British firm to become Poland's largest sugar producer

British food company Associated British Foods (AB Foods) announced that its affiliate British Sugar Overseas (BSO) will buy four sugar mills in Poland. The value of the transaction is estimated to be GBP 12 million. All four mills belonged to either Rolimpex S.A. or Danisco Sugar or both and are located in Dobre, Ketrzyn, Guzow and Pelplin. AB Foods started investing in Poland by acquiring two sugar mills in 1989 giving BSO six sugar beet processing factories, which allowed the company to produce 114,000 tonnes of refined sugar. The recent acquisition will allow BSO to become the biggest sugar producer on the Polish market. "If we found a strategic investor we would be able to lead the restructuring of these mills. At present we are unable to provide such huge amounts of money for it," said Rolimpex management board vice-president Andrzej Budzinski. (Rzeczpospolita, July 8-9, page B2) M.M.