Cranswick has announced that it’s buying two more breeding herds – one at Mansfield, Norttinghamshire, and the other near York – to further increase vertical integration within its UK supply chain.
The company is buying the herds, which total about 3,000 sows, from Cumbrian-based pig producer Thomas Dent.
Coincidentally, Mr Dent bought 3,000 sows from Cranswick when the firm sold off its breeding herd in 2005. By 2011, the Dent business had 14,000 sows and was said to be the third largest pig operation in the country.
This latest deal, which follows Cranswick’s purchase of East Anglian Pigs for £13 million at the end of April this year, increases the processor’s herd to about 14,000 sows. This should provide about 7,000 outdoor-reared pigs/week for slaughter.
Cranswick chief executive Adam Couch described the purchase as a significant bolt-on to the current herd, and said it undelined the business’ commitment to sourcing British pork.