British Sugar’s record-breaking sugar factory leads the world

Following an extremely successful processing campaign and a record 18,503 tonnes of sugar beet processed in a 24 hour period, the Wissington sugar factory near Downham Market, Norfolk has claimed the title of leading sugar beet processing facility in the world .
Processing around 2.4 million tonnes of UK grown sugar beet every year, British Sugar s Wissington plant is the largest and most efficient operation of its type in the world.
A few beet sugar factories in Europe produce more crystal sugar on a daily basis but none, say British Sugar, process so much sugar beet in a season, or produce so much sugar each year. As a result, they cannot match the efficiency of its UK operation. Some beet sugar factories in Minnesota, USA come close but even with their extended processing season, they don t beat the UK s flagship on the fens .
The UK beet sugar industry produces 1.1 million tonnes of sugar each year for the UK market - just over half the country s requirements. The remaining 1 million tonnes (just under half the UK s requirements) are imported from developing countries. British Sugar plc is the lowest cost producer in the EU 25.