SucroCan Sourcing and HOPA Ports announce plan to build Canada’s largest sugar refinery

  • SucroCan Sourcing set to construct Canada’s largest sugar processing plant, to be located at the Port of Hamilton’s Pier 15
  • New sugar refinery will have an annual refining capacity of 1 million metric tonnes
  • New plant is expected to open in 2025; estimated investment of $135 million CAD

HAMILTON, ON – SucroCan Sourcing LLC, a growing integrated sugar refiner, has announced its plans to build Canada’s largest sugar refinery at the Port of Hamilton, Ontario, on lands owned by HOPA Ports (Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority).

The new refinery will be the largest in Canada, with an expected future annual refining capacity of 1 million metric tonnes, representing an estimated investment of $135 million CAD.

“The sugar markets in both Canada and the United States are experiencing steady, long term, sustainable growth, and Sucro is investing to supply these growing market demands,” said Jonathan Taylor, Founder and CEO of SucroCan Sourcing. “We have a customer base that is loyal and growing, benefiting from the new competition we are bringing to the market.”

“Despite steady demand from an expanding food processing sector, overall refining capacity in both Canada and the United States has been stagnant for years”, said Taylor. “Especially in Ontario, where the demand for sugar is growing at one of the fastest rates in North America.”

Ontario’s food and beverage manufacturing sector is the third largest in North America with manufacturing revenues of more than $48 billion. The sector has more than 45,000 establishments in the province, employing over 104,800 people.

SucroCan’s focus on improving its customers’ supply chains is one of the keys to its success, and a key reason for choosing the Port of Hamilton as the location for its new refinery.

“HOPA Ports is thrilled to be working with SucroCan to make this historic investment a reality,” said Ian Hamilton, President & CEO of HOPA Ports. “We worked closely with SucroCan to understand its location and logistics needs, and those of its customers. The new refinery in the heart of southern Ontario’s food processing cluster, has access to marine, rail and highway transportation options. The facility’s new capacity and reliability will give Ontario food processors the confidence to invest in their own operations. For us this is a huge win: driving a resilient and efficient supply chain, growing the economy and creating jobs.”

QUOTES:

“Ontario leads the nation in terms of food and beverage manufacturing and SucroCan’s investment in a brand new sugar refinery is a proof point that our provincial agriculture and food industry generates valued jobs as well. SucroCan’s new facility at the Port of Hamilton also highlights the importance of the added advantage we have in Ontario given the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway – our H2O highway.”
Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

“Hamilton is proud to be chosen as the home for what will soon be Canada’s largest sugar refinery. I look forward to working with SucroCan Sourcing and HOPA on this important new facility and ensuring this $135-million investment helps Hamilton continue to shine as the centre of Ontario’s vital food cluster.”
Mayor Andrea Horwath, City of Hamilton

“Hamilton is delighted to be the chosen location for the expansion of SucroCan. With this expansion, Hamilton will now host Canada’s largest sugar refinery. This is an important industry that employs over a hundred thousand workers in Ontario. The impact of SucroCan’s new plant will be felt across the region and beyond. We thank SucroCan for their hard work and look forward to the creation of more jobs and the strengthening of economic growth.”
The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario & Member of Parliament for Hamilton West – Ancaster – Dundas

 About SucroCan Sourcing

Since its inception in 2014, the company has achieved significant growth by creating value for customers, through continuous process innovation and supply chain re-engineering. While focused on the industrial sector, Sucro’s supply chain advantage creates a unique opportunity in the retail sector as well. Sucro has established an extensive production, sales and sourcing network throughout North America with two refining locations and an additional value-added processing facility in North America. The company has offices in Miami, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Cali, Guayaquil, and Port of Spain.

 About HOPA Ports

As an integrated port network, the Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA Ports) offers port and marine assets in Hamilton, Oshawa and Niagara. By investing in high-quality infrastructure and prioritizing sustainability, HOPA helps build prosperous working waterfronts in Ontario communities. Overseeing more than 1,400 acres and more than 160 tenant companies, 40,000 Ontario jobs are connected to the cargo that passes through HOPA’s integrated ports.


