Final Results

Barr(A.G.) PLC
28 March 2001


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            28 March 2001



                               A.G. BARR p.l.c.


                             Preliminary Results

                      For the year to 27th January 2001


A.G. Barr p.l.c., the Scottish based manufacturer of soft drinks including the
popular Irn-Bru, Tizer and Orangina brands, announces its preliminary results
today:

Key Points:


*         Turnover : £111.9m ( 2000: £110.0m)

*         Profit before tax : £13.9m  (2000: £12.1m)

*         Continuing the regular uplift in annual dividends over recent years
          : final dividend of 14.25p, total for the year 21.60p a 10.2% increase

          over the previous year.

*         Positive start to new financial year - up 4% on the same period last
          year


Commenting on the results Robin Barr, Executive Chairman said:

'The UK soft drinks market place remains an extremely competitive and changing
environment but one in which we believe that a focussed Company with well
supported brands will best succeed.  We continue to pursue that profile and
believe that it will provide the optimum long-term returns for our
shareholders.'


For further information:


A.G. Barr
Robin Barr, Chairman or
Iain Greenock, Finance Director                   Tel: [phone]

Buchanan Communications:
Tim Thompson/Nicola Cronk                         Tel: [phone]


CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT


Review of Results


Profit on ordinary activities before taxation for the year to January 2001 was
£13.9 million compared with £12.1 million for the previous year - an
improvement of almost 15%.  This reflects an excellent performance during the
second six months of the year given the fact that, at the half way point,
profit was lagging the previous year by some £0.5 million.  The improvement in
trading was particularly marked in the last two months of the year since the
results of that part of the previous year had been adversely affected by
disruptions to normal trading patterns due to concerns surrounding the
Millennium change.

Turnover for the year to January 2001 was £111.9 million, an increase of just
under 2% over the previous year.  Sales of Barr brands in the UK were up by
4%, reflecting a strong performance by our Irn-Bru brand, but the overall
increase was affected by reductions in Export essence shipments and in sales
of Retailers' Own Labels in the UK which now amount to less than 4% of total
turnover.  The latter part of last year's summer - particularly in Scotland -
did show a significant improvement over the poor weather experienced up to the
end of July and our UK sales achieved a much better year on year comparison in
the second half of the year.

Manufacturing costs were well contained throughout the year with the lower
price of sugar balancing an increase in the cost of PET bottles.  We have
continued to achieve improved production efficiencies within our three
factories.

Earnings per share on issued share capital were 50.66p compared with 44.46p
for the previous year.  Your Directors have therefore been pleased to
recognise our ability to continue the regular uplift in annual dividends
introduced over recent years.  They recommend a final dividend of 14.25p per
share making a total dividend of 21.60p for the year to January 2001.  This
would represent an increase of 10.2% over the total dividend paid for the
previous year.



Personnel


Every year I am able to use this opportunity to thank, on your behalf, all
employees of the Company for the part which each of them has played in
achieving the results reported to you.  Clearly the success achieved during
our last financial year makes it particularly appropriate to thank everyone
for the skills and dedication which they have contributed to our business.

For the last fifteen financial periods we have had in place a Profit Linked
Share Plan which has distributed shares to all employees in proportion to the
results of each period.  The value of the distribution in respect of the year
to January 2001 will be some £470,000.  Our PLSP has played a focal part in
our ambition to have in place a variety of share schemes through which all
employees are enabled, to an appropriate level, to become shareholders in the
Company and thereby have further motivation to contribute towards its future
success.

It is regrettable therefore to have to confirm that, due to legislative
changes introduced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it will be
inappropriate to make any further distributions through our PLSP subsequent to
the potential allocation for the current financial year.

In order that our Company will have available a replacement share scheme for
subsequent years, we will propose at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting
the adoption of a new all-employee share ownership plan which we believe will
enable us to continue to encourage the widest possible share ownership among
employees.  Details of the scheme are contained on a separate enclosure.


Trading Outlook

Turnover for the first eight weeks of the new financial year has been 4% up on
the same period last year.  This represents a positive start albeit at a time
of seasonally low demand for soft drinks.  Our costs of production are now
reflecting somewhat higher prices for PET bottles and cans but the cost of
sugar will of course reflect the strength - or weakness - of Sterling against
the Euro as the year progresses.  Thus far, Sterling continues to hold its
historically high value despite all predictions to the contrary.

Further significant improvements to our production and warehouse facilities
are planned to be in place by the end of June.  In particular, due to
increasing demand for our various PET bottle sizes, we are creating a second
PET filling line at our Cumbernauld factory.  This will better balance
production capacity against geographical demand at both our Mansfield and
Cumbernauld factories.

The gradual decline in the level of business represented by our 'small shop'
retail division in Scotland has caused us to carry out a significant
reorganisation of sales routes and this resulted in the closure this February
of our Falkirk sales depot with its historical territory now being serviced
from three of our other depots.  The Falkirk premises will remain open and
will provide additional warehousing for our wholesale trade.  The total cost
of this reorganisation has been over £500,000 but this should be recouped over
the first twelve months of the new arrangements.

