Not all sugar is the same
From dark, molasses-rich raw sugar to crystal-white refined ICUMSA 45, Zimbabwe's mills and refineries produce a full range of sugar types for retail, industry, and export.
Five categories, many grades
The differences come down to how much molasses remains and how finely the crystals have been processed.
Raw sugar
Produced at the Hippo Valley and Triangle mills. Tan to golden in colour, retains some molasses, and is measured by ICUMSA ratings (higher numbers mean more residual colour and molasses). Used industrially and exported.
Brown sugar
Produced at both mills and marketed under the SunSweet brand. Retains some natural molasses for its colour and characteristic flavour. Distributed across Southern, East, and Central Africa.
Refined white sugar
Produced at StarAfrica's Goldstar Sugars refineries in Harare and Bulawayo. Raw sugar is re-dissolved, decolourised using activated carbon, re-crystallised, and dried.
Industrial sugar
Marketed in 1-tonne bags by Goldstar Sugars and used by carbonated drink manufacturers (StarAfrica is a Coca-Cola certified supplier), cordial producers, and pharmaceutical companies.
Specialty products
Country Choice Foods (a StarAfrica subsidiary) produces castor sugar, icing sugar, golden syrup, honey syrup, maple syrup, sweeteners, and snack products for retail.
The brands you will find on shelves
Huletts SunSweet is the leading sugar brand in Zimbabwe, marketed by Tongaat Hulett. Goldstar, StarAfrica's flagship brand, holds a strong market position across both retail and industrial segments. Country Choice Foods sits alongside Goldstar with its specialty range.
What ICUMSA ratings mean
ICUMSA stands for the International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis. The rating measures sugar colour. Lower numbers mean whiter sugar.
- ICUMSA 45: The international standard for refined white sugar (99.8%+ pure sucrose).
- ICUMSA 100 to 600: Mill white and lighter raw sugars.
- ICUMSA 600 to 1200: Typical range for raw and brown sugars.
Fortified sugar
All household sugar in Zimbabwe is fortified with Vitamin A. This is mandatory under the Food Fortification Regulations of 2016 and applies to both raw and brown grades destined for the domestic retail market. Read more on the fortification and health page.
Using these in cooking
For practical guidance on which sugar type to choose for which recipe, see sugar in the kitchen. For head-to-head comparisons such as raw vs white or cane vs beet, see sugar comparisons.
How it gets made
For the full process from harvested cane to packaged crystal, see how sugar is made. To meet the people behind the brands, visit the industry players page.