Scotlands "other" national drink to go to America

Swany · 06-03-2007, 10:16 AM

http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/tm_...name_page.html

BRUNITED STATES OF AMERICA
OTHER NATIONAL DRINK HITS U.S. FOR COLA WAR
By Lesley Roberts
SCOTLAND'S other national drink is taking on Coke and Pepsi on their home turf.

Barr's Irn-Bru is being test-marketed in small-town America in a first step towards a possible conquest of the United States.

Some curious locals are falling for the fizzy drink famously "made from girders".

A reformulated version of Irn-Bru has been launched in north-east Pennsylvania, using the same quirky advertising that has won a cult following here.

Until now, the drink has only been available in specialist outlets and bought by expat Scots longing for a taste of home.

But convenience stores and college campuses are being targeted in an attempt to take Irn-Bru to the masses.

Pennsylvania-based distributors LT Verrastro have managed to find around 30 shops willing to stock the drink.

But they're hoping to expand to around 300, once word of its unique flavour gets around.

Company vice-president Leonard Verrastro said his staff have been converted to the taste.

He added: "There's real excitement about Irn-Bru in our organisation.

"We've got 150 staff working here and Irn-Bru's available to them. They seem to like it.

"I've tried it and I like it but I think it's fair to say it's an acquired taste.

"We're going to have some fun selling it."

Billboards are going up in and around the Pennsylvania mining town of Wilkes-Barre, which has a population of around 40,000.

Irn-Bru, which already has strong sales in Russia, was originally banned in the US because of additives but the secret recipe has been tweaked.

A spokeswoman for the 106-year-old Glasgow company AG Barr said: "The distribution company have bought the rights.

"They are using the same type of advertising and doing an outdoor campaign with posters."

Irn-Bru have also launched in Poland, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

Swany says- If you have a chance, I say try it. Its the good stuff. And for shj*ts and giggles, some random adverts.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pdDhW9Lwepc - Granny ad.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bVjWiT-zmvs - Christmas special (I recognise a lot of places here)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=haNhogYCE...elated&search= - "Everybody in the world loves Irn Bru"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=okIl9o2Ts...elated&search= - Baby
http://youtube.com/watch?v=t5Dny-s27Dk - Goths
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y_f7WJUVV...elated&search= - Grandad
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HW7pn6e0N...elated&search= - "Its phenomonal"

06-03-2007, 10:16 AM	#1
Swany Stone Warrior Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Near Glasgow. Scotland Posts: 924	Scotlands "other" national drink to go to America http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/tm_...name_page.html BRUNITED STATES OF AMERICA OTHER NATIONAL DRINK HITS U.S. FOR COLA WAR By Lesley Roberts SCOTLAND'S other national drink is taking on Coke and Pepsi on their home turf. Barr's Irn-Bru is being test-marketed in small-town America in a first step towards a possible conquest of the United States. Some curious locals are falling for the fizzy drink famously "made from girders". A reformulated version of Irn-Bru has been launched in north-east Pennsylvania, using the same quirky advertising that has won a cult following here. Until now, the drink has only been available in specialist outlets and bought by expat Scots longing for a taste of home. But convenience stores and college campuses are being targeted in an attempt to take Irn-Bru to the masses. Pennsylvania-based distributors LT Verrastro have managed to find around 30 shops willing to stock the drink. But they're hoping to expand to around 300, once word of its unique flavour gets around. Company vice-president Leonard Verrastro said his staff have been converted to the taste. He added: "There's real excitement about Irn-Bru in our organisation. "We've got 150 staff working here and Irn-Bru's available to them. They seem to like it. "I've tried it and I like it but I think it's fair to say it's an acquired taste. "We're going to have some fun selling it." Billboards are going up in and around the Pennsylvania mining town of Wilkes-Barre, which has a population of around 40,000. Irn-Bru, which already has strong sales in Russia, was originally banned in the US because of additives but the secret recipe has been tweaked. A spokeswoman for the 106-year-old Glasgow company AG Barr said: "The distribution company have bought the rights. "They are using the same type of advertising and doing an outdoor campaign with posters." Irn-Bru have also launched in Poland, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Swany says- If you have a chance, I say try it. Its the good stuff. And for shj*ts and giggles, some random adverts. http://youtube.com/watch?v=pdDhW9Lwepc - Granny ad. http://youtube.com/watch?v=bVjWiT-zmvs - Christmas special (I recognise a lot of places here) http://youtube.com/watch?v=haNhogYCE...elated&search= - "Everybody in the world loves Irn Bru" http://youtube.com/watch?v=okIl9o2Ts...elated&search= - Baby http://youtube.com/watch?v=t5Dny-s27Dk - Goths http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y_f7WJUVV...elated&search= - Grandad http://youtube.com/watch?v=HW7pn6e0N...elated&search= - "Its phenomonal" __________________