1 – Which Sugar Format Should I Use?
This is simply down to your personal preference. Our only comment is with regards to choosing sticks. If you are using your
logo, you/your designer should look very carefully at how your logo looks when it is reduced to 15mm depth. The standard
stick is not a flat surface which is why they are referred to as ’round sticks’ because the graphics can tend to ‘roll over’ both
top and bottom of the stick if the image used is not suitable.

2 – Can I Have Organic or Fairtrade Sugar?
For some of the packaging formats we can offer organic /Fairtrade sugar. To provide Fairtrade, the packer must hold a
license. Depending on what you wish to have printed, your design may have to be approved by the Fairtrade organisation.
This process can sometimes take weeks and therefore Fairtrade is not recommended for any time sensitive project.

3 – Where Does The Sugar Come From?
If the sugar is packed here in the UK, then the white sugar will come from the country’s sole sugar refiner British Sugar. If a
European packer is filling white sugar then it can come from several European countries. If you are ordering brown / cane
sugar the origin can vary depending on the availability. South America, Central America, South Africa or Mauritius. Demerara
sugar is so named because it originally came from sugar cane fields in the colony of Demerara, which is a region of South
America. So although the packaging may display the word ‘demerara’ on it, it is just the origin of the name being used unless it can be proved (most unlikely) its real origin is likely to be Mauritius.

4– Help! I’ve Run Out of Sugar.

The biggest single problem we deal with is clients running out of their sugar supply. We are unable to check any client stock
control and have tried to overcome the problem by producing our own delivery cartons with a ‘warning’ on the top of the box.

We have printed a message on the top, asking the person opening the case if it’s the last carton (or two) and to reorder, as it
shows our contact details. So there is no excuse to run out. Please remember that we deliver the exact quantity ordered. No
other cases of your order are held in storage, and it will take around 6 weeks before any new order can be delivered.

5 – How Long Will It Take To Make MY Order?
An approx. answer would be around 4 weeks from the date of you approving the proof for the production process. If the
order is being produced outside of the UK , allow an extra week for delivery from the European packer. However, you also
need to factor in the timing to get to that point. Do you have a design ready, if not who is going to do that, and how long
will it take? We offer a service whereby we supply a high quality visual for your approval that can be done in just 2-3 days.

6 – What Is The Shelf Life and Storage for Sugar?
There is no legal requirement to print shelf-life info on the sugar portion packs. The shelf-life is unlimited providing that the
sugar cases are stored at room temperature and in a dry and well-ventilated storage area. The ambient food storage is
around 15-25 degrees C. In line with other sugar providers if we had to state a time line on it we would say 24 months!

7 – If your Logo is Always Printed in Full Colour!
The maximum number that we print is normally three colours printed by the Flexographic process. Printing full colour will
also depend on the format that you require to be printed, which we can advise you on. If you decide on printing four colours
it could be expensive. Unlike digital printing where there are no origination (printing plates) costs. Sugar packaging is mainly
printed using Flexographic machines. This means that for every colour you have printed there will be a separate charge for
a printing plate for each colour that you print. It’s probably the reason that most sugar packaging is printed in one or two
colours. We would recommend that you avoid using pale or pastel colours especially for any text. Most sugar formats are
tiny compared to other packaging and when small, the text or logos that are printed in pale colours, can be hard to read.

8 – Do I Have To Print ‘White’ or ‘Brown’ Sugar?
It’s normal now to recognise that a brown paper sachet or stick probably contains brown sugar and a white paper sachet
or stick contains white sugar. But don’t bet on it! Some of our clients insist on not having any text other than their logo. We
always advise that this is not wise. If you state what the contents are, it’s more unlikely that there will be any comeback from
those that have accidentally emptied the contents into a beverage such as your customers who suffer from allergies and
have a sugar interolance. Consider the compensation culture!!

9 – Can I Have ECO Packaging?
Most of todays sugar portions are still packed in food grade paper with a plastic PE lining. That no longer has to be the case.
Most of the sugar formats that we have packed, can now be filled in to eco-friendly paper that is recyclable, compostable
and biodegradable, and costs only a small percentage more than the standard paper. Only the ‘French Café’ style of sugar
cubes does not currently offer the eco-friendly paper.

10 – How Are The Sugar Portions Packed ?
Nearly all sugar packers are set up to pack a quantity of 1,000 sticks/sachets per carton. When coming off the end of the
conveyor belt they then drop into the packing case – known as ‘tumble packed’.

11 – Where Is The Sugar Packaging Produced?
This will depend on your chosen format, the quantity that you require, and if you would like to use eco-friendly paper. Once
we have this information, we then know who the best company is to appoint as the printer/packer. With a huge selection of
specialist packaging machines, and filling formats, no one company has all of the filling-line machinery under one roof. Our
niche service is knowing who to collaborate with around Europe that owns the correct machine and filling line for your job.

12 – Are There Additional Costs?
Since the UK left the European Community, HMRC charges an import tax on any sugar projects that are produced outside of
the UK.

1 – The import tax is referred to as ‘third country tax’ and costs £35.00 for every 100kg of sugar that you order. As a guide
this is the cost based on an order for 25 cases of sugar.If you have less, or more, then the charge is proportionate.
2 – Both Sugar and Sweetener are exempt from VAT. No VAT will therefore be charged on your import/order.
3 – Customs clearance /Handling admin fee/and brokerage may be charged by the freight company delivering your order.
This is normally around £12.00. It is possible that the couriers will charge us for these costs. When this happens, we will pay
the charges on your behalf and will then invoice you for any costs paid. Payment is due within 14 days.

13 – Possible Additional Costs For Foreign Clients
In addition to freight costs, all import duties, taxes, or associated courier cost or customs clearance admin charges for all
consignments shall be paid for by the receiver, as set out by the tax rules relating to the importing of goods by the country
that the goods are being delivered to. We are unable to correspond on your behalf with any customs or import tax issues with
countries outside of the UK. Should any issues arise, we shall ask the freight company delivering the goods for their advice
and where possible give you a phone number of the local office for you to contact together with copies of the airway bill.

14 – Can I Receive Samples?
Yes, providing that you are an exisiting business, let us know the format and postal address and we shall be pleased to send
them to you. For companies outside the UK we will charge you the courier charge which is refundable on any order received.

Do you have a question not covered here?
Please email Barry O’Dwyer branding@sugabranding.com