CRANSWICK has reported poultry revenues up 30.8% in its results for the 52 weeks to 26 March 2022.

Poultry now accounts for 20% of total group revenue at Cranswick following expansion at its new processing plant in Eye, Suffolk, and the recovery of food service revenues.

See also: Defra’s revised broiler chick placings suggest significant cutbacks

Capacity is now 1.4 million birds a week at the plant, supporting strong demand from the site’s ‘anchor customer’, Cranswick said in its year-end report.

£3m has been spent increasing the number of birds that the firm produces, while a further £3m has been spent on automation.

Cooked poultry volumes were ahead of the prior year and “comfortably ahead” of pre-pandemic levels, Cranswick said.

A new £32m breaded poultry facility in Hull is now fully commissioned, producing ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat poultry products.

Recall

The results note that the presence of salmonella was found in a “limited number of cooked chicken products” prepared in the cooked poultry facility in Hull.

“As a precautionary measure, we asked our customers to withdraw any of their products containing our Ready-to-Eat chicken produced during the affected period.

“The cost of this event cannot yet be reasonably estimated. However, post-mitigation, it is expected that the impact will not be material to the Group.”

Group results

Across the group, revenues exceeded £2bn with adjusted pre-tax profits at £137m, up from £130m a year earlier.

Adam Couch, Cranswick’s chief executive, said: “In a year which has been unprecedented in terms of the scale and breadth of challenges we have faced, we have delivered our strategy at pace and our long-term growth plan remains firmly on track.”

“We have worked tirelessly to support our customers while continuing to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues across the business.