AG Barr confirms Fentimans head office closure ending North East connection

Fentimans was acquired earlier this year by Irn-Bru maker AG Barr in a £38m deal, with the Hexham base set to close this summer

The new owner of Northumberland-based drinks firm Fentimans has confirmed that its regional headquarters will shut. The Hexham business was snapped up earlier this year by Irn-Bru manufacturer AG Barr in a £38m transaction, with the drinks giant saying it was “fully committed to the Fentimans brand, its heritage, and its future growth”.

Shortly afterwards, it emerged that the takeover would result in 37 redundancies and that a potential closure of its headquarters was also being considered. The Stock Exchange-listed group has now confirmed that Fentimans’ Hexham base will close this summer.

The move will sever the firm’s ties to the region, which stretch back to the early 1990s.

An AG Barr 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. 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.”

Fentimans was originally founded in Yorkshire in 1905 by iron puddler Thomas Fentiman. The company closed in the 1960s before being revived by Eldon Robson, a relative of the founder, thanks to the discovery of an original drinks recipe, reports Chronicle Live.

Over the years, the firm has grown into a business with an annual turnover of approximately £40m. A significant proportion of that revenue is derived from export sales across the globe, driven by the popularity of its distinctive flavours such as Rose Lemonade, Curiosity Cola and Mandarin and Seville Orange Jigger.

Fentimans’ Hexham headquarters was originally housed in premises behind the market town’s main street before relocating to an industrial estate on the outskirts in 2015. Scottish drinks giant AG Barr, which boasts a £420m turnover, brought Fentimans into its expanding portfolio of beverages in February, where it now sits alongside the likes of Rubicon, Bundaberg, Rio and Tizer. The acquisition of Fentimans followed hot on the heels of the company’s purchase of Southern outfit Frobishers.

AG Barr announced it would acquire both Fentimans and South West soft drinks firm Frobishers in deals totalling £50m. At the time, chief executive Euan Sutherland described the purchases as “in line with our strategy of enhancing our organic growth with mergers and acquisitions”.