Cranswick is launching a review of its existing animal welfare policies and livestock operations across the UK following revelations last week of mistreatment of pigs at one of the meat processor’s farms.
The group announced the “new, fully independent, expert veterinarian review” this morning as it reported record annual revenues and profits over the past year.
Cranswick was rocked last week as shocking footage emerged revealing multiple breaches of animal welfare at a farm in Lincolnshire.
Supermarket customers subsequently suspended supplies of pork from the farm and shares in the group crashed, wiping £200m off its value.
The business did not refer specifically to the incident in this morning’s annual results, but CEO Adam Couch said “we know that our customers and consumers care deeply about the welfare of animals involved in food production – it is a priority we share”.
“We have always placed the highest importance on animal health and wellbeing and continuously aim to have the most stringent standards in the sector,” he added. “We take seriously any instance, anywhere in our supply chain, where behaviour fails to meet those standards. We are therefore instigating a new, fully independent, expert veterinarian review of all our existing animal welfare policies, together with a comprehensive review of our livestock operations across the UK. We will provide a further update on this work in due course.”
Revenues at Cranswick increased 6.8% to £2.7bn in the 52 weeks to 29 March 2025 as volumes jumped 7.7% thanks to a record Christmas and growth of the premium product range.
Group operating profits also rose by 14.2% to £190.6m and pre-tax profits climbed 14.6% to £181.6m.
The company, which produces more than 36,000 finished pigs every week and has almost one million pigs on the ground at any one time, agreed new long-term supply agreements with its retail partners during the year, including 10 years’ sole supply of British fresh pork, sausage, premium bacon and cooked meats with Sainsbury’s.
Fresh pork sales increased 4% ahead of the prior year and represented 24.2% of total revenues, with growth reflecting strong volume driven demand across retail, wholesale and export channels.
Poultry sales, which now make up 19.6% of the group, also jumped by 20.3% in the year thanks to growth in cooked and prepared chicken.
Cranswick invested a record £138m in 2024/25 across the business to add capacity, expand capability and drive further efficiencies at its facilities.
It also continued adding new businesses to the group, announcing this morning the acquisition of foodservice sausage manufacturer Blakemans for £32m, completed on 16 May.
Couch said Blakemans was “highly complementary to our existing added-value gourmet business”.
“This year we have made significant strategic and financial progress delivering record revenue and adjusted profit before tax,” he added. “We have also continued to make substantial investment across our industry-leading asset base, our farming operations and in acquisitions to support our long-term growth ambitions.
“We are accelerating the pace at which we invest to drive strong returns.”
Couch said the company had made a positive start to the new financial year, with Cranswick celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025.
“Looking further ahead, I am confident that the strengths of the business, which include its long-standing customer base, breadth and quality of products, robust financial position and industry-leading asset infrastructure, will support the successful development of Cranswick in the current financial year and over the longer term.”
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