Irn-Bru adds ‘nostalgic’ ice cream flavour to core range

Irn-Bru has joined soft drinks rivals Coca-Cola and Pepsi in adding a dessert-inspired soft drinks serve.

The Scottish brand has brought its ice cream limited-edition – first seen in 2023 – back as a permanent flavour.

Two litre PET bottles (rsp: £2.15) and 8x330ml can multipacks (rsp: £4.20) have landed in Tesco stores, with £1.79 PMP bottles and single 330ml cans (rsp: £1.10) also available for convenience.

Irn-Bru Ice Cream was “inspired by the classic ice cream float” and would deliver “an irresistible twist on the brand’s iconic taste”, said Kenny Nicholson, Irn-Bru brand director at AG Barr.

“We all know the ritual – a cold can of Irn-Bru and a scoop of vanilla. It’s a classic for a reason,” he said. “With Irn-Bru Ice Cream we’ve bottled that magic in a ready-to-go format that captures that nostalgic comfort but still delivers the unmistakable Irn-Bru flavour.

“It’s been tried, tested and loved by shoppers, so now it’s here to stay.”

The NPD will sit under Irn-Bru’s recently rebadged sugar-free range Irn-Bru Zero.

It follows the launch of two limited-edition mystery flavours and a spiced cinnamon and ginger flavour by Irn-Bru last year.

“We’ve already shown through our limited editions that Irn-Bru is far more than a single flavour product,” said Kenny. “Now we’re taking the next step by bringing some of that innovation into the core range.”

The launch would be supported through activity under Irn-Bru’s wider ‘Made in Scotland from Girders’ brand platform, he added.

It comes with soft drinks majors betting on sweeter, indulgent flavours for NPD efforts.

Last month, Coca-Cola expanded its portfolio with the launch of Coca-Cola Cherry Float and Coca-Cola Cherry Float Zero sugar.

The new flavour was inspired by the “nostalgic taste of classic soda floats” and offered “bold cherry notes with smooth vanilla”, the soft drinks giant said.

Last February, Pepsi added limited-edition zero-sugar colas in Strawberries ‘N’ Cream and Cream Soda.

The “dessert-inspired” duo were aimed at “shoppers seeking indulgent soft drinks,” according to Ben Parker, vice president for off-trade sales at Carlsberg Britvic.

Another limited edition, Pepsi Gingerbread, joined the brand’s zero-sugar lineup in December.