Our History
Florida Crystals Corporation and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, two family-owned sugarcane farmers and millers, came together in the late 1990s and formed a strategic partnership to begin large-scale refining of their raw sugar. The collaboration laid the groundwork for what would become the world's most successful and innovative cane sugar company: ASR Group.
Florida Crystals Corporation was founded by the Fanjul family in Florida in 1960 as a sugarcane farming and milling company. Its first harvest of 4,000 acres in Palm Beach County yielded 10,000 tons of raw sugar. The family has a long tradition in sugarcane, dating back to 1850 in Cuba, and they understood the key to success meant expanding their land holdings in order to secure a supply of sugarcane for their mills. Today, the company farms more than 190,000 acres in Florida where it owns two sugar mills, a sugar refinery, a packaging and distribution center and a rice mill.
Florida Crystals and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative together account for 60 percent of the sugarcane industry in Florida, America's largest sugarcane-producing state.
Florida Crystals’ early commitment to sustainability led it to pioneer organic sugarcane farming in the United States, and it continues to be the only producer of certified organic sugar grown and milled in the U.S. Florida Crystals is also the largest Regenerative Organic Certified® farmer in the U.S. Florida Crystals has also been a forerunner in the renewable energy sector. In Florida, it also owns and operates North America's largest biomass power plant, which produces clean, renewable energy from sugarcane fiber, or bagasse, that powers its sugar operations and provides green electricity to the municipal power grid.
In a parallel story, in 1960, less than 10 miles away, another group of family farmers were joining together to begin constructing a sugarcane mill in Florida. Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida was chartered and its farmers who had been growing fresh vegetables for generations began planting sugarcane, many for the first time. The Cooperative's first harvest of 22,000 acres resulted in 77,600 tons of raw sugar. Today, the Cooperative is comprised of 43 small-to-medium size sugarcane farmers in South Florida. The grower-owners are the backbone of the Cooperative, providing the sugarcane supply that is the lifeblood of the organization. The fiber from the sugarcane stalk, called bagasse, is used as the primary source of fuel, saving 31 million gallons of fuel oil annually.
Florida Crystals and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative together account for 60 percent of the sugarcane industry in Florida, America's largest sugarcane-producing state.
Our Timeline
1799
William Havermeyer, the founder of what will become Domino Sugar, begins a career in the New York City sugar business with his brother, Frederick.
1807
The Havermeyers open their own refinery in New York City, which is passed on to their sons in 1828.
1850
The Fanjul family begins sugar farming and production in Cuba.
1854
John Redpath celebrates the opening of the “Canada Sugar Refinery” in Montreal, where 100 employees produced 15 tons of refined “loaf” sugar per day.
1878
The Thames Refinery in London’s East End begins operations, specializing in cube sugar.
1882
Abram Lyle & Sons opens the Plaistow Plant, 1.5 miles from the Thames Refinery. Lyle’s Golden Syrup quickly becomes popular.
1901
The brand name, Domino®, is officially adopted by a New York-based sugar company.
1906
Domino® Sugar receives a U.S. trademark.
1906
The California and Hawaiian Sugar Refining Company, today known as C&H® Sugar, begins refining in Crockett, California.
1909
The Chalmette Refinery opens in Louisiana.
1912
Redpath introduces product innovations, such as prepackaged cartons of granulated sugar, “Paris Lumps” (sugar cubes) and “Golden Syrup.”
1921
Henry Tate & Sons and Abram Lyle & Sons merge to form Tate & Lyle, refining about 50% of the United Kingdom’s sugar.
1922
The Baltimore Refinery opens in Maryland.
1950
Ingenio San Nicolás is founded in Veracruz, Mexico.
1951
The “Domino® Sugars” sign goes up at the Baltimore Refinery.
1959
Redpath opens a state-of-the-art refinery in Toronto, Canada, on the shores of Lake Ontario. It was an occasion of such significance that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attended the official opening ceremony.
1960
The Fanjul family reestablishes its sugar business in South Florida. Today, the company is known as Florida Crystals®.
1960
Joining together, 52 family farmers create Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida.
1970
Sidul begins refining and packaging sugar in Lisbon, Portugal.
1989
Sores is purchased and merged with Sidul.
1995
Florida Crystals® plants the United States’ first organic sugarcane.
1998
Florida Crystals® and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida partner to acquire the Yonkers Refinery in New York state, beginning to create the world’s most innovative sugar company: American Sugar Refining (ASR).
2001
Domino® Sugar is acquired with three cane sugar refineries and the nation’s leading sugar brand, Domino®. The company becomes American Sugar Refining, Inc.
2005
American Sugar Refining, Inc. acquires C&H® Sugar, the leading brand on the U.S. West Coast.
2006
C&H® Sugar celebrates its centennial.
2006
Chr. Hansen’s specialty sweetener division is acquired, adding to our offering of specialty sweetener products, with production facilities in Louisiana and Illinois.
2006
Lyle’s Golden Syrup® is named the world’s oldest brand.
2007
The Company expands geographically into Canada by acquiring Redpath Sugar.
2007
To seamlessly supply customers throughout North America, the Company expands into Mexico with the purchase of the Ingenio San Nicolás Sugar Mill and Refinery in Veracruz.
2007
Sugar Stix is acquired, marking the Company's entrance into the specialty tabletop business.
2009
The Toronto Refinery celebrates its 50th anniversary.
2009
The Chalmette Refinery celebrates its centennial.
2010
Company acquires Tate & Lyle Sugars, owner of two refineries with sugar marketed under leading brands in the UK and Portugal.
2012
Streamline Foods is acquired.
2012
ASR acquires a majority interest in Belize Sugar Industries, Ltd. (BSI), a supplier of Fairtrade cane sugar.
2013
The Company expands into the Italian market by acquiring 50% ownership of SRB S.p.A. with a cane sugar refinery in southern Italy.
2013
Following more than a decade of growth, we introduce our new corporate brand name, ASR Group, under which our leading brands and affiliated companies would collectively present one face to employees, customers, business partners and others around the world.
2018
American Sugar Refining, Inc. acquires US Sugar Company, a processor and packager of granulated, brown, and powdered sugar in Buffalo, New York.
2020
American Sugar Refining, Inc. joins partnership with Florida Crystals® and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative investing in Tellus Products, a one-of-a-kind sustainable packaging company that produces sustainable, compostable, single-use tableware and food service products made from Florida-grown sugarcane.