Associated British Foods, the UK-based food group, has refused to be drawn on speculation that it is looking to make a move for the sugar business of Spain’s Ebro Puleva.

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Ebro is mulling whether to sell its sugar unit and ABF, the owner of British Sugar, and Germany’s Nordzucker and Sudzucker have been touted as possible buyers. 


“We’ve got a strategy of building our sugar business up… We are interested in anything that will add value to the business,” a spokesperson for ABF told just-food today (3 September).


However, the company declined to confirm whether or not it was preparing a bid for Ebro’s sugar business.


The European sugar industry has entered a period of consolidation following EU reform of the sector in 2006, with weaker players exiting the market and more efficient companies looking to expand.

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In July, Danisco, the Denmark-based ingredients group, sold its sugar business to Nordzucker for DKK5.6bn (US$1.1bn).

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