Investment brings point of no returns for Irn-Bru

Irn-Bru maker AG Barr is to end glass bottle returns after 110 years as it invests £5 million in new facilities.

The company said it has seen a “significant reduction” in the number of bottles returned for 30p, with customers increasingly choosing to recycle at home.

The £5 million investment at its facility in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, will see the installation of new, highspeed filling capability for its glass bottle range.

While 90% of its bottles were returned in the early 1990s, the figure has fallen to about half today.

Barr commercial director Jonathan Kemp said: “This significant investment allows us to continue to offer our consumers their favourite products in glass, well into the future.”

Improved kerbside recycling rendered the returned bottles process uneconomic. Irn-Bru will still be sold in 750ml glass bottles but they will be non-returnable.

Irn-Bru was created to an original secret recipe in 1901 when it was initially called Iron Brew.

It changed its name to Irn-Bru in 1946 amid concern over new food labelling regulations.

The company introduced bottle returns in 1905 and will continue to accept bottles until December 31 this year.

The £5m investment will replace AG Barr’s current glass line, which is almost 20 years old, with faster more efficient glass filling capability.

Irn-Bru bottles through the ages.