Pork and poultry producer Cranswick has released its audited preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 29th March 2025 and revealed it will instigate a vet review across its animal welfare policies.
Cranswick reported strong revenue growth of 6.8% to reach £2,723.3 million, with like-for-like revenue 6.4% ahead. Its volume growth of 7.7% was driven by premium product range growth and a record Christmas trading period.
Poultry revenue was up by 20.3%, driven by new cooked and prepared poultry retail listings, and its fresh pork export revenue was 10.2% ahead.
Cranswick also unveiled its acquisition of sausage manufacturer Blakemans, which it completed for the sum of £32 million.
Adam Couch, Cranswick’s chief executive officer, commented: “This year we have made significant strategic and financial progress delivering record revenue and adjusted profit before tax. 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. This year we spent a record £138 million across our business to add capacity, expand capability and drive further efficiencies through automation and scale.
“I am delighted to announce the acquisition of Blakemans, a well-invested, leading food service sausage manufacturer. Blakemans is highly complementary to our existing added-value Gourmet business. We look forward to welcoming the entire Blakemans team to Cranswick and to working with them to develop the business further.
“I would like to thank everyone at Cranswick for their unwavering dedication and support. Our continued successful performance in challenging market conditions reflects the talent, capability and determination of our colleagues across the business. The culture we have fostered, centred around a clear ambition to deliver strong sustainable growth, will continue to be the key driver of our success over the long-term.
“We have made a positive start to the new financial year with the UK consumer continuing to recognise the quality, value and versatility of our pork and poultry product ranges. 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.”
“We are instigating a new, fully independent, veterinarian review of all our existing animal welfare policies.”
Adam Couch, Cranswick
In a review of Cranswick’s value responsibility, Couch stated: “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.
“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, 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.”
