Cranswick share price falls following claims of abuse against animals

Food producer Cranswick’s share price has dropped seven per cent today – equivalent to about £200m – following reports that supermarkets have suspended supplies from one of its pig farms over cruelty claims.

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons have all suspended supplies from Cranswick-owned Northmoor Farm, in Lincolnshire.

It follows the release of secretly filmed footage showing workers at this farm appearing to grab piglets by their hind legs and smashing them on to the hard floor – a banned method of killing.

Using blunt force trauma to kill piglets under 10kg was outlawed in 2022, following warnings from the UK’s Animal Welfare Committee and the EU’s Reference Centre for Animal Welfare.

Other disturbing footage from the same farm showed a sow being kicked and beaten with metal bars, along with a botched killing that left a badly injured animal in agony.

Footage at the farm was produced over several weeks last year by a covert investigator for animal rights organisation Animal Justice Project (AJP). AJP has issued a complaint to Trading Standards, citing breaches of animal welfare rules.

Hull-headquartered Cranswick has confirmed that the entire team at the farm had been suspended while a probe into the incidents takes place.

A spokesman for the business told The Guardian newspaper: “The welfare of the animals we rear is of the utmost importance and we are extremely disappointed to see the unacceptable lapse of welfare standards captured at Northmoor Farm.

“As soon as we saw the footage, we immediately suspended the team working at the farm and we are conducting an urgent and thorough investigation.

“We have also suspended the farm from supplying any pigs until the investigation is completed.”