CHAMBER Of Commerce Welcomes Former Irn Bru Chair To Greenock
Chamber president Gavin McDonagh, left, with Robin Barr
INVERCLYDE Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the successful launch of its latest networking series after holding An Audience With Robin Barr.
W Robin G Barr, the former chair of Irn-Bru parent company A.G. Barr, shared the secrets of his and his family’s success at a special evening held in The Albany in Greenock.
The event gave Inverclyde entrepreneurs the opportunity to hear first-hand about the journey of the Barr family, as well as Robin’s successes after he joined A.G. Barr in 1960.
More than 70 people attended the event, including several school children who were invited by the chamber of commerce as part of their business studies, in a new arrangement with local secondary schools.
Robin, who was chair for 31 years and a director for 44 years before stepping down in 2009, oversaw the growth of brands and Irn-Bru being adopted as the nation’s favourite soft drink. He remains a part of the company as a non-executive director of the family business, which was first created in 1875 by Robert Barr.
Throughout the evening, Robin provided an insight into how the business has continued to survive, grow and develop as well as his views on future trends within the soft drinks industry and some of the background information on its acquisitions, marketing and exporting.
To round off the event, Robin fielded questions from the attendees for over an hour on subjects including the UK sugar levy, diversification and floating on the stock exchange.
Gavin McDonagh, Chamber president, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank-you to Robin for choosing Greenock to share his inspirational stories and being so generous with his time in enabling the attendees to learn more about AG Barr.
“Inverclyde Chamber continues to enhance its offer to the local business community and it is clear that this type of event is a welcome addition to our membership offer.”
Mr Barr said: “It was a delight to return to Inverclyde, an area I know so well given Barr’s former factory and warehouse in Greenock.
“I’d like to thank both Inverclyde Chamber and the attendees for their generosity and warmth towards both AG Barr and me.”
The event format is the newest addition to the Chamber’s networking offer, growing on the ‘A Look Into’ roadshow series launched in October. The Chamber plans several events through the “An Audience With” format in the coming months, with leading entrepreneurs sharing best practice, advice and future trends.
| Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce
