Südzucker Sugar Division
The leading provider of plant-based sweetening solutions
The Sugar Division was established in May 2021 as part of the Südzucker Group. It is an independent organizational unit within the company that is responsible for all sugar-related activities of Südzucker – i.e., the companies Südzucker AG, Raffinerie Tirlemontoise, Südzucker Polska, Saint Louis Sucre, and Südzucker Moldova.
The companies in the Sugar Division operate 16 sugar factories in Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, and Moldova, as well as a wheat starch plant in Zeitz, Germany. In addition to its production facilities, the Sugar Division has sales offices in Spain, Greece, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The Südzucker Sugar Division employs around 5,000 people.
The main products are sugar and sugar specialties for end consumers as well as for food and beverage manufacturers. The sugar beet by-products are used, among other things, for animal feed and in the non-food/fermentation industry. In addition, carbolime is produced as a fertilizer for agriculture. The portfolio is rounded off by tailored services for customers in the areas of product development, technical and application support, and supply chain.
Companies of the Südzucker Sugar Division
The first sugar factory of what would later become Südzucker AG was founded in 1837 as the “Badische Gesellschaft für Zuckerraffination” (Baden Sugar Refining Company) in Waghäusel, Germany. The company in its current form was created in 1926 through the merger of five sugar factory companies to form Süddeutsche Zucker-Aktiengesellschaft (South German Sugar Corporation), based in Mannheim.
Südzucker AG is now the parent company of the Südzucker Group and also its largest operating unit.
Raffinerie Tirlemontoise has been part of the Südzucker Group since 1989.
On a spring day in 1836, Joseph Vandenberghe de Binckom submitted plans for the construction of a sugar factory in Tienen – an ambitious project at a time when there were already 36 sugar refineries in Belgium. His factory eventually developed into the Tiense Suikerraffinaderij. After several changes of ownership and its conversion into a public limited company in 1887, it was taken over by Paul and Franz Wittouck in 1894. The breakthrough came in 1902 with the invention of the Adant turbine, which gave rise to the legendary “Harde Klontje” (hard sugar cubes). Since those early days, the Tiense Suikerraffinaderij has become a symbol of Belgian craftsmanship.
Südzucker began operations in Poland back in the 1990s. The company Südzucker Polska was founded in 2002.
The sales office of Südzucker Polska was established in Krakow, home of the famous Wawel Royal Castle. This castle was also home to Stańczyk, the king's highly intelligent court jester. This historical figure was the inspiration for the Cukier Królewski brand logo, which used to be printed on the company's 1-kilogram sugar packages.
Saint Louis Sucre has been part of the Südzucker Group since 2001.
The first sugar factory was founded in Roye in northern France in 1831 – a location that still serves as the company's headquarters today. The Saint Louis brand originated in Marseille and is named after the Saint Louis district where the sugar factory was located. Before 2000, the Saint Louis brand was used exclusively for cane sugar.
In 1998, the company, previously known as Générale Sucrière, adopted the name Saint Louis Sucre to reflect its widely recognized and trusted brand.
Südzucker entered the Moldovan market in 1998. Südzucker Moldova was founded in 2001. Today, the company is the market leader in the sugar beet industry in the Republic of Moldova.
The modernization of the factories and the investments made in sugar production together with partners from the agricultural sector have contributed to the revival of the sugar industry and made Moldovan sugar a competitive product on the European and regional markets.
