Sweet alliance

Cargill Sweeteners North America, a subsidiary of agro-giant Cargill, has formed a marketing alliance with sugar beet processor Wyoming Sugar to sell and distribute sugar products to food and beverage manufacturers. The agreement follows hot on the heels of a similar alliance with Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative announced in November 2002.

Wyoming Sugar, created only last year after 120 growers and investors from Wyoming's Big Horn Basin and Fremont County purchased Holly Sugar corporation's Worland factory, produces low-coloured sugar for fruit juices as well as other beverages. Production at the plant from last year's sugar beet crop exceeded 65 million pounds.

"This alliance clearly strengthens Cargill's ability to develop customised sweetener solutions for customers,"​ said Pat Bowe, president of Cargill Sweeteners North America​.

Confirming the company's aim to serve customers from coast to coast, the president added :"It extends our geographic reach westward and allows us to serve more customers in a more timely fashion. In addition, it further strengthens our ties to the grower community."​

Cargill, in recent years keen to build on its sugar-related activities in North America as well as developing new ingredient formulations, manufactures liquid sucrose at its Dayton Ohio Sweetener facility and now operates a nationwide sugar terminal distribution network.