Cranswick creates hundred of jobs as it remains 'absolutely embedded' in East Yorkshire

Adam Couch, Cranswick’s chief executive, said the group is now one of the largest private sector employers in East Yorkshire. It employs 7,500 people in Hull and has created an extra 400 to 500 jobs around the city over the last 12 months, Mr Couch said. Altogether, Cranswick employs 13,700 people.

Mr Couch said Cranswick was “absolutely embedded” in East Yorkshire, adding: “We are constantly investing in plant and new equipment, making sure we are best in class.”

Cranswick said the installation of a third contact cooking line at its Hull cooked bacon facility will add capacity and capability. The group was formed in the early 1970s by farmers in East Yorkshire to produce animal feed and has since evolved into a business which produces a range of fresh pork, poultry, convenience, gourmet products and pet food.

Cranswick revealed further plans for investment in the group’s pig farming operations as it published its audited preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended March 25 2023. The group’s statutory profit before tax was 7.4 per cent higher at £139.5m and the full year dividend increased by 5.0 per cent to 79.4p

Mr Couch said: “Over the last twelve months all at Cranswick have demonstrated resilience and determination in abundance, enabling us to deliver a strong set of results and make further meaningful progress in delivering our strategic objectives. I would like to thank our colleagues for their continued enthusiasm and commitment.

“We have successfully navigated three years of unprecedented disruption and uncertainty and we now have a much larger, more diverse, and better equipped business, which is primed to deliver the next phase of growth.

“We invested £85.1m across our asset base during the year. Our total investment in the last three years exceeds £250m. Investment during the year has been broad-based as we look to expand capacity and enhance the capability of existing facilities. We are proposing to lift our full year dividend by a further five per cent this year. This will be our 33rd year of consecutive dividend growth.

“We have made a positive start to the new financial year. The strengths of our business, which include our diverse and long-standing customer base, breadth and quality of products and channels, robust financial position and industry leading infrastructure will support the further development of Cranswick over the longer term.”

Cranswick also announced a new supply partnership deal with Pets at Home, the pet care business, as it continues to drive growth in its pet food business. Cranswick will initially supply Pets at Home with dry dog kibble under two existing brands, Wainwrights and Step Up to Naturals, from its facility at Lodge Farm in Lincolnshire.