Fears grow for €140m sugar industry

FEARS are growing for the future of the country’s €140m sugar industry, which involves over 256 jobs and 3,700 beet growers, as well as road haulage contractors and other service providers.

Parent company Greencore declined to comment yesterday on speculation it is planning to bring sugar beet processing in Ireland to an end after 80 years. Growers had until last Wednesday to tell Greencore if they were prepared to grow the crop for processing this year. Greencore was reported this week as claiming replies it had received were inconclusive.

A spokesperson was quoted as saying responses did not indicate any credible measure of growers’ intent.