Cranswick PLC

CWK

Equity

ISIN GB0002318888 / Valor 380702

LSE London Stock Exchange, SETS (2026-05-26)

GBP 54.00-2.17%

Cranswick PLC
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About company

Cranswick PLC is a prominent pet food manufacturer that produces a variety of dried pet foods for several major brands through private label partnerships, in addition to its own brands, Vitalin and Alpha Feeds. The company employs over 100 individuals and distributes its products to specialist and independent pet stores while also maintaining a direct-to-consumer service. By leveraging both wholesale and retail channels, Cranswick PLC effectively serves diverse segments within the pet nutrition market.

Summarized from source with an LLMView SourceSector: Consumer Non-Cyclicals

Key financials

Revenue £2,723.3m (up 6.8% on a comparable 52‑week basis); adjusted Group operating profit £206.9m (+14.0% comparable); adjusted profit before tax £197.9m; adjusted EPS 273.4p (+15.6% comparable). Statutory EPS 250.5p.

Margins & returns

Adjusted operating margin 7.6% (up 48bps year on year). Return on capital employed 18.5%. Free cash conversion 101.6%.

Cash, debt & funding

Net debt including IFRS16 £172.4m (2024: £99.4m); net debt excluding IFRS16 £39.7m (2024: £0.1m). Group has an unsecured sustainability‑linked £250m facility (available to Nov 2026) and management reports strong headroom after stress testing.

Capital investment & M&A

Record capital spend £138m in the year (major projects across Hull, Eye, Kenninghall, Worsley). Completed acquisitions include JSR Genetics (£24m) and, post‑year end, Blakemans (£32m, 16 May 2025). Additional committed spend includes £35m to expand Hull pork capacity to 50k pigs/week.

Operational growth by category

Volumes +7.7% overall. Poultry revenue +20.3%; Fresh Pork +4.0% (exports +10.2% following Norfolk China licence reinstatement); Pet Products +47.8% as Pets at Home rollout continues; Gourmet/Pastry and Convenience also contributed to a strong Christmas trading period.

Agriculture & supply security

Finished pig numbers +14% year on year; almost 1 million pigs on the ground (up 19% vs March 2024). Group increased vertical integration (genetics, feed milling, farming) to support long‑term supply resilience and strategic retail agreements.

Shareholder returns

Total dividend 101.0p per share (up 12.2%); final dividend proposed 76.0p (ex‑dividend 17 July 2025; payable 29 August 2025). This marks 35 consecutive years of dividend growth.

Outlook

Management reports the new financial year has started in line with expectations and remains confident that strategic investments, customer partnerships and asset base position Cranswick PLC for continued growth and resilience in FY2026.

Summarized from source with an LLMView Source

Key figures

0.75%1Y

70.3%3Y

35.8%5Y

Performance

18.4%1Y

18.7%3Y

20.6%5Y

Volatility