Norfolk farmers will still be invited to grow sugar beet following the closure of British Sugar’s Cantley factory, says the processing giant.
Plans to cease beet processing at Cantley from the end of February 2027 were announced last month. But British Sugar says Cantley growers will still be invited to grow the crop for the 2027/28 campaign and beyond.
Under the proposal, British Sugar will concentrate its beet processing operations at Bury St Edmunds, Newark and Wissington. Packaging facilities will also be maintained, with Newark continuing to serve the company’s brown sugar customers.
The three factories have enough capacity to produce the same volume of sugar as the four factories produce now, says British Sugar. This will meet the needs of both retail and industrial customers and maintain the company’s market position, it adds.
Competitiveness
The closure plan follows a British Sugar review intended to improve efficiency, restore competitiveness and support the long-term future of the UK sugar industry, said British Sugar managing director Keith Packer.
“This proposal has not been taken lightly,” he added.
The decision reflects a combination of external pressures, including low average European sugar prices, high energy costs and a market-wide, long-term gradual decline in sugar volumes globally. Mr Packer said he recognised the uncertainty the proposal would create for our colleagues at Cantley, their families and the wider community. The company would engage openly and responsibly throughout the consultation process, he added.
Over-capacity
NFU Sugar chairman and Norfolk grower Kit Papworth said the closure was due to over-capacity, market deregulation and UK government trade policy allowing greater quantities of duty-free sugar to be imported into the UK.
“Growers supplying Cantley have supported the industry for decades and will rightly be very concerned about the proposed closure and potential impact on their farming businesses,” he said..
Long-term future
British Sugar says no growers will be financially disadvantaged for the 2027/28 crop. Mr Papworth said: “We are calling for this to be made permanent – to give affected growers the confidence to invest for the long-term future of the sector.”
British Sugar says the changes will ensure it remains competitive in the marketplace. All employees at Cantley are likely to be affected by the closure and the company is consulting with employee representatives, including the union Unite.
Cantley will continue to operate as normal throughout the upcoming campaign. Subject to the consultation, British Sugar will explore future options for the site following the cessation of beet processing.