-30-

 
For more information, please contact:

Larissa Fenn
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
HOPA Ports
[email protected]

Media Assets can be found HERE

Password: HOPAsucro

Stay connected:

Facebook: @HamiltonOshawaPortAuthority
Instagram: @hopaports
Twitter: @HOPAPorts
LinkedIn: @hopa-ports
#HOPAPorts   

Renee Bulger, CPA, CGA

Vice President, Finance

Renee assumed the role of Vice President, Finance after having served as Director of Finance since 2023.

Renee joined the Hamilton Port Authority in 2006 as a General Accountant and was promoted to Controller in 2018. She was previously a member of the Board of Directors for the Hamilton Conservation Foundation from 2017 to 2020.

Renee received her Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Laurentian University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Larissa Fenn

Vice President, Corporate Affairs

Larissa Fenn is Vice President, Corporate Affairs at HOPA Ports, leading a team responsible for communications and government relations, sustainability reporting, corporate governance and corporate culture.

Previous positions included communications and public policy roles at the Canadian Bankers Association, Credit Valley Conservation Authority, and the Regional Municipality of Halton.

Larissa holds a B.A.(Hons) in Political Science from Queen’s University. She holds the APR designation from the Canadian Public Relations Society, and completed the Senior Public Sector Leaders program at the University of Western Ontario, Ivey School of Business. Larissa has served as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Royal Botanical Gardens, and as a member of the Policy Council of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

Bill Fitzgerald

Vice President, Strategic Development

Bill assumed the role of Vice President, Strategic Development in 2024, after having served as HOPA’s Vice President, Operations since 2008.

Bill joined the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority in July 1995 as Project Engineer. He previously worked with the Regional Municipality of Ottawa’s Transportation Department, as well as for the Toronto Transit Commission and the City of Waterloo.

Bill received a Bachelor of Applied Science, civil engineering / water resources, in 1995 from the University of Waterloo and registered with the Professional Engineers of Ontario in 1997.

Jeremy Dunn

Vice President, Operations

Jeremy assumed the role of Vice President, Operations in 2024 after having served as HOPA’s Commercial Vice President since 2019. Prior to joining HOPA, Jeremy served in successive leadership roles at The Miller Group, one of Canada’s leading transportation construction and infrastructure maintenance companies. Jeremy has managed multiple business groups in the heavy construction, asphalt paving and aggregates sectors driving results through business restructuring, service improvement and strategic growth. In his most recent role, Jeremy served as General Manager of Miller Maintenance, responsible for managing and growing Miller’s highway maintenance business in Ontario.

Previous to The Miller Group, Jeremy held the position of Director of Operations for the Dunn Group of Companies.

Jeremy earned his Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) through Queen’s University. He also holds a Master’s Certificate in Project Management.

Janet Knight

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer for the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority since 2008, Janet joined the HPA in 1998 as Accounting Supervisor and subsequently served as Controller.

Prior to joining the HPA, Janet held the position of Financial Analyst with St. Joseph’s Hospital, as well as various positions, including Marketing Communications/Research Lead with Zeneca Agro. Janet graduated from McMaster University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Commerce. She attained the professional designation of Certified Management Accountant in 1992.

Ian Hamilton

President & CEO

Ian Hamilton is President & CEO of HOPA Ports (Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority). He assumed this role in 2017, after serving as the Port Authority’s Vice President of Business Development and Real Estate since 2008. Ian has been instrumental in developing working waterfronts in Hamilton, Oshawa, and Niagara by attracting new business and private investment, and creating an integrated marine network across Southern Ontario.

Ian possesses more than 25 years of experience in international transportation and logistics in Europe and North America, and has held progressively senior positions in the liner shipping industry, including Transatlantic Trade Director (Europe) for CP Ships and Business Development Manager for Hapag-Lloyd. Ian is Chairperson of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities, and holds positions on various other boards, including: the Chamber of Marine Commerce, the Hamilton Club, and Brigs Youth Sail Training.

Ian holds an MBA from Aston University (UK) and a BSc in business administration and economics from the College of Charleston, South Carolina.