Irn-Bru manufacturer AG Barr this week confirmed the sale of its Strathmore water brand to fast-growing premium bottled water company Ty Nant.
The deal, for an undisclosed sum, includes the Strathmore production site in Forfar near Dundee and saves the jobs of 23 staff at the business.
AG Barr decided to scrap the brand earlier this year after deciding it was no longer sustainable. The move, which put the future of Strathmore in doubt, was part of a bid to simplify the wider group and boost profits.
Ty Nant said the acquisition marked a “significant moment for two of Britain’s most respected water brands” and reinforced the Welsh company’s commitment to long-term investment in British manufacturing.
With a rich Scottish provenance and decades of brand equity, Strathmore had become a trusted name across the UK in hospitality, foodservice, sports and leisure, Ty Nant added.
AG Barr acquired Strathmore – then known as the Strathmore Mineral Water Company – from Constellation Brands for £15m, back in May 2006.
“This is a brand with a deep legacy and a loyal following, and we are honoured to be entrusted with its next chapter,” said Ty Nant chairman Raminder Sidhu.
“At the heart of Strathmore’s success is the incredible team in Forfar. Their professionalism, passion and care are a true testament to the strength of the brand and the business. We’re proud to welcome them into the Ty Nant family and excited to invest further in their future.”
Ty Nant, recognised as one of the fastest-growing brands in fmcg in 2024, can trace its history back to 1976, with the brand officially launching in 1989 at London’s Savoy Hotel. It became known for its cobalt blue glass bottles.
Entrepreneurs Raminder Sidhu and Bobby Nanua acquired Ty Nant in 2020 to return the business to British control following a long period of Italian ownership. Today it supplies high-end hotels and restaurants, as well as large chains such as Wagamama, retailers and cultural institutions.
The addition of Strathmore enhanced its operational scale and geographic reach, the business added.
Ty Nant will continue to operate Strathmore as an independent Scottish brand, investing in the Forfar site as a long-term strategic asset.
“AG Barr have been exemplary custodians of the brand and the Forfar operation,” Sidhu said. “We are grateful for their partnership and support during this transition, and for the strong platform they’ve built – both in market and on the ground.”
The deal follows the acquisition by Ty Nant of two brands from US giant Primo Water Corporation at the end of 2024 and the takeovers of premium Welsh water and mixer brand Llanllyr Source in late 2023 and Pentland Still Distillery in 2022.
AG Barr confirmed the sale of Strathmore alongside the £15m acquisition of a 50.1% stake in The Turmeric Co.
In a trading update, the Irn-Bru maker said revenue rose 3% to £228m in the first half of the year to 26 July, with its Boost energy drink driving the growth.
Operating margins grew to 15%, from 13% the year before, driven by improved manufacturing efficiencies and disciplined cost management.
The group maintained its revenue and profit growth expectations for the full year and said it was confident of a strong rate of year-on-year revenue growth in the second half.
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