Cranswick: Record Christmas trading period for major food producer
Food producer Cranswick has reported a record-breaking performance over the festive trading period and predicted its annual profit will reach the upper end of analysts' forecasts.
Cranswick said December sales were ahead of the strong prior year comparative period, driven by record Christmas trading across its fresh pork, convenience and gourmet festive product ranges.
The company, which supplies pork, poultry and prepared foods to major UK retailers, made the comment as it provided investors with an update on trading for the 13 weeks to 27 December 2025.
It said: “Premium added-value ranges performed particularly well, including showcase centre of plate products and festive grazing platters.
"We delivered excellent service levels and innovative new product launches for our key strategic retail partners, enabling this strong Christmas performance.”
The statement added: “Strong revenue growth in the quarter, including the key Christmas period, reflected a continuation in the positive trading momentum delivered in the first half of the year with all product categories ahead of the corresponding prior year period.
“Consequently, we now expect full year adjusted profit before tax to be towards the upper end of current market expectations.”
Adam Couch, the CEO of Cranswick, commented: "We have delivered another strong quarter of growth underpinned by revenue growth across all product categories and a record Christmas trading period.”
He added: “This excellent performance is the result of our unrelenting focus on delivering outstanding service levels, sector leading innovation and unrivalled product quality across our festive product range for our customers.
"I would like to thank all of our colleagues for their ongoing support and commitment.
"The unrivalled capability of our people across the business is key to our continued successful progress and development."
The company's next scheduled comment on trading will be the preliminary results announcement for the 52 weeks ending 28 March 2026, on Tuesday 19 May.
In November last year, Cranswick published a six point plan to raise animal welfare standards across its operations, following the completion of an independent, veterinarian-led review by Dr Andy Butterworth.
The plan includes a £40 million investment over the next three years to raise welfare standards across Cranswick-run farms.
At the time, a spokesman said the independent review was commissioned by the board of Cranswick in response to film footage publicised in May 2025, which showed “unacceptable practices” at North Moor Farm in Lincolnshire.
The review, which involved unannounced visits to 20 separate pig farms during June, July and August 2025, found that the Cranswick farms visited were compliant with legislation and animal welfare standards, and found no evidence of poor handling and treatment of pigs on farm.
Cranswick said at the time: “It concluded that the actions seen in the investigative films were not representative of Cranswick’s normal standards and practices. Nonetheless, the review set out a range of recommendations for raising standards within Cranswick and across the wider industry.”
The recommendations included the standardisation of farming practices and procedures across all Cranswick pig farms and increased use of surveillance systems to ensure good practice for pig welfare on farms.