The maker of Irn-Bru says the response to the soft drink’s new recipe has been “encouraging”, as it reports rising sales.

AG Barr has reported revenues of £277m for the 12 months to January 27, up 7.5% compared to the previous year.

It follows controversy over the decision to halve the amount of sugar in Irn-Bru.

In its latest trading update, AG Barr said: “As anticipated, the sugar reduction in regular Irn-Bru was met with widespread media interest.

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“Our extensive research and testing in the preceding years gave us confidence that we had an excellent taste match and, whilst it is still early days, the consumer response to the new product has so far been encouraging.”

Irn-Bru fans reportedly began stockpiling cans and bottles ahead of the new recipe’s introduction in January.

Ryan Allen, who started the Hands Off Our Irn-Bru campaign, described the beverage as a “national treasure”.

However, AG Barr claimed consumers would be unable to tell the difference.

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It expects 99% of its portfolio, which also includes Rockstar, Tizer and Snapple, to avoid the soft drinks sugar tax introduced in April.