Sucro Can to open Canada’s largest sugar refinery in Hamilton

Sucro Can has announced plans to build Canada’s largest sugar-processing plant in Hamilton. The facility is expected to open in 2025 on lands owned by the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA).

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The plant will likely have little direct impact on Ontario farmers, as it will refine sugar cane imported from Central and South America, with no future plans for Canadian sugar beets. However, Sucro Can chair Don Hill said it will play a vital part in the broader Canadian food system.

Why it matters: Sugar is a cornerstone of Canadian food production

“The food industry’s very interconnected,” said Hill. “There may not be a huge connection (between) what we do and what Ontario growers do, but it all comes down to, you know, trying to create the strongest, most vibrant integrated food manufacturing possible.”

“I think Ontario … developed a very very strong food manufacturing base,” he said. “Everyone has their part, whether it’s farmers and growers or manufacturers, or ingredients suppliers like us. You need to have all the pieces working to have that vibrant economy.”

Hill said he thought competition in the sugar sector has “come up short” on supply in recent years.

“For a lot of food products, you have to have sugar supply. If you don’t have confidence that you’re going to have enough supply going forward, it’s going to make your own expansion plans very, very difficult.”

Hill said Hamilton was a natural choice for the facility due to the convenience of the location.

“Southern Ontario is like the epicentre of Canadian food manufacturing, and so all of our major customers are within a relatively short driving distance to their plants.”

“It also gives us the advantage of if we want to export sugar to the U.S., we’re obviously right at the doorstep.”

In a Jan. 16 press release, Sucro Founder and CEO Jonathan Taylor attributed the announcement to the continued success of the sugar sector.

“The sugar markets in both Canada and the United States are experiencing steady, long term, sustainable growth, and Sucro is investing to supply these growing market demands.”

Source: Farmtario.com

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