed strategy, with the next scheduled trading update on July 29.

Chief executive Euan Sutherland said: “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.”