The long-term position with regard to our franchise for Orangina has again
become influenced by uncertainty surrounding the future ownership of the
business which owns that brand.  It was announced at the end of September last
year that Pernod Ricard, the owners of Orangina, had entered into discussions
with a view to a sale to Cadbury Schweppes but, to date, no formal agreement
appears to have been concluded.  Clearly this further period of uncertainty
with regard to the long term owner and therefore direction of the brand does
not assist our attempts to plan developments in our franchise area.

The UK soft drinks market place remains an extremely competitive and changing
environment but one in which we believe that a focussed Company with well
supported brands will best succeed.  We continue to pursue that profile and
believe that it will provide the optimum long-term returns for our
shareholders.


Robin Barr
Chairman
28 March 2001



A.G. BARR p.l.c.
and its Subsidiary Companies
Consolidated profit and loss account
for the year ended 27 January, 2001


The following are the unaudited results for the 12 months to 27 January, 2001.
The Board recommends the payment of a final dividend of 14.25p per share
which if approved by the shareholders will be posted on 5 June, 2001.

The total distribution proposed for the year amounts to 21.6p per share (2000
- 19.6p)

                          Year ended                     Year ended
                            27.01.01                       29.01.00
                                £000                           £000


Turnover                      111,878                       109,995

Profit on ordinary             13,697                        12,210
activities before
interest

Interest (received)             (225)                           114
/ paid

Profit on ordinary             13,922                        12,096
activities before
taxation

Tax on profit on                4,071                         3,451
ordinary activities

Profit on ordinary              9,851                         8,645
activities after
taxation

Earnings per share              50.66 P                       44.46 P
on issued share
capital

Basic earnings per              52.33 P                       45.87 P
share

Fully diluted                   50.86 P                       44.31 P
earnings per share

Dividend per share              21.60 p                       19.60 p

Dividend (£000)                 4,200                         3,813


All gains and losses as described in Financial Reporting Standard 3 (27) have
been included in the profit for the year.


            Record date:                     04 May, 2001
            Ex-div date  :                   02 May, 2001



A.G. BARR p.l.c.
and its Subsidiary Companies
Balance Sheets
as at 27 January, 2001

                                     GROUP                  COMPANY
                                      2001        2000        2001         2000
                                      £000        £000        £000         £000
Fixed assets

Tangible assets                      39,102       40,384       38,757    40,149

Investment in subsidiaries and         100         100         100          100
associated undertakings
                                     39,202       40,484       38,857    40,249
                                                                      
Current assets

Stocks                               10,800       9,027       10,782      8,998

Debtors                              19,834       14,750       19,872    14,752

Investment                           2,499       2,228          2,499     2,228

Cash at bank                         11,199       9,762       11,177      9,762

                                     44,332       35,767       44,330    35,740

Creditors: Due within one year       25,064       23,025       25,504    23,419
Net current assets                   19,268       12,742       18,826    12,321

Total assets less current            58,470       53,226       57,683    52,570
liabilities

Creditors: Due after more than one
year
Hire purchase creditor                   -         304           -          304
                                         -         304           -          304
Provisions for liabilities and
charges

Deferred credit                        667         719         667          719

Deferred taxation                    1,451       1,502       1,444        1,502
                                     2,118       2,221       2,111        2,221

                                     2,118       2,525       2,111        2,525
                                     56,352     50,701       55,572      50,045


Capital and reserves

Called up share capital              4,861       4,861       4,861        4,861

Share premium reserve                  859         859         859          859

Profit and loss account              50,632       44,981       49,852    44,325
                                     56,352       50,701       55,572    50,045



A.G. BARR p.l.c.
and its Subsidiary Companies
Cash Flow Statement
For the year ended 27 January, 2001
                                        2001                     2000
                                 £000        £000           £000           £000


Net cash inflow from operating              16,932                        17,675
activities


Returns on investments and
servicing of finance


Interest received                 311                        207
Interest paid                     (9)                      (152)
Interest element of hire         (77)                      (169)
purchase paid
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from
returns on investments and
servicing of finance                          225                         (114)


Taxation

Corporation tax paid                        (3,821)                     (3,229)


Capital expenditure and
financial investment
Purchase of tangible fixed      (7,115)                    (4,679)
assets
Sale of tangible fixed assets     188                        525
                                            (6,927)                      (4,154)
                                            6,409                        10,178


Dividends paid                              (3,811)                      (3,616)

                                            2,598                         6,562


Financing
Issue of share capital              -                         76
Capital element of hire         (1,152)                    (1,061)
purchase repaid
Loans repaid                        -                    (5,053)
                                            (1,152)                      (6,038)
Increase in cash                            1,446                           524