Cranswick
Cranswick PLC is a UK-based, vertically integrated premium fresh and convenience food producer serving major UK grocery retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer across 23 manufacturing sites, with growing poultry, pet food and foodservice operations.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersKingston upon Hull, United Kingdom
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cranswick does
Cranswick PLC is a UK-based, vertically integrated premium fresh and convenience food producer listed on the London Stock Exchange (LON:CWK) with a market capitalization of approximately £2.87bn and FY2026 revenue of £2.98bn (52 weeks ended 28 March 2026). The company operates 23 manufacturing facilities in the United Kingdom employing more than 15,400 people, with a vertically integrated operating model spanning feed mills, pig genetics, farming operations, meat processing and value-added packaging.
Its core product portfolio covers fresh pork, poultry and prepared convenience foods — including premium products such as pigs-in-blankets produced at scale via automated packaging lines — alongside a diversifying Cranswick Pet Products line, a Foodservice and Ingredients wholesale channel, and the Omnivore consumer recipe brand. The business sells primarily to major UK grocery retailers, with Tesco, Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer named as customers; Tesco alone accounts for around 23% of British pork supply through the Sustainable Pig Group and all of its Finest fresh pork. Poultry now represents over a fifth of revenue with 13.9% year-on-year growth.
Cranswick's commercial model is enterprise B2B, with pricing negotiated privately with supermarket and foodservice customers rather than disclosed publicly. Recent strategic activity is concentrated on capacity expansion (a £56m second production line at the Eye poultry site targeting two million birds per week by FY2028, plus a £30m Hull expansion), vertical integration through acquisitions of JSR Genetics and the Fridaythorpe feed mill, industrial automation partnerships with Rockwell Automation and CWM Automation, and a £40m animal welfare investment programme linked to its Net Zero by 2050 / SBTi-validated FLAG climate transition plan. The company has delivered 36 consecutive years of unbroken dividend growth and is rated Moderate Buy by analysts at Berenberg Bank and Jefferies Financial Group.
Cranswick firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cranswick
- Legal name
- Cranswick PLC
- Website
- https://cranswick.co.uk
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Cranswick PLC is a UK-based, vertically integrated premium fresh and convenience food producer serving major UK grocery retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer across 23 manufacturing sites, with growing poultry, pet food and foodservice operations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cranswick industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fresh and Convenience Food Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Food Manufacturing (311), Animal Food Manufacturing (3111)
- SIC
- Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Shelf-Stable/Retort Prepared Meat & Seafood Meals (AFANAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Refrigerated Ready-to-Eat Foods (Deli Salads, Sandwiches, Meal Kits) (CRADACAH)
Keywords
Where Cranswick is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kingston upon Hull
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Cranswick business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Fresh and Convenience Foods: Core revenue from premium fresh and convenience foods including pork, poultry, and prepared meat products sold to UK supermarkets
- Poultry Products: Poultry processing and sales, representing over a fifth of company revenue with 13.9% year-on-year growth
- Pet Food: Pet food manufacturing as a diversifying growth area beyond core food production
- Foodservice and Ingredients: B2B supply of food products to foodservice operators and ingredient suppliers
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Cranswick product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cranswick manufactures and supplies premium fresh and convenience food products to UK grocery retailers through a vertically integrated supply chain spanning feed mills, pig genetics, farming, meat processing, and packaging. Its core product categories include fresh pork, poultry, prepared convenience foods, and pet food, with major UK supermarket customers including Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Marks & Spencer.
Product overview
Cranswick is a UK-based premium fresh and convenience food producer operating a vertically integrated business model from farming to packaging. The company offers a diversified portfolio including fresh meat products (pork, poultry), convenience foods, and pet food, organized across four main product categories: Our Food (fresh and prepared meat products), Cranswick Pet Products (pet food for retail), Foodservice and Ingredients (commercial wholesale), and Omnivore (branded recipe/cookbook line). The company's products serve major UK supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Marks & Spencer, with recent investments in automation and capacity expansion across its 23 UK facilities employing over 15,400 people.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Omnivore: Cookbook brand featuring recipes and food inspiration
- Cranswick Pet Products
Products and services
- Cranswick Pet Products Pet food products manufactured by Cranswick for distribution through major UK retailers, representing a diversifying growth area beyond the company's core meat and convenience food offerings.
- Foodservice and Ingredients Wholesale and foodservice offerings including prepared ingredients and convenience food products supplied to B2B commercial customers such as hospitality, catering, and ingredient wholesalers.
- Omnivore Cookbook and recipe brand associated with Cranswick, featuring prepared food products including Chicken Shawarma, gyros, and miso hot-honey pork lettuce cups promoted as high-protein convenient meal solutions.
