UK sugar company Tate & Lyle has announced a significant expansion of its sucralose plant in McIntosh, Alabama at a total capital cost of £16m (US$30m).


Tate & Lyle said the expansion will use the existing patented manufacturing process and will be completed by January 2006. The project will be funded from existing resources and is expected to cover the group’s cost of capital in the second year of operation.


“We have been delighted by the strong customer-led demand for Splenda Sucralose since we completed the sucralose realignment in April this year. This growth is across all categories and includes the introduction of new mid-calorie carbonated beverages containing sucralose,” said Iain Ferguson, chief executive of Tate & Lyle.