Associated British Foods said on Tuesday that a UK sugar production shortfall has forced its British Sugar unit to secure costly alternate sources of supply that will significantly impact second half profits at the sugar business.
AB Foods chief executive George Weston meanwhile told Reuters after the group reported first-half results sugar customers will likely see higher prices in the second half as the price of sugar both locally and globally SBc1 has surged.
Sugar is used in a wide variety of foods so when its price surges, it creates obstacles for policymakers trying to control food inflation.
Adverse Weather Impact
Last summer and winter, unusually adverse weather harmed Britain's sugar beet crop.
British Sugar, the only UK firm that processes sugar beet into refined sugar, said its output in the 2022/23 season reached just 0.74 million tonnes compared with 1.03 million in the previous season.
Sources told Reuters on Monday the supply shortfall is keeping Britain's sugar prices at record highs and forcing British Sugar to source from local rival Tate & Lyle Sugars, as well as from as far afield as Thailand.
First Half Results
Yesterday, the company reported that its first half adjusted operating profit in the group's food businesses as a whole, comprising grocery, sugar, ingredients and agriculture, rose 13% to £373 million ($465 million) on sales up 23% to £5.3 billion
Read More: AB Foods Says Cycle Of Food Price Rises Nearing The End
News by Reuters, edited by Donna Ahern, Checkout. For more A-brand news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