- Pigs-in-Blankets (Pork Sausages Wrapped in Bacon) Premium pork sausages wrapped in bacon, produced at scale by Cranswick primarily for the Christmas market, with millions of units produced per season and packaged using an automated robotic pick-and-place system capable of 240 picks per minute.
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue increased 9.5% to £2.98bn
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Cranswick
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cranswick technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Cranswick partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Rockwell AutomationcoreRockwell Automation provided components and expertise for Cranswick's robotic end-of-line pick-and-place packaging system using autonox Delta robots. The automation allows Cranswick to pick and place sausages 240 times per minute.
- CWM AutomationcoreCWM Automation designed and delivered the fully automated robotic pick-and-place system for Cranswick's sausage packaging operations, working with Rockwell Automation components and autonox Delta robots.
- JSR Genetics LtdcorePig genetics company acquired and integrated into Cranswick's operations as part of climate transition strategy and vertical integration.
- Fridaythorpe Feed MillcoreFeed mill acquisition supporting Cranswick's vertical integration strategy and supply chain control for sustainability targets.
- TescocoreCranswick is an existing member of Tesco's Sustainable Pig Group (TSPG), which now covers around 23% of Tesco's British pork supply and all of its Finest fresh pork. The group received an additional annual investment of nearly £2 million.
- Sofina Foods EuropeminorAdded to Tesco's Sustainable Pig Group alongside Cranswick, expanding the group by 30% with estimated value of over £670m over three years.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cranswick competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Moy Park: UK and Ireland poultry processor owned by Pilgrim's Pride, supplying retailers and foodservice with fresh and value-added chicken — directly competes with Cranswick's poultry expansion strategy.
- Bakkavor Group: UK-listed fresh prepared food manufacturer supplying major UK grocers with chilled ready meals, salads, and convenience foods — directly comparable product categories (prepared foods, ready-to-eat) and customer base (Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S).
- Greencore Group: UK and Ireland convenience food manufacturer focused on sandwiches, chilled ready meals, and food-to-go for major retailers — overlapping prepared-foods category and similar supermarket customer base.
- Hilton Food Group: UK-listed meat packing and food logistics specialist partnering with major grocers (Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S, Ahold) — same customer roster and similar protein-centric supply model, although Hilton operates asset-light vs Cranswick's vertically integrated model.
- 2 Sisters Food Group: Private UK food manufacturer producing poultry, red meat, and convenience foods for UK retailers — comparable in scale and product mix, particularly the poultry and prepared meat categories where it competes head-to-head with Cranswick.
- Tulip Ltd: UK pork and processed meat manufacturer supplying retail, foodservice and ingredients — directly comparable in pork processing, sausages, and prepared meat categories that form Cranswick's historical core.
- Karro Food Group: UK pork processor supplying retail and foodservice customers with fresh and processed pork products — same vertical (pork), similar UK supermarket customer base, and comparable sausage/prepared pork positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Pilgrim's Pride: Global poultry and prepared foods major, owner of Moy Park — broader geographic footprint but operates in the same protein categories and competes for UK foodservice and retail poultry volumes.
- Premier Foods: UK-listed branded packaged food manufacturer (Batchelors, Mr Kipling, etc.) — broader ambient/grocery portfolio, but shares the UK grocery customer base and convenience-foods exposure.
- Kerry Group: Ireland-listed global taste and nutrition giant with a substantial UK foodservice and retail ingredients business — adjacent in B2B food ingredients supply, though broader and more global than Cranswick's fresh-focused model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cranswick social profiles
Digital presenceCranswick financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cranswick leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Cranswick subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Cranswick funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cranswick M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A15 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cranswick
What does Cranswick do?
Cranswick manufactures and supplies premium fresh and convenience food products to UK grocery retailers through a vertically integrated supply chain spanning feed mills, pig genetics, farming, meat processing, and packaging. Its core product categories include fresh pork, poultry, prepared convenience foods, and pet food, with major UK supermarket customers including Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Marks & Spencer.
Is Cranswick a public or private company?
Cranswick is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Cranswick founded?
Cranswick was founded in 1990. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Cranswick based?
Cranswick is headquartered in Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Cranswick make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Fresh and Convenience Foods are the primary driver. The others are poultry Products, pet Food and foodservice and Ingredients.
Who are Cranswick's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Moy Park, Bakkavor Group, Greencore Group, Hilton Food Group, 2 Sisters Food Group, Tulip Ltd and Karro Food Group. Broad incumbents are Pilgrim's Pride, Premier Foods and Kerry Group.
Does Cranswick have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cranswick.
What industry is Cranswick in?
Cranswick's product category is Fresh and Convenience Food Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFANAFAE, Shelf-Stable/Retort Prepared Meat & Seafood Meals, with a secondary code of CRADACAH, Refrigerated Ready-to-Eat Foods (Deli Salads, Sandwiches, Meal Kits). Its NAICS code is 311 and its SIC code is 2013.