Who we are

British Sugar is the leading supplier of sugar to the UK market. Our products are represented in the leading brands of all of the major global food and drink manufacturers.

The scale and nature of our operations means that behind every product is the total assurance of food safety, product traceability, security of supply and a commitment to continual product innovation.

We maintain our market leading position through anticipating customer needs and by constantly improving service standards. Our sites are registered to the international ISO 9001 standard for quality management and we work to the highest standards of environmental care.
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A brief history

British Sugar UK - key dates

Date Event

2007 UK's first bioethanol plant opens at Wissington

2006 EU agriculture ministers formally adopt radical reform of the EU sugar sector

2004 Planning application to build the UK's first bioethanol production facility at Wissington

1991 Associated British Foods bought British Sugar, and is still the parent company today.

1982 British Sugar Corporation became a Public Limited Company, trading as British Sugar plc.

1981 The government sold its 36% stake in the British Sugar Corporation.

1972 Launch of the Silver Spoon retail brand for granulated, cubed, caster and icing sugar.

1956 The Sugar Act replaced the 1936 Act and set up the Sugar Board, which guaranteed the price for growers, both in the UK and Commonwealth.

1936 The British Sugar Corporation was created by the Sugar Industry (Reorganisation) Act to manage the entire UK sugar beet crop.

1912 The first sugar factory was built at Cantley in Norfolk.

1909 The National Sugar Beet Association was founded to establish the manufacture of sugar from beet as a British industry.

A full timeline for British Sugar Group activities can be found here >>

A more detailed history of British Sugar and the origins of the beet sugar industry are available here.

Origins of British beet sugar industry >>
History of British Sugar >>