De Danske Sukkerfabrikker
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Danish sugar manufacturer that helped build the country's beet-sugar industry.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
De Danske Sukkerfabrikker, literally “the Danish Sugar Factories,” was a Danish sugar manufacturing company established in Copenhagen on 20 April 1872 at the initiative of industrialist and financier Carl Frederik Tietgen. It became one of the principal institutions behind the development of industrial sugar production in Denmark and played a particularly important role in establishing a domestic sugar-beet supply chain on Funen, Lolland-Falster and Møn. At its formation, the company acquired two existing Copenhagen refineries from Det kjøbenhavnske Skibsrederi, a subsidiary of H. Puggaard & Co. These were the Phønix Sugar Refinery on Slotsholmen and the Helsingørsgade Sugar Refinery. The company initially remained dependent on imported raw cane sugar, including supplies connected with the Danish West Indies. Its technical director, Gustav Adolph Hagemann, was sent to Saint Croix to assist in reorganizing sugar-cane production, and the St. Croix Fællessukkerkogeri began operating in 1878. The company's longer-term strategy increasingly shifted toward domestic beet sugar. It invested in factories and agricultural relationships across Denmark, beginning with a large factory in Odense and expanding through acquisitions and new construction. Facilities were established or acquired in Holeby, Nakskov, Stege, Assens, Lyngby, Maribo, Sakskøbing and elsewhere. This network linked beet growers, processing plants, refineries, transport infrastructure and urban distribution, helping make sugar beet a significant Danish agricultural and industrial crop. The company also consolidated refining capacity in Copenhagen. After the Helsingørsgade refinery was destroyed by fire in 1912, a larger facility was built at Applebys Plads. The new site also replaced the Store Larsbjørnsstræde refinery, which closed in 1914. A surviving warehouse at Applebys Plads is among the physical reminders of the company's former presence in Copenhagen. Over the course of the twentieth century, individual factories opened, closed or were integrated into the wider group. Some facilities operated for many decades, while others were shut as production was rationalized. The company continued as a major participant in Danish sugar production until 1989, when it merged with Danisco and De Danske Spritfabrikker. Its activities subsequently continued within Danisco's sugar sector. In 2011, that business was acquired by Nordzucker and renamed Nordic Sugar, marking the end of De Danske Sukkerfabrikker as an independent corporate identity. The company's legacy survives through historic factory buildings, warehouses, industrial sites and museum collections. The Danish Sugar Museum in Nakskov maintains an exhibition on the company's history. De Danske Sukkerfabrikker is therefore significant not only as a former manufacturer but also as an institution that shaped Danish industrial agriculture, regional employment and the country's transition from dependence on imported cane sugar toward large-scale beet-sugar production.
History
De Danske Sukkerfabrikker was founded in Copenhagen on 20 April 1872 through the initiative of Carl Frederik Tietgen. Its formation brought two existing refineries under common ownership: the Phønix Sugar Refinery on Slotsholmen and the Helsingørsgade Sugar Refinery. Both had previously been associated with Det kjøbenhavnske Skibsrederi, a subsidiary of H. Puggaard & Co. H. Puggaard & Co. initially handled daily operations, while engineer Gustav Adolph Hagemann became responsible for technical matters. The company's early supply model depended substantially on imported raw cane sugar, including sugar connected with the Danish West Indies. Hagemann travelled to Saint Croix to help reorganize cane-sugar production. The St. Croix Fællessukkerkogeri commenced operations in 1878, and technical difficulties were addressed during subsequent work on the island. At the same time, De Danske Sukkerfabrikker pursued a domestic beet-sugar strategy. A substantial factory in Odense began construction in 1872. The company acquired Højbygaard Sugar Factory near Holeby in 1880 and built or obtained further facilities in Nakskov, Stege and Assens during the following years. Later expansion included the acquisition of Lyngby Sugar Factory in 1903, Maribo Sugar Factory in 1908 and the Store Larsbjørnsstræde refinery in Copenhagen in 1910. A new factory opened at Sakskøbing in 1910, while Sukkerfabrikken Vestsjælland, later known as Gørlev Sugar Factory, was acquired in 1934. The company also reorganized its urban refining operations. A fire destroyed the Helsingørsgade refinery in 1912. In response, a large new sugar facility was built at Applebys Plads. It also replaced the Store Larsbjørnsstræde refinery, which closed in 1914. The Applebys Plads site included a substantial warehouse, which has survived as a notable industrial building. The factories formed a geographically distributed production system serving beet-growing regions and Danish consumers. Individual sites had different operating lifespans. Assens operated from 1884 to 2006, Gørlev from 1912 to 2000, Højbygaard from 1873 to 1960, Maribo from 1897 to 1962, Odense from 1873 to 1970, Sakskøbing from 1910 to 1991 and Stege from 1884 to 1989. Nakskov and Nykøbing remained among the longer-lived factory operations listed in accounts of the group. In 1989, De Danske Sukkerfabrikker merged with Danisco and De Danske Spritfabrikker. The company consequently ceased to operate as an independent corporate group, although its sugar activities continued under the Danisco Sugar Sector. In 2011, Nordzucker acquired the business and renamed it Nordic Sugar. The former company is commemorated by preserved industrial buildings and by an exhibition at the Danish Sugar Museum in Nakskov.
