IRN-BRU

[Bachy Soletanche]

I don't think much to the new tv advert

[NorthLimitation]

What is it?

On the topic of Irn Bru, I never really "went fully Irn Bru" until I was a teenager, Tizer and Pepsi dominated our household, equally for me too Bachy.

Edit: Oh I think I mind the advert we're talking about - yes, truly dire. Bring back people doing hilariously strong things!

[Pious Fraud]

Irn-Bru aims to be Algeria's 'other national drink'

BBC 9th July 2011

Ask an Algerian what his favourite cold drink is, and chances are he will answer without hesitation, "Hamoud."

A cloudy, primrose-coloured lemonade, Hamoud is sold in thick glass bottles with old-fashioned labels, and drunk by the gallon.

No wedding party, birthday celebration or picnic is complete without half a dozen bottles of the stuff, and Algerians will tell you, proudly, that Hamoud has been around for a great deal longer than Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

But Othmane Bencheikh, an entrepreneur with a penchant for all things sweet, is hoping to change that.

Earlier this year, he started importing a new soft drink to Algeria, one he hopes will one day be as popular as Hamoud.

What is it? Irn-Bru, that amber-coloured potion born in Scotland at the turn of the 19th Century and beloved of Scots the world over.

It is said that Scotland is the only country in the world that does not have Coca-Cola as its top-selling soft drink.

In Algeria, I imagine Coke sales must be neck-and-neck with Hamoud.

I arrange to meet Othmane on a sweltering summer day in the capital, Algiers - exactly the sort of weather for a long, cold, fizzy drink.

Othmane collects me in a huge van painted orange and blue, the colours of an Irn-Bru can.

In the back are dozens of crates of the drink, which clink every time we turn a corner.

"So, why Irn-Bru?" I ask him. We're heading towards a suburb where a supermarket has started selling the drink.

"Because I love it," he says. "And everyone I've tried it out on loves it, too..."

Full story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme...nt/9533797.stm

[AJphx]

love that photo of the street. haven't been to glasgow but wanted to see where that picture is taken. Looked around and I think that is renfield street? and that odeon is closed? The photo makes its quite an impressive looking street, shorter, wider, taller buildings. The reality from google street view - not so much. Still really nice though

[JohnnyFive]

Originally Posted by AJphx

love that photo of the street. haven't been to glasgow but wanted to see where that picture is taken. Looked around and I think that is renfield street? and that odeon is closed? The photo makes its quite an impressive looking street, shorter, wider, taller buildings. The reality from google street view - not so much. Still really nice though

Yes, that is Renfield st and the odeon is closed.

It is an impressive street in real life with canyons as per much of Glasgow.

Not so sure you can say in "reality" on "google streetview" though their images are always distorted due to the fish eye lens they use for 360 degree captures.

You need to see Glasgow in person to see the scale of the streets and buildings. More importantly there is streets like St Vincent St and Renfield st which have a very large change of gradient which is difficult to capture via camera but can further enhance the scale.

I think the photo you comment on is a very good capture.

[AJphx]

Thanks for the info Johnny. What you say about Google makes sense actually, now that I think about it the streets do looked stretched on street view. Anyway thats good to hear as the street is quite amazing looking in that photo.

i definetly hope to visit one day. Haven't ever been to the UK yet (from US) but its a place I would love to go and I just like to see whats happening there on this forum. Honestly Glasgow strikes me as really interesting. I know Glasgow was the "second city of the empire" right? So whenever those threads come up polling about what the "second city of the UK" is I always think Glasgow. Because, honestly, Glasgow just strikes me as having a lot more of an identity that those other two major cities.

[Ahhhh]

Originally Posted by AJphx

Glasgow just strikes me as having a lot more of an identity that those other two major cities.

London and where?

[JohnnyFive]

Originally Posted by AJphx

I definetly hope to visit one day. Haven't ever been to the UK yet (from US) but its a place I would love to go and I just like to see whats happening there on this forum. Honestly Glasgow strikes me as really interesting. I know Glasgow was the "second city of the empire" right? So whenever those threads come up polling about what the "second city of the UK" is I always think Glasgow. Because, honestly, Glasgow just strikes me as having a lot more of an identity that those other two major cities.

Yes, during the height of the British Empire Glasgow was considered the second city due to its industrial might and trade with the colonies.

In this modern post empire age Glasgow lost its way in a post industrial period and shrinkage from the 1960-1980's but it is still the largest city in Scotland and has been revitalised over the last 20 or so years and regaining confidence is a perfect foil for the classical beauty of Edinburgh.

