Revenue at Cranswick lifts to almost £3bn

Major meat processor Cranswick has published exceptionally strong financial results with both revenue and profit margins improving in the past year.

Total revenue lifted by 9.5% to £2.98bn for the 52 weeks ended 28 March 2026, while profit before tax increased from £191m to £216m.

See also: Further pig contracts at risk as sector struggles with backlogs

Pork, poultry, convenience products, gourmet food, and pet food made up the majority of the company’s revenue.

Poultry, which accounts for 20% of group revenue, had a particularly strong year with revenue up by 14%.

Cranswick chairman Tim Smith wrote in the preliminary accounts that the company’s poultry enterprises had transitioned to higher-welfare, lower stocking densities.

He said: “This industry-wide change has constrained the supply of British chicken. Alongside growing consumer demand, this has contributed to increased imports.

“If domestic supply does not keep pace with growth in consumer demand, the UK will become increasingly reliant on imported food.

“This has implications for quality standards and food system resilience at a time of ongoing disruption across global supply chains and heightened geopolitical uncertainty.”

Mr Smith suggested that a more supportive UK planning framework would reduce barriers to investment and increase confidence across the sector.

Pork

Fresh pork, which represents 23% of revenue, increased by 4% year-on-year.

The company accounts said growth was volume-led across retail, wholesale and export channels, underpinned by sustained consumer demand.

Finished pig numbers increased by almost 7% on the year, with self-sufficiency at 55%.

Adam Couch, Cranswick’s chief executive, said: “We have continued to invest with conviction across our industry leading asset base, farming operations and in complementary acquisitions, strengthening capability, expanding capacity and creating further headroom for sustainable growth.

“Across our core categories, demand for our products remains strong.”

He added that, so far, the current financial year was in line with expectations.

However, he suggested that the conflict in the Middle East was still an evolving situation and the company was monitoring potential implications for its supply chains.