Cranswick buys Buckle family’s pig farming business
© Tim Scrivener UK food producer Cranswick has bought the Yorkshire-based Buckle family’s indoor pig rearing business.
The company has also bought the family’s 50% share of the White Rose Farms pig production joint venture, which was set up by Cranswick and the Buckles in 2018.
The new, larger enterprise will be known as White Rose Farms and will specialise in the production of Red Tractor assured pigs.
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Rick Buckle, whose business has supplied Cranswick for 25 years, will become managing director of White Rose Farms. No financial details were disclosed.
Combined with the purchase of Packington Pork in December, Cranswick said the deal took its self-sufficiency in UK pigs processed to more than 30%.
Adam Couch, Cranswick’s chief executive, said: “I am pleased to announce today’s transaction, which further reinforces our strategic commitment to supporting and growing the British pig farming industry.”
The company earlier reported a 3.6% rise in pre-tax profits to £46.4m for the six months to 30 September 2019, and recently said its profits for the current financial year were set to exceed expectations.
It said export sales had been exceptionally strong and the outlook remained positive, with African swine fever creating opportunities in the Far East.
Its preliminary results for the year ending 31 March will be announced in May.