IT’S GIVING, the first brand from Simon’s new venture Fizz With Purpose, is available in three fruity flavours – Apple & Elderflower, Black Cherry and Mango & Passionfruit. Each 330ml can contains 6g of plant-based fibre, is low calorie, naturally low in sugar and contains no artificial sweeteners.

The launch comes at a time when soft drinks remain one of the strongest categories in convenience, with total category value growing +6.9% year on year. However, the bigger shift is what shoppers are choosing within soft drinks, with modern soda growing at +412% year on year, significantly ahead of more established areas such as cola at +2.8% and other flavoured carbonates at +4.4%*.

That gives IT’S GIVING a clear role in one of the fastest-growing spaces in the category, bringing a modern soda proposition into mainstream convenience at an accessible price point.

“IT’S GIVING has been developed around a clear consumer need. Shoppers increasingly want drinks that feel healthier and offer more, but too often they feel forced to compromise on taste, affordability or everyday accessibility,” said Simon Gray.

“IT’S GIVING is designed to challenge that compromise, bringing together great taste, 6g of plant-based fibre and a £1 PMP format that makes modern soda accessible for everyday soft drink occasions.”

It also comes at a time when fibre intake remains a major consumer issue, with 96% of UK adults failing to meet the recommended 30g daily fibre intake, according to the British Nutrition Foundation.

Early sales in Northern Ireland are tracking ahead of expectations, with the brand showing strong early rate of sale and, in some launch retailers, performing above the levels of established carbonated soft drinks brands.

IT’S GIVING has already earned industry recognition, with finalist spots in all three UK Soft Drinks Awards categories it entered: Best New Brand, Best Functional Drink and New Product Concept.

“For retailers, IT’S GIVING brings together the cues shoppers are looking for – taste, flavour, fun, value and added benefit – in a format that sits comfortably in the mainstream soft drinks chiller rather than a specialist health fixture,” added Simon.

“I know better than most what it takes to build a drinks brand that resonates with consumers in Northern Ireland. With BOOST, I built a hugely successful brand on value and functionality. IT’S GIVING takes that same understanding into a new space – flavour-led refreshment with added purpose.”

The brand is now available across key wholesalers in Northern Ireland, including Musgrave, O’Reilly’s, C&N, Northern Confectioners and S&W.

The IT’S GIVING launch will be supported by sampling activity and consumer-facing events across Northern Ireland as part of the brand’s #ServeSeason campaign, helping drive awareness, trial and demand at store level during the key summer trading period.

For more information, visit www.itsgivingdrinks.com or follow @itsgivingdrinks on Instagram and TikTok.

The post BOOST founder brings £1 PMP modern soda to Northern Ireland first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Available exclusively for the S&I channel, IRN-BRU Cherry follows the brand’s recent addition to the core IRN-BRU ZERO range, IRN-BRU Ice Cream, which added £2.9m in category value at original launch in 2023 and rejoined as a permanent addition in April^[2].

This latest flavour extension is set to strengthen the core ZERO range, encouraging retailers to bring additional excitement to the fixture with a three-strong wall of IRN-BRU ZERO variants.

Low calorie carbonates currently account for 55% of carbonates’ category value sales^[3] and are growing 23% faster than regular so it is critical for retailers to offer choice for the growing low-calorie shopper.

IRN-BRU ZERO is currently growing 71% faster than low calorie carbonates^[4] and alongside this, cherry flavoured soft drinks are set to be the consumer pick of the summer this year, currently growing at +42% YoY^[5].

Kenny Nicholson, IRN-BRU Brand Director at AG Barr said: “IRN-BRU is known for its great-tasting limited edition flavours, but cherry is a brand new innovation for us. We’re further strengthening IRN-BRU ZERO’s presence in the chiller, with another trending flavour innovation that’s rooted in consumer insight and macro trend tracking to meet retailer needs.

“Combined with the iconic taste and unmissable chiller presence of IRN-BRU, we’re confident that the new range of ZERO flavours will deliver incremental sales across the crucial summer months and beyond.”

To support the launch, IRN-BRU will be driving UK wide awareness by harnessing its highly engaged social media audience and impactful influencer partnerships.

Retailers should prominently display IRN-BRU Cherry and IRN-BRU Ice-Cream in their chiller next to core IRN-BRU ZERO and use the brand’s eye-catching POS suite to boost impulse sales and drive trial.

^[1] Circana value sales 52 w.e 27.12.25

^[2] IRI Marketplace, Value Sales, 12 wks to 52 w/e 26.8.23 vs YA, Total Marketplace

^[3] Circana Value Sales, 52 w.e 07.03.26, Total Coverage

^[4] Circana Value Sales, 12 w.e 07.03.26, Total Coverage

^[5] Cherry Blend soft drink flavours Up 42% vs 4YA iri to August 2025

The post IRN-BRU launches Cherry-flavoured variant to symbol and independent stores first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Live from April to July 2026, the campaign will feature on OOH advertising, digital and social media as well as on the street sampling of over 500K consumers. It will attract its core audience of 18 to 34-year-olds, reaching over 20 million consumers.

