Irn-Bru maker shares jump after snapping up soft drinks rivals for £50m Retail The drinks merchant behind Irn-Bru is forecasting a major boost to profit for the latest financial year after the firm stripped back costs and snapped up a pair of its soft drink rivals. AG Barr, which owns brands such as Boost, Funkin Cocktails and Rubicon, told markets it had sealed a near-£38m deal to buy [...]
Activity in UK’s embattled manufacturing sector hits 15-month high Economics The UK’s embattled manufacturing sector took another small step towards recovery at the end of 2025 thanks to an influx of new orders. The latest UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) from S&P Global UK hit a 15-month high as the industry continued to grow for the second consecutive month. The PMI reading hit 50.6, up [...]
Innocent Drinks makes first profit since 2020 Retail Innocent Drinks has returned to profit for the first time since 2020 as its revenue continued to rise, it has been confirmed. The business, which is now majority-owned by Coca-Cola, has posted an operating profit of £13m for 2024, late-filed accounts with Companies House have revealed. It is the first time Innocent Drinks has reported [...]
Reeves’ milkshake tax ‘could force me to quit UK’ November 19, 2025 Rachel Reeves’ possible ‘milkshake tax’ could force a family business to move production oversees if it is introduced in the Budget next week, its boss has warned. Global Brands chief executive Steve Perez said the rumoured changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy could lead to making the decision which would “be devastating for local [...]
Trip: CBD drinks brand valued at £200m after Joe Jonas backing November 10, 2025 Trip, a CBD drinks brand, has been valued at more than £200m after a fundraising round backed by the likes of singer and actor Joe Jonas. The London-headquartered firm has raised a further £30.3m in a move which it said makes it the most valuable UK-founded drinks brand since Innocent and Fever-Tree. The business has [...]
Gingardium Leviosa: Harry Potter star Emma Watson’s gin brand takes off October 9, 2025 The luxury gin brand co-founded by Harry Potter star Emma Watson has surged in value after raising an extra £5m. Renais Gin was launched in May 2023 by the actor and her brother Alex and is now sold in 11 countries. The siblings were inspired to set up the company by childhood trips to their family’s vineyard, [...]
Red Bull sales spike ahead of England ban October 3, 2025 Sales of Red Bull have spiked ahead of a planned new law in England to ban energy drinks being sold to under 16s. The giant has reported a UK revenue of £668.3m for 2024, up from the £594.1m it achieved in 2023. New accounts filed with Companies House also show that its pre-tax profit rose [...]
Irn-Bru maker buys Hal Robson-Kanu’s drinks business July 10, 2025 The maker of Irn-Bru has acquired The Turmeric Co from its founder, former Wales international Hal Robson-Kanu. AG Barr has taken a majority stake in the London-based business, which was established by the retired football player in 2018, for an undisclosed sum. Robson-Kanu’s company produces turmeric shots which aim to help improve recovery by reusing [...]
Twinings: Profit jumps to almost £100m at tea brand May 28, 2025 Profit at British tea brand Twinings has increased to almost £100m thanks to a “significant growth in the domestic market”. The London-headquartered business has reported a pre-tax profit of £99.1m for the 12 months to 31 August, 2024, up from the £95m it achieved in the prior year. New accounts filed with Companies House also [...]
Yorkshire Tea: Profit more than doubles as sales pass landmark May 23, 2025 Sales at the owner of Yorkshire Tea have passed the £300m mark for the first time in its history as its profit more than doubled during its latest financial year. The Betty’s & Taylors Group, which can trace its roots back to 1886, has reported a turnover of £319.2m for the 12 months to 31 [...]