Cranswick enjoys strong start to year

UPMARKET sausage company Cranswick is continuing to enjoy strong sales across its businesses as it successfully continues to absorb rising market costs.

At its AGM Hull-based Cranswick, which makes Taste the Difference pork products for Sainsbury’s and also supplies Tesco, said sales in the first quarter have increased by 10 per cent compared with the same period last year to £161m – an increase of 13 % on a like-for-like basis.

Cranswick said that the current financial year has started in line with the board’s expectations and it continues to make progress in cost recoveries as the prices of raw materials continue to rise.

In its pet business the group said sales were 34 per cent higher.

Raw material cost increases have been incorporated into selling prices on a phased basis during the first quarter.

Cranswick chairman Martin Davey said: “Whilst further inflation cannot be ruled out, the board remains confident of the group’s prospects for the future.”