Tate & Lyle reveals latest results and annual report revealing core global opportunities

The Tate & Lyle ingredients and solutions business has released its latest annual results, alongside its 2025 report, which has revealed key challenges, as well as progress for the company’s expanding international operations, writes Neill Barston.

Among the group headline figures for its statutory performance, the company recorded revenues of £1.73 billion, up 5%, though in terms of its profits after tax, these were down 72% to £45 million, which it largely attributed to costs relating to the ambitious acquisition of the CP Kelco pectin and gums firm, which it recently acquired in major deal worth more than £1 billion last year.

While the business projected a comparatively positive outlook for the year ahead, it cited the incoming US tariffs and general trading uncertainty surrounding geopolitical conditions as being a complicating matter in delivering products to both US and Chinese marketplaces.

In its extensive 2025 annual report, the business detailed its attainments in the past year, and while acknowledging that there were indeed some considerable tests in terms of trading conditions, it believed that its consistent investment and expansion had placed it in a buoyant position.

As the business noted, the global speciality ingredient market is now worth an estimated $75 billion on an international level, and its own activities which are focused on ingredient solutions for high-intensity sweeteners, rare sugars, starches, pectins, gums, fibres and plant proteins through its sweetening, mouthfeel and fortification areas represent some $19 billion within that overall sector. 

Notably, as the company revealed, the majority of its addressable market is in Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America, along with 24% in North America  (4.6 billion in sales) and 23%  in Europe ($4.2 bn).. According to its internal studies,  Asia reportedly stands as its largest target audience at 38% (valued at $7.2 billion in sales), which is why it is such an important growth opportunity for Tate & Lyle and why the company has confirmed investing in infrastructure, capabilities and new businesses in the region.

As the company’s annual report notes, people’s desire for food and drink that is healthy, tasty, convenient and more sustainable and affordable all play directly into Tate & Lyle’s areas of expertise.

This is particularly the case in relation to its expertise in taking sugar, calories and fat out of food and adding fibre and protein, we are well-placed to help both
restore the nutritional balance, and increase the nutritional density of foods. And, as a plant-based business, the company has aimed to do this while taking care of our planet and its natural resources. 

CEO welcomes success
Speaking on the company’s newly released annual results, which covered the period year ending 31 March, Nick Hampton, Chief Executive, Tate & Lyle, believed that its growth remained on a positive track.

He said: “Over the last seven years, we have been executing a major strategic transformation to make Tate & Lyle a growth-focused speciality food and beverage solutions business aligned to growing, long-term consumer trends for healthier, tastier and more sustainable food and drink. With the acquisition of CP Kelco in November 2024, this transformation is complete.

“The combination with CP Kelco makes Tate & Lyle a leader in Mouthfeel, a critical driver of customer solutions, and further strengthens our Sweetening and Fortification platforms. Our broader portfolio and technical expertise also strengthen our customer solutions capabilities, and our ability to be the solutions partner of choice for customers. As an expert in reformulation, taking sugar, calories and fat out of food and adding fibre and protein, we are leaders in helping customers improve the nutritional balance of food. We are exactly where we want to be – right at the centre of the future of food,” adding that he remained confident of its potential for growth across its business. 

For his part, David Hearn, company chair, shared the CEO’s upbeat assessment of how far the company has developed in recent years, with the firm evolving away from its former guise most readily known to consumers as a sugar-focused business. As we have reported, as a distinct separate identity as Tate & Lyle Plc, the company has gained strong global market traction.

Speaking in the annual report, David noted: “This year’s acquisition of CP Kelco, alongside the sale of our remaining interest in Primient, marks a significant turning point for Tate & Lyle, transforming the company’s ability to deliver its growth-focused strategy.

“In the last few years before I joined the Board, Nick and his team did an extraordinary job of guiding Tate & Lyle through a period of exceptional market turbulence. I’ve been in the food business for a long time and have never seen anything quite like it, with the pandemic, cost-of-living crisis and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty all taking their toll.

“And yet, the team, supported by the Board, successfully navigated this period while at the same time pursuing their goal of creating a science-led, customerfocused business that is right at the centre of the future of food. Everyone at Tate & Lyle should be proud of that achievement.”