Cranswick

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.

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

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

• Fresh meat production
• Convenience food manufacturing
• Poultry processing
• Pet food manufacturing
• Vertically integrated pork

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston upon Hull

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Fresh and Convenience Foods: Core revenue from premium fresh and convenience foods including pork, poultry, and prepared meat products sold to UK supermarkets
2. Poultry Products: Poultry processing and sales, representing over a fifth of company revenue with 13.9% year-on-year growth
3. Pet Food: Pet food manufacturing as a diversifying growth area beyond core food production
4. 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

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rockwell AutomationcoreTechnology or Integration · 23 June 2026Rockwell 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 AutomationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 23 June 2026CWM 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 LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Pig genetics company acquired and integrated into Cranswick's operations as part of climate transition strategy and vertical integration.
• Fridaythorpe Feed MillcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Feed mill acquisition supporting Cranswick's vertical integration strategy and supply chain control for sustainability targets.
• TescocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2026Cranswick 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 EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2026Added 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

Direct 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

• Instagraminstagram.com/cranswickplc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A15 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cranswick