I see no need to have a contest with any other city to claim a second city prize.

I am happy and contented that Scotland as a modern and small Northern European country has two such fine cities along with Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Stirling enabling Scotland to strive confidently forward in this new century.

[fatweegee]

Originally Posted by Ahhhh

London and where?

Presume the reference was to Mancy and Birm, however for a large period of time Dublin also referred to itself as the 'second city', although I will always believe Glasgow is the only true claimant to the title.

[fatweegee]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFive

Yes, during the height of the British Empire Glasgow was considered the second city due to its industrial might and trade with the colonies.

In this modern post empire age Glasgow lost its way in a post industrial period and shrinkage from the 1960-1980's but it is still the largest city in Scotland and has been revitalised over the last 20 or so years and regaining confidence is a perfect foil for the classical beauty of Edinburgh.

I see no need to have a contest with any other city to claim a second city prize.

I am happy and contented that Scotland as a modern and small Northern European country has two such fine cities along with Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Stirling enabling Scotland to strive confidently forward in this new century.

Regardless - Glasgow is still officially the third largest settlemant in the UK. Not a bad feat when you consider the population explosion in England compared to Scotland.

[OurBoys&EastEnd]

For me, Irn Bru IS Glasgow, thanks to Jamesie Cotter using it as a cure for his hangovers.

It's the staple drink in this house now, not the full on version but the Diet version, or whatever they term it now. It's crap when warm, like any soft drink, but really refreshing when chilled.

Have seen it in London in recent years, and try to plug it when we can. Hopefully it'll cross The Pond and we can see the day when we can sit in Bryant Park sipping on a chilled can or bottle of the stuff. The world doesn't know what it's missing.

[M_Riaz]

scotland.gov.uk

Irn Bru

09/09/2011

First Minister Alex Salmond has welcomed a vote at today's European Commission's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.

He said:

"Thank goodness this problem has been Irn-ed out! It is a victory for our other National drink - I'm delighted that common sense has prevailed, and that Europe's decision protects this iconic Scottish brand. I congratulate all involved in securing this positive outcome - folk at home and abroad who love their Irn Bru will be toasting this success with a glass of the stuff made from girders."

The Food Standards Agency has confirmed that at today's SCOFCAH Member States voted in favour of restricting use levels of Sunset Yellow in food and drink, including a reduction for soft drinks from 50 mg/l to 20 mg/l. AG Barr use 20mg/l of the additive in their recipe. The issue will now be considered by the Council and European Parliament.

[M_Riaz]

http://www.irn-bru.co.uk/fiery

[R.K.Teck]

At first I thought Fiery Bru was going to be a limited edition with the absolute maximum amount of Sunset Yellow possible in it before the EU cuts the quantity allowed to the quantity in normal Irn Bru... but it's chillis and ginger.

[Sweet Zombie Jesus]

anyone tried it?

[R.K.Teck]

I'm gonna have to wait til the 26/09/11

[Sweet Zombie Jesus]

Got a taste today. Just tastes like irn bru with a bit of ginger beer mixed in. Not bad actually.

[R.K.Teck]

It's a nice wee change.
I was expecting overpowering chillis and ginger but it was good. Cool can too.

[djmaxliving]

Irn Bru maker AG Barr reports strong sales

Irn Bru maker AG Barr has reported strong sales of both its core and exotic brands as it looks to expand its production capacity into the south of Britain.

In a trading update, the Cumbernauld-based company said it expected 6% year-on-year growth for the financial year.

Barr said all of its core brands had grown this year, while exotic brands Rubicon and LA had performed strongly.

It expects overall margins to be in line with expectations.

This was despite continuing volatility in a number of key input costs such as sugar, packaging materials and energy.

Barr said it was continuing to develop its investment plans for a new production site with canning capacity in the south of the UK, but has yet to specify its precise location.

The firm expects the additional facility to come on stream in 2012-13.

In its trading update, Barr said its performance in the final quarter reflected "well executed sales plans, a less demanding comparative trading position and excellent consumer demand behind our core brands".

The firm said it expected see continued pressure on consumers' disposable incomes and further input cost inflation, as well as an increasingly competitive market place over the course of the next financial year.

It added: "However, we do see sales growth opportunities across our core brands as we continue to drive our product distribution and innovation activities.

"We will maintain our focus on costs throughout our total operation to ensure our margins are protected."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...iness-16739866

[RapidTaco]

I realise that for distribution reasons the manufacturing facility needs to be in the south, however this is just the type of manufacturing work that could be located along the new M74 in Glasgow. Could we not have done a bit more to secure Barr's new factory here?