Irn-Bru fans in despair after drink deliveries hit by HGV driver shortage

Thanks to a perfect storm of issues which we won’t bore you with this time, news of certain everyday items being in temporary short supply is something we are all gradually getting used to.

But it seems that Scots weren’t quite ready for their favourite drink to be among the victims.

Irn-Bru maker AG Barr has today said that the firm is struggling to make deliveries of its famous orange drink due to HGV and supply chain issues, while prices have also gone up as a result.

The company says it is continuing to “monitor” the situation “closely” and remain hopeful that the issues can be resolved soon.

But that hasn’t stopped Irb-Bru fans spiraling into a pit of despair over the news, with many using memes to make their feelings about the situation very clear:

Some have joked about the consequences of Scots not being able to get their hands on their beloved beverage - predicting everything ranging from long queues of cars, to a bloody battle. Some have even joked that it will culminate with Scottish Independence and, perhaps, even the end of the world.

Elsewhere, others were thinking about panic buying Irn-Bru in order to replenish their own supply (which is NOT something we recommend):

In a statement updating the stock market, the company said of the supply issue: “In recent weeks we have seen increased challenges across the UK road haulage fleet, associated in part with the Covid-19 pandemic, impacting customer deliveries and inbound materials.

“In addition, the risks associated with the wider labour pool and the current Covid-19 pandemic response are areas we continue to monitor closely.”

Roger White, chief executive of the company based in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, added: “There is a tightness with drivers and we have had particular disruption too with materials, particularly aluminium cans,” he told the PA news agency.

“Inflation is all around us at the moment – materials, wages and supply among other things – so we have to be careful how we manage this.

“We have accounted for this and that’s why we recognise that operating margins are likely to be impacted in the second half of the year.”

The warnings came as AG Barr revealed sales remained strong despite the Covid pandemic, thanks to a heavy shift to at-home drinking of their products. Now that restrictions are easing and the economy has reopened, more customers are buying drinks on-the-go and in the hospitality sector.

Chief executive, Roger White, said: “AG Barr is a growth-focused business operating in resilient and growing market categories, with dynamic brands, great people and a strong financial position.

“Our positive first-half performance reflects these fundamentals as well as the encouraging performance of recent innovation launches in both soft drinks and cocktails.”