Lisa McKenna, Boost Brand Director at AG Barr said they have always championed value, bringing great tasting functionality at a great price.

“Boost is not about high octane activities, we represent those who need energy for their everyday needs – the Mondays, not Mountains. So, like our name, we are straight up and embrace our simplicity so that we can deliver the best quality and best value for shoppers – truly a no-brainer choice,” said Lisa.

Boost continues to go from strength to strength and the new campaign builds on the brand’s momentum. Boost is the No.3 brand in Energy drinks^[1] and Boost Red Berry is the No. 2 top selling Energy drink¹ in Northern Ireland. Boost Sports Drinks are the No. 3 brand¹ in sports drinks and they have recently launched a new range of three great tasting, zero sugar waters with electrolytes.

“We’re aiming to build on this with our clear messaging, delivering straight up energy for straight up sales opportunities,” added Lisa.

Retailers should prominently display Boost Energy and Sport in their energy fixtures and Boost Water+ in their water fixtures to offer great-tasting, great value choices to their shoppers and drive incremental sales.

^[1] Circana, Value Sales, MAT to 07/03/26, Northern Ireland

The post Boost Drinks unveils new ‘straight up’ brand campaign first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Celebrating its 150^th anniversary, AG Barr is a well-known and long-established drinks company, which has grown from being primarily known for IRN-BRU to becoming a dynamic FTSE-listed PLC with ambitious growth goals.

Having recently acquired Boost, a drinks brand which has enjoyed phenomenal success in Northern Ireland across its 20-year history, AG Barr has committed to building on this success, promising further investment and innovation.

As Gavan Morris explains, the acquisition of Boost was a strategic move to strengthen their position in the rapidly expanding energy drinks sector.

“This acquisition complements our existing energy brands, Rubicon RAW and PWR-BRU, and allows us to cater to the increasingly diverse energy drink consumer,” said Gavan.

“Boost, with its strong presence and established growth trajectory, is well-positioned to be a key player within our portfolio. Boost’s success in Northern Ireland has been exceptional, thanks to two decades of dedicated investment in the region.

“The consumer base has developed a genuine affinity for the brand, driven by consistent product innovation and outstanding value. Our most recent campaign, ‘There’s a Boost for That’, aims to build on this success by driving consumer trials for our latest product innovations, including Boost Sport Cloudy Lemonade and Boost Energy Blue Raspberry.

“The early feedback has been incredibly positive, and we expect these new lines to be among the best-performing NPD in recent years, further reinforcing Boost’s position as Northern Ireland’s #2 energy drink brand across the Sport, Energy and Iced Coffee categories.”

Gavan started his long career in the drinks sector with McCabes and Bass Brewers before moving to an 11-year tenure at C&C Group, where he held various sales and marketing positions. In 2009, he joined AG Barr to manage Ireland and assumed his current role as International Business Unit Director in 2020, a particularly challenging time given the global impact of covid-19.

“Despite these challenges, we successfully navigated the pandemic and expanded our presence to around 40 countries worldwide,” said Gavan.

“My role primarily involves overseeing the establishment of distribution partnerships across key markets, though we occasionally manufacture locally in certain regions. Europe remains our core market, contributing approximately 90% of our international business, driven by key brands like Rubicon and IRN-BRU.

“However, we have made significant strides in North America in recent years, helping us quadruple the international business. The future looks promising, with substantial investments lined up to fuel continued growth.”

Despite industry-wide pressures, AG Barr reported record turnover for the year ending January 2025 – up 5.1% year-on-year – driven by strong brand performance, innovation, and international growth, with Gavan outlining a relentless focus on understanding the consumer and delivering exceptional value through great-tasting products as the key attributes to this success.

“Rubicon has been a standout performer, with a series of new product launches driving the brand’s impressive growth. In 2024, Rubicon became the fastest-growing soft drink brand, supported by innovations like Rubicon Sparkling, Rubicon RAW, Rubicon Spring, and the all-new Rubicon Spring VITS range,” said Gavan.

“While IRN-BRU is a household name, it’s a common misunderstanding that sales are predominantly in Scotland, however it is worth noting that we actually sell more IRN-BRU outside of Scotland than within it. Our 2024 TikTok campaign, Mannschaft broke records, becoming the most-viewed UK soft drink ad on the platform.

‘The consumer connection with Boost in Northern Ireland is especially strong thanks to a long-standing local presence’

“Boost has also seen tremendous growth post-acquisition, helped by an energy category that has proven resilient in the face of ongoing market challenges. Boost’s ability to deliver across energy, sport, and coffee categories has set it apart from the competition.

“Additionally, our alcohol portfolio, led by Funkin Cocktails – the UK’s #1 cocktail brand – has been a key driver. While the hospitality sector faces its own pressures, Funkin’s relevance and ability to adapt to evolving social trends and premium drinking occasions continue to solidify its market-leading position.”

Northern Ireland is a key area of focus now for the company, particularly following the acquisition of Boost, with Gavan citing the exceptionally strong performance of the energy drink in the region as a core difference between NI consumers and the rest of the UK.

“This reflects a unique consumer profile that values high-energy, great-tasting and good-value drinks,” said Gavan.

