Cranswick PLC (LSE:CWK) said it is launching an independent review of its animal welfare practices and UK livestock operations following reports of animal mistreatment at one of the farms in its network, which led to grocers Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons suspending supplies.
The FTSE 250 company said it had suspended operations at Northmoor Farm in Lincolnshire after covert video footage appeared to show workers using banned methods to kill piglets.
In response, Cranswick confirmed it would not process any pigs originating from the site.
Chief executive Adam Couch said: “We take seriously any instance, anywhere in our supply chain, where behaviour fails to meet those standards. We are therefore instigating a new, fully independent, expert veterinarian review of all our existing animal welfare policies, together with a comprehensive review of our livestock operations across the UK.”
The company, which said it will provide further updates on the review in due course, was also in the news for the wrong reasons earlier this year when it was revealed that several of its large pig and chicken farms had violated environmental rules over seven years.
Regulations had been breached at least 776 times in the past seven years by the intensive farms in East Anglia, according to freedom of information (FoI) data obtained and published by campaign groups Feedback Global and Sustain, first published in the Guardian.
Copies of inspection and enforcement reports suggested breaches occurred an average of more than twice a week between 2017 and 2024.
This is said to include pollution of waterways by slurry, ground and air pollution from dead animal carcasses left outside, and from farms being overstocked with more livestock than allowed. Irregularities were also found relating to the transport and disposal of farm waste.
Shares in Cranswick rose on Tuesday as the company reported record sales and profits for the past year, with operating profits jumping 11.8% to £206.9 million.