This event is organised by the IFST Student and Early Career Committee and is open exclusively to IFST Student members and IFST Early Career members
Join us for a behind-the-scenes visit to Tate & Lyle sugar refinery owned by ASR Group. The event provides a unique opportunity to explore the science, engineering and quality systems at one of the UK's leading sugar manufacturers.
The visit will showcase the journey of cane sugar through the refining process and highlight the technologies used to deliver safe, high-quality products.
The tour will also cover the refinery control room, packing operations and automated warehouse systems containing automated guided vehicles.
Throughout the visit, there will be opportunities to network with specialists in quality and process engineering, making this an excellent event for anyone interested in food manufacturing.
Event Host:
Graeme Wilding FIFST, CSci, RFoodSP is Director Global Food Safety and Supplier Quality Assurance at ASR Group. Graeme is recognised as a subject matter expert in foreign material control and hazard removal within sugar refining processes.
He graduated from the University of Reading as a food technologist and later completed a Master's degree in Food Law at De Montfort University. He has over 25 years of experience across food manufacturing and retail, holding technical and quality leadership roles with Coca-Cola, Associated British Foods, Tesco, BP Wild Bean Café, Mars and ASR Group.
What participants will learn:
- Exposure to technical roles within food manufacturing
- Develop understanding of quality and food safety within the food industry
Target audience:
- IFST Early Careers members, students, graduates, apprentices and professionals in the early stages of their food science and technology careers.
The site is a 13 minute walk from Pontoon Dock DLR station
Programme:
13:30 - 14:00 - Arrival and Registration
14:00 - 14:30 - Introduction to ASR Group and hosts. Introduction to sugar milling and the refining process
14:30 - 14:45 - Kit up for factory
14:45 - 17:00 - Site Tour
17:00 - 18:00 - Networking opportunity and light refreshments
Booking deadline: 21 October 2026
Note: As this is a large, historic site, the tour involves a significant amount of walking and will include areas with limited accessibility. Please contact events@ifst.org to discuss any access requirements in advance to help determine suitability.
Places are limited so book soon.
Important: IFST encourage people to attend our events but please be mindful and only book if you plan to attend. If you do book and find you cannot attend, then please ensure that you let us know with as much notice as possible. Factory tours and technical visits are organised by business owners on a goodwill basis. It is important to all of us at IFST to maintain that goodwill. Your co-operation in helping us maintain this is greatly appreciated.
Please note: IFST is a registered charity with the mission ‘to provide evidence-based knowledge, networking opportunities, and professional recognition in food science and technology’. Each year, we are proud to run many events, including webinars and workshops, which engage with thousands of food professionals worldwide from over 50 countries.