Our History
Cranswick plc is based in East Yorkshire and listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The Company was formed in the early 1970's by farmers to manufacture pig feed and, soon afterwards, began to market pigs. In 1988 the board embarked on a strategy to broaden the base of the company's activities so as to minimize the impact on the company of fluctuations in agricultural commodity prices. Activities have since been extended from this agricultural base into the food manufacturing sector.

The purchase of a small pork butchery business in 1988 was followed in the early 1990's by other acquisitions to further develop the food manufacturing interests.
Investment in these businesses along with the acquisition in 1998 of Lazenby's, premium sausage manufacturer, and in 1999 of Pethick & Co., high quality ham manufacturer, continued the growth of the food manufacturing activities.

This acquisition was subsequently underpinned with the purchase of Perkins Chilled Foods in 2005 placing us as one of the country's largest supplier of sliced cooked meats and convenience foods.

Further expansion took place in 2001 with the acquisition of Continental Fine Foods, in 2002 North Wales Foods and in 2003 The Sandwich Factory.

The aim of the development strategy has been to focus on specialist, but related areas, identification of suitable acquisitions with strong management teams and investment in those businesses.