Newark's British Sugar factory marks 100th anniversary today (November 2, 2021)

One of the largest employers in Newark marks its 100th anniversary today.

On this day in 1921, the Advertiser detailed the opening of the Home Grown Sugar Ltd factory on Muskham Road, now commonly known as the sugar beet factory.

"A new era in Newark’s industry will be ushered in today (November 2, 1921) when the Home Grown Sugar Ltd factory on Muskham Road will be officially opened by Sir Arthur Griffith Boscawen, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries," the Advertiser read.

British Sugar supplies around half of the UK’s demand for sugar through its factories in Newark, Cantley, Bury St. Edmunds and Wissington.

Like its sister factories, Newark has seen massive investment over the years which has turned it in to the advanced manufacturing plant it is today.

Most recently, Newark has increased the amount of storage space at its site, the 23m high and 50m wide steel structure, which is the largest across all the factories, can safely store an additional 60,000t of thick juice, sugar in its liquid form. This is the equivalent of 31,500 tonnes of bagged white sugar.

In 2014, the factory welcomed David Cameron when he visited Newark on the campaign trail.

The visit was an opportunity for the then Prime Minister to see British Sugar’s food manufacturing facility, as well as meeting with engineers, technicians and apprentices from Newark.

A spokesman for British Sugar said: "Here at our advanced manufacturing plant in Newark over 1.6 million tonnes of sugar beet are produced by around 700 growers meaning we have a crucial part to play in the local rural economy.

"The growers who supply our factory here in Newark come from a wide range of different counties including Lincolnshire, Humberside, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Leicestershire. However the average distance between farm and the plant is only 28 miles.

"We turn this 1.6 million tonnes of sugar beet in to 235,000 tonnes of quality sugar."