British Sugar to close Cantley sugar plant, 104 jobs

British Sugar (Associated British Foods) announced on 21 July 2026 that it will close its more than 100-year-old sugar beet factory in Cantley (Norfolk) by February 2027 and concentrate processing at the three remaining plants in Bury St Edmunds, Newark and Wissington; around 104 employees are affected. The company cites low European sugar prices, high energy costs and a long-term decline in volumes. The farmers' association NFU Sugar said it was 'extremely disappointed' as beet growers in eastern England lose a key buyer; consultation with the Unite union has begun. Second source: GB News.