Cranswick has snapped up Kingston Food to bolster its expertise in cooked meat.

The pork giant said today it had purchased the entire issued share capital of Kingston, a producer of premium cooked and roasted meats.

The buy would further diversify the company’s product range in a growing market and broaden its customer base, Cranswick said in a statement.

“The acquisition of Kingston strengthens Cranswick’s cooked meat production capabilities,” it claimed.

The vendors, MD Tony Turner and operations director Paul Williams, will continue in their current positions.

Kingston had gross assets to the value of £3.7m at 27 January this year.

The deal comes at a transitional period in cooked meats.  Last November Tulip – the UK subsidiary of meat giant Danish Crown – bought a portfolio of companies from Parkham Food Group, which included cooked meat operations. In March this year, Kerry announced the closure of its Durham cooked meat factory, citing soaring costs in the sector.