Cranswick, in partnership with Sainsbury’s, has announced significant steps to advance pig welfare across the UK supply chain, delivering early on shared ambitions set out in their ten-year partnership.
As a result of the long-term partnership, Cranswick and Sainsbury’s are accelerating their commitment to source 100% of fresh British pork from flexible farrowing systems. Sainsbury's are targeting to have all the supply of own brand pork from farms with a flexible farrowing system in place by 2028. This has been made possible through close collaboration, underpinned by more than £60 million of investment – £50 million from Sainsbury’s and £11 million from Cranswick – to support the roll out of improved housing that gives sows more space to move and allows them to behave more naturally when giving birth.
With the Government preparing to bring forward proposals to review farrowing standards, Cranswick and Sainsbury’s are demonstrating how retailers and producers can work side by side to deliver meaningful, system-wide change. This shows that when businesses invest in long-term partnerships, they can help set new benchmarks in care and shape a more responsible food system.
Also, in partnership with Sainsbury’s, Cranswick has made the decision to change its policy on piglet euthanasia. While UK regulations currently allow the use of non-mechanical Blunt Force Trauma (BFT) in emergency situations on farm where piglets are severely sick or injured, Cranswick is adopting a more welfare friendly standard. With immediate effect, the use of BFT is no longer permitted in any circumstances on a Cranswick operated farm. This step reflects a shared commitment by Cranswick and Sainsbury’s to continuous improvement in animal welfare and the belief that the highest standards should be clear, consistent and not open to interpretation.
Alongside this progress, Cranswick has also taken firm action following the unacceptable footage recorded at North Moor Farm. As a result of the investigations, four employees have left the business and one individual has been fully retrained in appropriate welfare procedures. All certifications for the farm were suspended by Cranswick and audits by Red Tractor, APHA and Trading Standards have since identified zero non-conformances. All of these suspensions have now been lifted. The business has also commissioned a new, independent, expert veterinarian-led review and hired five new full time welfare officers to strengthen oversight across its farming operations.