Acquired from the Mercer family, the Packington Pork business comprises pig farming and rearing operations and specialises in the production of British free range and outdoor bred pigs. The transaction does not include the Packington Free Range business, which will be retained by the Mercer family as a standalone business operating under the Packington brand.
The business operates predominantly from a range of sites across Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. The transaction increases Cranswick's self-sufficiency in UK pigs processed to over 25%, securing direct control over a significant part of its supply chain for premium pigs, reinforcing its commitment to developing a sustainable and traceable farm to fork operation.
Cranswick CEO Adam Couch said: “I am delighted to announce the acquisition of the premium pig farming business, Packington Pork Limited. This acquisition strengthens our existing farming operations and reinforces our commitment to supporting and growing the British pig farming industry.
“It also aligns to our strategy of enhanced transparency and provenance of our food from farm to fork. We have worked closely with the business for over 14 years. We welcome the existing farm management team and look forward to investing in and developing the business over the coming years.”
Earlier this month, Cranswick launched the new Second Nature website. Upon launch, the website is described as a platform for Cranswick to “engage in a more balanced discussion on meat consumption and climate change, that includes talking about the carbon benefits that sustainable agricultural and livestock farming can bring”.
“It’s an opportunity for us to engage with the food industry and stakeholders in an honest dialogue about the reputation of meat and its role in the wider context of climate change and consumer trust.
The choice is a simple one for us at Cranswick. We don’t want to be part of the problem – we want to be part of the solution. We want to inspire positive change and lead the way so that others can follow. That’s why we created Second Nature. It’s our climate-ready blueprint for action.”