British Sugar Corporation.

British Sugar Corporation

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 ...

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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 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 services

British 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 none

Celebration Icing Sugar

Celebration 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 Sugar

The 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.

Facts

British Sugar has more than 50 per cent of the total market for sugar in the UK. It leads the industrial market having more than a 50 per cent share.
White granulated sugar accounts for the bulk of British Sugar's output, but many specialities are also produced.
Of the 2 million tonnes of sugar consumed annually in the UK, approximately eight per cent is imported.
Of the UK industrial market for sugar the largest proportion is taken by sugar and chocolate confectioners; followed by soft drinks producers; bakers and biscuit makers and the canned and frozen food sectors.

Recent scientific evidence has demonstrated that sugar has an important part to play in a healthy balanced diet.

Did you know that .....

Studies show that the people who eat most sugar in the UK tend to be the thinnest (because they do not eat much fat).

When people reduce their sugar consumption they tend to increase their fat consumption (sugar/fat see-saw).

Sugar makes you feel full (like other carbohydrates such as potatoes and pasta) - fat and artificial sweeteners do not make you feel full.

Fat has more than twice as many calories as sugar.

Fat is easily stored as fat. The body finds it much harder to convert sugar to fat.

Dental health has dramatically improved in the UK over the last 20 years:

5 year olds have 52% less tooth decay.
12 year olds have 75% less tooth decay.
50% of 5 year olds in 1994 have never had a filling vs 7% in 1974.

Sugar consumption has stayed constant.

The improvement is due to the introduction of fluoride toothpaste.

80% of caries is in 20% of the population.

10% of the population do not own a toothbrush.

British Sugar Corporation.