Tate & Lyle has agreed to sell minority stakes in two sugar refineries in Saudi Arabia and Egypt to Savola Group.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


Last week, Tate said it was in “ongoing” talks over the sale of its 10% stake in a Saudi sugar refinery and 3% stake in an Egyptian refinery.


Tate told just-food that the move was in line with the sale of its International Sugar Trading business, which was announced in July last year.


“When we announced the sale of our International Sugar Trading business in July 2008, we made it clear that the business sold excluded a small number of minority interests related to the sugar trading business which would be disposed of separately in accordance with the related shareholders agreements,” a spokesperson told just-food today (26 October).


“These minority interests include stakes in two sugar refineries where Savola is the principal partner, one in Saudi Arabia and one in Egypt. Savola’s statement refers to that ongoing disposal process,” the spokesperson added.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.


Tate has emphasised that the move does not signal a shift away from refining sugar, with its European sugar refinery business remaining “core” to its activities.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact