British Sugar is the leading supplier of sugars to the UK providing more than half the country's sugar requirements. The remainder is met mostly by cane sugar imports from the African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar producing regions of the world.Approximately 7,000 farmers contract with British Sugar each year to provide around 9 million tonnes of raw material: sugar beet, which is grown on 140,000 hectares. The majority of the country's sugar beet production is concentrated in the eastern counties of England from Yorkshire down to Essex with a smaller area grown in the West Midlands. The free-draining well structured soils which are predominant in these regions are essential for successful sugar beet husbandry.
British Sugar operates six factories which produce about 1.4 million tonnes of white sugar each year from beet. The processing season, known as the 'campaign', usually lasts from September until the end of February.Research by Reading University has shown that the British beet sugar industry supports around 20,000 jobs in the farming, processing and transport industries.
British Sugar pays around �300 million each year to farmers for their beet; all of which is grown under contract, which assures farmers both a market and an agreed price for their crops.The productivity of UK beet production has increased dramatically in recent years, due to the successful implementation of a series of initiatives between British Sugar and growers, and is now ranked amongst the most efficient in the EU.The resulting high level of profitability has made sugar beet the most financially secure major arable crop in the UK.Products are continuously under development to enable food manufacturers to develop new brands to satisfy consumer trends and reduce manufacturing costs.Supplying the retail market under the Silver Spoon brand, British Sugar sells around four million packs of sugar every week, making Silver Spoon one of the leading UK food brands.
Producing around 600,000 tonnes of molassed sugar beet feed each year, as well as over 100,000 tonnes of pressed pulp and molasses, British Sugar is amongst the largest manufacturers of animal feed in the UK. Using the brand name Trident within the framework of sister company ABNA, these high energy animal feeds are marketed and distributed to more than 20,000 livestock farmers across the UK.Products and servicesBritish Sugar aims to be recognised by the food and drink industries as the preferred supplier of sugar. Key to this is the provision of products and services that are second to noneBritish Sugar offers a range of sugars for a variety of product applications in the confectionery, bakery, drinks, dairy, grocery and pharmaceutical markets. Collaboration with customers on product development capitalises on joint strengths, producing products to the mutual commercial benefit of both partiesRecent industry leading developments include:Celebration Icing SugarCelebration Icing Sugar is one of the most finely milled icing sugar ranges on the market.
The average particle size of 11 microns, half that of other milled sugars, has been developed to meet the needs of large plant bakeries, small craft bakers and confectioners. Celebration Icing sugars are easy to use and bring process and quality improvements to the final product.Organic Beet SugarThe first UK-grown organic beet sugar is already being distributed to key customers who, for the first time ever, can use home grown sugar in their organic food and drink products. This landmark event, four years in the planning, is the culmination of a long-term vision shared by British Sugar, organic growers and promoters of organic farming.Our food centre technologists and technical managers also offer a comprehensive service to customers including problem solving, formulation development, and general technical support.In addition, customers can call upon the supply chain and engineering resources of British Sugar for expert assistance on storage, handling and processing of sugar.
