Irn-Bru owner AG Barr has confirmed it will shut Fentimans’ Hexham office and site later this summer, only months after completing its acquisition of the premium soft drinks and mixers brand. The listed Scottish drinks group bought North East-headquartered Fentimans for about £38m earlier this year, alongside South West juice producer Frobishers in a combined £50m deal. The move brings an end to Fentimans’ long-standing base in the Northumberland market town, where the company’s botanical brews have been produced for decades.
AG Barr has said the decision will lead to job losses at the Hexham operation, following an earlier proposal that put around 37 roles at risk as part of a formal consultation. The company has described the process as “unsettling” for affected staff and said its priority is to provide colleagues with full support as the closure and redundancies are implemented. Local leaders have warned that the loss of highly skilled roles at a well-known drinks brand represents a “big blow” for the town and wider area.
AG Barr has framed the shake-up as part of a wider restructuring aimed at creating a more efficient, scalable business following a series of acquisitions. In the past year the group has undertaken other restructuring moves, including job cuts linked to the closure of its Barr Direct operation and changes to the Boost energy brand business. The company says integrating Fentimans into its existing footprint is designed to put the brand on a more sustainable footing and support long-term investment and growth.
A spokesperson said: “Following a thorough consultation process, we have taken the difficult decision to close our Hexham office, with a phased wind-down taking place over the summer.
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“This was not a decision taken lightly, but one that will ensure the long-term integration and continued growth and success of the Fentimans brand within the AG Barr Group.
“Our priority throughout this process has been the welfare of our affected colleagues. We have conducted individual consultations with every team member and provided comprehensive support, including identifying internal opportunities across the wider business, providing dedicated outplacement services, and offering enhanced redundancy packages. We are pleased to see that many affected colleagues have already secured new roles.”
AG Barr has repeatedly stressed that it is “fully committed” to the Fentimans brand, its heritage and future development, even as it withdraws from Hexham. Production and business functions are expected to be absorbed into AG Barr’s wider network, with the group arguing this will allow it to scale the premium mixer and soft drinks range in the UK and internationally. However, for employees and the local community, the closure marks the end of a chapter in the story of one of Northumberland’s best-known drinks businesses, and raises fresh questions about the balance between regional employment and corporate consolidation.
