Archive for March, 2010
Workforce Development at Port Wentworth
Ask him how Imperial Sugar Company plans to develop its workforce, and Bruce Waguespack, the company’s manager of learning and performance improvement, begins his answer by offering a baseball analogy.
Survey: Customers Prefer Socially Responsible Brands
The recession has affected not only consumer wallets, but also brand perception, according to a survey in BrandWeek.com. It found that despite the recession, 75 percent of consumers believe social responsibility is important.
Warm Winter Cuts Canada’s Sugar Production
Maple ‘Sapsuckers’ blame El Nino for worst year ever for fledgling syrup industry. An unusually warm winter caused Vancouver Island maple sugar production to fall to 30% of normal levels this year.
A Splash of Paint at Port Wentworth
Muralist Eric Henn has hand-painted Imperial Sugar Company’s Dixie Crystals logo on each of three tall sugar silos at the Port Wentworth refinery.
Finding Money for Florida Sugar Deal
Buying U.S. Sugar’s land is more important to Everglades restoration than lesser projects under way, writes the Palm Beach Post.
High Duty Imports Impact US Sugar Complex
While Mexico has been busy of late importing 250,000 tonnes of sugar from world origins, the US buyers have had to be more innovative in drawing fresh supply into the market, writes sugar analyst Frank Jenkins of Jenkins Sugar Group.
USDA Reallocates 81,946 Tonnes of Shortfall
This week the US Trade Representative reallocated 81,946 tonnes of Tariff rate Quota from countries that stated they would be unable to ship to 25 “nations more likely to ship,” writes sugar analyst Frank Jenkins of the Jenkins Sugar Group.
Kosher Coke Popular at Passover
Recognized by a distinctive yellow cap, Coca Cola has already begun distributing 2-liter bottles of its kosher formula, which replaces high fructose corn syrup with sugar.
USTR Makes More Sugar Available for Import
The Office of the United States Special Trade Representative (USTR) in Washington recently announced a country-specific reallocation of the fiscal year 2010 tariff rate quota (TRQ) for imported raw cane sugar. Here is perspective from Imperial Sugar’s Pat Henneberry.
Genetically Modified Sugar Beet Update
Sugar beets make for a pretty sweet industry in Montana, reports the Missoula Independent. In 2008, it raked in $41 million, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures.
Cuba eyes foreign investment to halt sugar decline
Cuba may open sugar production to foreign investors for the first time since the 1959 revolution as it seeks to reverse the once proud industry’s relentless decline, business sources have told Reuters.
PepsiCo looks for new, no-cal, natural sweeteners
A race to develop natural, zero-calorie sweeteners is bubbling up in the nation’s $100 billion beverage industry, reports the Associated Press.
PepsiCo revamps ‘formidable’ Gatorade
Gatorade, which was created 45 years ago and still controls about three-quarters of the sports drink market, saw its retail sales drop by nearly 13 percent in the U.S. last year.
India’s Sugar Output Climbs 14%
Sugar production in India, the world’s largest consumer, increased 14 percent in the season that began Oct. 1 as late rains improved cane yields in the biggest growing regions, a producers’ group said.