- 2011
Business renamed Nordic Sugar
[1]Nordzucker acquired the former Danisco sugar business and renamed it Nordic Sugar.
- 1989
Merged into Danisco
[1]De Danske Sukkerfabrikker merged with Danisco and De Danske Spritfabrikker.
- 1934
Vestsjælland factory acquired
[1]Sukkerfabrikken Vestsjælland was acquired and later became known as Gørlev Sugar Factory.
- 1912
Helsingørsgade refinery destroyed by fire
[1]A fire destroyed the Helsingørsgade refinery, leading to the construction of a larger replacement facility at Applebys Plads.
- 1882
Nakskov factory constructed
[1]A sugar factory was built in Nakskov, an important centre of the company's beet-processing network.
- 1880
Højbygaard Sugar Factory acquired
[1]The company acquired the Højbygaard factory at Holeby on Lolland, expanding its domestic beet-sugar presence.
- 1878
St. Croix sugar works begins operations
[1]The St. Croix Fællessukkerkogeri began operating as part of efforts connected with the company's Danish West Indian cane-sugar supply.
- 1872
Company founded in Copenhagen
[1]De Danske Sukkerfabrikker was established on 20 April at the initiative of Carl Frederik Tietgen and acquired two existing Copenhagen refineries.
Products and positioning
A vertically integrated Danish sugar producer combining refineries, beet-processing factories and agricultural supply networks.
Sugar · 1872
Refined sugar
The company's core output was refined sugar processed through its Copenhagen refineries and regional factories. Its refining activities initially relied heavily on imported raw cane sugar and later operated alongside a growing domestic beet-sugar system.
Sugar · 1872
Beet sugar
Sugar beet became the foundation of the company's Danish production model. Factories in regions including Funen, Lolland-Falster and Møn processed locally grown beets and connected agricultural production with industrial sugar manufacturing.
Sugar raw material · 1872
Raw cane sugar
During its early period, the company handled raw sugar associated with the Danish West Indies. Technical and organizational work at Saint Croix supported the supply of cane-derived raw material for refining.
Brand decisions
2011
Transfer of the sugar business to NordzuckerM&ABackground
The former De Danske Sukkerfabrikker activities were part of Danisco's sugar business.
Action taken
Nordzucker acquired the business and renamed it Nordic Sugar.
Aftermath
The De Danske Sukkerfabrikker name disappeared from active corporate operations, while the successor business continued in the Nordic sugar market.
1989
Merge with Danisco and De Danske SpritfabrikkerM&ABackground
The company was consolidated with two other Danish industrial businesses as part of a broader corporate combination.
Action taken
De Danske Sukkerfabrikker merged with Danisco and De Danske Spritfabrikker.
Aftermath
The sugar activities continued within Danisco's sugar sector, and the original company no longer operated as an independent entity.
1912
Replace the destroyed Helsingørsgade refineryStrategyBackground
A fire destroyed the company's Helsingørsgade refinery in Copenhagen.
Action taken
The company built a larger sugar facility at Applebys Plads and subsequently closed the Store Larsbjørnsstræde refinery.
Aftermath
Refining capacity was consolidated in a major Copenhagen industrial complex, parts of which survive as heritage buildings.
1872
Build a Danish beet-sugar industryStrategyBackground
Although the company initially depended on imported cane sugar, it identified domestic sugar beet production as a long-term foundation for Danish manufacturing.
Action taken
It invested in factories and expanded across beet-growing regions on Funen, Lolland-Falster and Møn.
Aftermath
The resulting network helped establish sugar beet as an important Danish agricultural and industrial crop.
Sources1 sources
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