News

14 September 2017

Azucarera officially opens new plant in Toro, Spain

Azucarera, one of AB Sugar’s six operating businesses, yesterday officially opened its Liquid Speciality Plant in Toro, Spain.

The plant which started operations in May 2017, demonstrates a €2.7 million investment by the country’s leading sugar producer. It will allow for activity to continue throughout the entire year and is expected to produce around 10,000 tonnes of liquid and inverted sugars annually.

The new facility is located in the grounds of the Toro sugar mill and Research & Development (R&D) centre in northern Spain. This proximity avoids unnecessary logistic operations in transporting raw materials between factories. It also allows for optimised production synergies and environmental improvements and demonstrates Azucarera’s continuous investment in improving the competitiveness of its factories.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled at the opening by His Excellence Mr Juan Vicante Herrera, President of the Government for the Castile and León region.

Speaking at the ceremony George Weston, Chief Executive of Associated British Foods (ABF) said: 

“We are delighted with this investment. It is an important part of our commitment to our customers, to innovation, to adding value to sugar beet, to supporting our industry and our grower partners."

Azucarera is the leading national producer of sugar and co-products derived from sugar beet and cane in the Iberian Peninsula. Its integrated circular economy model ensures factories utilise almost 100% of the raw material which is delivered from over 4,000 sugar beet growers. In addition, the plants position alongside the R&D Centre provides increased opportunity for innovation to take place.

The new plant will produce ingredients for use in animal feed, agricultural fertilisation and industrial uses. Its facilities include a manufacturing area, raw materials warehouses, laboratory, control room, electrical room and boiler room.