Barr sees solid performance

AG Barr, the Glasgow-based manufacturer of soft drinks, including the Irn-Bru, Tizer and Orangina brands, said that it is expecting to end fiscal 2003 on a high, helped by the hot summer weather.

The company said that the market place remained competitive and that it had seen some softening of the soft drinks market since the weather returned to more normal patterns, but that it nonetheless expected full year results to match market expectations.

The company added that its preliminary results were expected on 29 March 2004.

Meanwhile, the company has also announced that chairman Robin Barr is to stand down from the post on 1 February, although he will remain as part time chairman of the group, remaining involved in key strategic matters.

Roger White, who is currently managing director, has been appointed chief executive - the first person from outside the Barr family to run the Scottish firm in 129 years.