“That’s why innovation within the Boost range, such as Boost Sport Cloudy Lemonade and Boost Energy Blue Raspberry, is so important to our strategy here.

“The consumer connection with Boost in Northern Ireland is especially strong thanks to a long-standing local presence, targeted campaigns and a deep understanding of what resonates with the market,” added Gavan.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH GAVAN MORRIS IN THE JUNE ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER HERE

The post Best Barr none! Belfast’s connection to Boost’s new owner first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Founded in Scotland in 1875, AG Barr has grown into a FTSE 250-listed company with a turnover of over £420 million (€500m), operating across 40 global markets and employing nearly 1,000 people at seven UK locations. With a new CEO joining in July 2024 and a new COO in January 2025, the company is well positioned for continued growth.

Despite industry-wide pressures, A.G Barr reported record turnover for the year ending January 2025 – up 5.1% year-on-year – driven by strong brand performance, innovation, and international growth.

A.G. Barr’s International Business Director, Gavan Morris – who also brings years of sales and marketing experience from his time at C&C Group – is focused on driving continued growth for the business.

“We’ve experienced significant international expansion in recent years, but the island of Ireland remains a key strategic priority for us. It’s our largest market outside of Great Britain, and the growth potential across both soft drinks and alcohol has never been greater,” said Gavan.

A.G Barr acquired BOOST in late 2022 and has since doubled down on brand investment across the Irish market. This includes a major focus on the, There’s a BOOST for That campaign and ongoing retail activations.

“The popularity of the brand in Northern Ireland is phenomenal,” said Gavan. “BOOST is number 2 in the energy, sport and Ice Coffee categories^*.

“BOOST is a brand that resonates deeply with consumers here, especially in the value energy segment. We’ve invested significantly post-acquisition, and we’re excited about what’s to come,” he added.

‘REMARKABLE GROWTH’

Sales of IRN-BRU rose 6.4% last year, with double-digit growth in England, and strong resonance across new audiences thanks to limited-edition NPD (Raspberry Ripple and Wild Berry Slush) and a record-breaking TikTok ad campaign – Mannschaft – the most viewed UK soft drinks post in 2024.

“IRN-BRU is a brand with legendary status and now growing rapidly outside of Scotland,” said Gavan. “We’re investing further in brand awareness activity in Ireland this year to build on that momentum.”

Over 1 million samples are planned for distribution in 2025 as part of a major consumer trial initiative.

Rubicon has seen remarkable growth, doubling in size over the past four years to become a £100 million brand. The company is backing the brand with a £6m media spend in 2025, double the previous year.

Rubicon Spring is the No.1 Flavoured Sparkling Water in the UK^**. The brand is the fastest-growing OFC (Other Flavoured Carbonate)^{^} and Energy brand in its category^{^^}. On the back of this success, Rubicon has just unveiled the new Rubicon Spring Vits range of drinks.

“Consumers are increasingly looking for smarter soft drink choices that don’t compromise on taste. By offering a delicious product with added health benefits, we can attract more people to the functional water category,” said Gavan.

“Our new Spring Vits range stands out by delivering 100% of the recommended daily intake of a multivitamin blend—something no other brand offers. Plus, it’s packed with the bold fruit flavours Rubicon is famous for.

GETTING STARTED

“Rubicon is one of the most dynamic brands in the UK market, and we believe that consumers on the island of Ireland are only beginning to see what it can do. We’re backing it with serious investment.”

Funkin is the UK’s No. 1 Cocktail Brand^{^*} and continues to play a strategic role in A.G Barr’s premium alcohol portfolio. While the on-trade sector has faced pressure, Funkin remains well positioned to respond to the growing trend toward at-home mixology and lower-alcohol socialising.

“Funkin isn’t immune to the same pressures affecting the wider hospitality sector, but the brand remains strong, relevant, and well-loved,” said Gavan. “We see opportunity in adapting to the shift in social habits and premium drinking occasions.”

This year’s activity comes as AG Barr marks 150 years in business. The company will launch a limited-edition Birthday Cake flavour from the Barr Family range and run its largest-ever on-pack promotion in partnership with the soon-to-be released Hollywood blockbuster, Jurassic World Rebirth.

“We’ve come a long way, from a small Scottish business to a global drinks group – but we’re only just getting started,” added Gavan.

“This year is about accelerating our ambition, getting closer to our customers and consumers, and unleashing the full potential of our brands in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and beyond.”

^{*Source: Circana Energy Stimulation Convenience Northern Ireland Value and Unit Sales 52 w/e data to 29th March 2025.}

^{**Source: Circana Sparkling Flavoured Water Value Sales 52 w.e 20.04.25.}

^{^Source: Circana | OFC | Value Sales | 26 w/e 20.04.25}

^{^^ Source: Circana Total Market Stimulant Energy Major Brand % Change vs YA 52 w/e 20.04.25.}

^{^*Source: Nielsen UK PRE MIXED ALCOHOLIC DRINKS Total Coverage MAT 22.02.25}

The post A.G Barr unveils bold growth plans as it celebrates 150 years first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.