Direct utilization of fructose from sucrose in the cell was investigated. Heterologous expression of scrK in C. glutamicum improved fructose consumption. Co-expression of pfkA and scrK aided fructose consumption and l-serine accumulation. The engineered C. glutamicum strain produced 30.6 g/L l-serine in a 5-L bioreactor. After two feedings of sucrose, the l-serine production increased up to 37.0 g/L.