Abstract: The present invention is related to a process for refining raw sugar comprising the steps of: (a) dissolving either washed raw sugar or raw sugar directly to produce a melter liquor; (b) clarifying the melter liquor; (c) crystallising the melter liquor to produce a mixture of a very low colour intermediate sugar and a syrup; (d) separating the very low colour intermediate sugar from the syrup; (e) redissolving the separated very low colour intermediate sugar to produce a fine liquor; (f) filtering the fine liquor to remove any foreign particles which may have contaminated the sugar produced in step (d); and (g) crystallising refined sugar from the fine liquor. The invention is also related to a process for producing very low colour (VLC) intermediate sugar by the steps of (a) to (d) defined above.