Cranswick buys Mercer family’s Packington Pork business
© Tim Scrivener UK food producer Cranswick has purchased outdoor pig business Packington Pork from the Mercer family.
The pig farming and rearing business specialises in the production of British free-range and outdoor-bred pigs, and operates across Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.
The sale does not include the Packington Free Range business, which covers the distribution and marketing of pork and poultry, and will be retained as a standalone business.
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Run by Robert Mercer, Packington Pork recorded a pre-tax profit of £2.46m from a turnover of £32.6m for the year ended September 2018.
Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
The deal increases Cranswick’s self-sufficiency in pigs processed to more than 25% and secures direct control over a significant part of its supply chain for premium pigs.
The company, which has purchased pigs from the Mercer family for the past 14 years, said Packington’s existing management team will remain in place.
Adam Couch, Cranswick CEO, said: “This acquisition strengthens our existing farming operations and reinforces our commitment to supporting and growing the British pig farming industry.
“It also aligns to our strategy of enhanced transparency and provenance of our food from farm to fork.”
Cranswick employs more than 11,000 people and operates from 16 production facilities across the UK.
Results for the year to 31 March 2019 showed revenue of £1,437m and profit before tax of £86.5m.