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:
Right this is a fucking joke now!!! We can live without much fuel and we can live without a couple less toilet rolls but we WILL NOT live without Irn Bru #TheBruMustGetThru https://t.co/7TP43SsB1V
— ScottyB©️ (@Scotty_Trucker) September 28, 2021
Time to stock irn bru pic.twitter.com/xznXyze0ft
— brandon laverty (@laverty9) September 28, 2021
Scotland didn’t vote for Brexit and now it’s running out of Irn Bru. York was sacked for less. https://t.co/suIk4czU6B
— Christopher Cherry (@christophcherry) September 28, 2021
Nooooo. I can live without petrol, toilet roll and pretty much anything else but not Irn Bru. Please lord save us. https://t.co/NrNY2NGMiO
— Jonathan Snaith (@Jonny_Snaith) September 28, 2021
Ok this is ridiculous, SHORTAGE OF IRN BRU??????? NO THANK YOU I swear if my favourite drink on this planet runs out I will riot
— Dalya (@outlaw_morgan) September 28, 2021
It just keeps getting worse. If you've never had Irn Bru, you don't know how big of a deal this is https://t.co/davSdpnmtR
— Ziffer (@didj1t) September 28, 2021
If Irn Bru isn't readily available then we know shit has hit the fan. https://t.co/BlNsCO798m
— Phil Coulthard (@PhilCoulthard) September 28, 2021
irn bru's running out, GET THE FUCKJIN PITCHFORKS
— 🏴West Scottish Warrior🇪🇺 (@WestScotWarrior) September 28, 2021
Now there's an Irn-Bru shortage!? https://t.co/KI3BJ7S32q pic.twitter.com/rJPRMZkg4h
— James Rhys (@JamesRhys90) September 28, 2021
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.
if Scotland runs dry of Irn Bru we're getting our claymores out and coming down there to restore the House of Stuart pic.twitter.com/SVSrj9BMOf
— Gpoptosis (@Gpoptosis) September 28, 2021
Irn Bru running out due to Brexit will be the event that finally triggers Scottish independence
— CanisLatrans (Hasn't seen Eva 3.0 + 1.0 yet) (@LatransCanis1) September 28, 2021
Queues starting to form as word is spreading about the shortage of Irn Bru #panicbuying pic.twitter.com/NgZBoX2GBV
— 🎵 ΜΔŘŞĦΔŁŁ ĐΔŇƗ€ŁŞ 🎵 (@MarshallDans) September 28, 2021
It's the end of the world 😳 nae irn bru would be a scandal 😭 https://t.co/ktHp6tMscb
— Kimberley MacDonald (@KimberleyMacD12) September 28, 2021
Scotland running out of Irn Bru will spark the revolution that ends the United Kingdom.
— Alex (@Havoc_Returns) September 28, 2021
Running out of Irn Bru due to brexit will be the news that finally triggers scottish independence https://t.co/01obt2rxx0
— Parker (@panoparker) September 28, 2021
The queue for Irn Bru this TODAY😜 😳😮🧐😏😏😄😀 pic.twitter.com/PFuQ8UH8Kv
— john1888 (@John43272767) September 28, 2021
Live scenes from Coatbridge Tesco as irn bru shortages announced pic.twitter.com/Q3HRRO5xIq
— A.Monolith (@alanmonolith) September 28, 2021
Elsewhere, others were thinking about panic buying Irn-Bru in order to replenish their own supply (which is NOT something we recommend):
panic buying irn bru rn https://t.co/Ets2mbQfeG
— 𝖕𝖆𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖔𝖓 (@paytxhn) September 28, 2021
If you see me panic buying Irn Bru then mind your business https://t.co/KwDZXDV1T4
— Shannon (@shannonheighton) September 28, 2021
fuck it am becoming a panic buyer now i cannot function without my irn bru </3
— caitlin :) (@syrupslive) September 28, 2021
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.”
