Sainsbury’s and Cranswick announce £61 million partnership to boost British pig welfare

Sainsbury’s and Cranswick have announced a ten-year partnership focused on enhancing pig welfare standards and building a more sustainable pork supply chain. The agreement will see all of Sainsbury’s British pork, including sausages, premium bacon, gammon and cooked meats, supplied through Cranswick, with a total investment of £61 million into farming infrastructure and welfare improvements.

Elevating animal welfare standards

A key element of the partnership is the elevation of animal welfare standards, surpassing industry-recommended Red Tractor pork standards. Sainsbury’s will also maintain its high-level RSPCA Assured standard for its Taste the Difference pork, a mark of quality that has been in place for 17 years.

The partnership includes investment in flexible farrowing accommodation, designed to provide sows and piglets with more space and improved conditions during birth. AI technology will also be introduced to enable continuous monitoring of animal welfare, providing data to drive further improvements.

Sainsbury’s has committed £50 million towards implementing these higher standards by 2030, while Cranswick is contributing £11 million to fund new sheds and improved pig housing.

Rhian Bartlett, Sainsbury’s Chief Commercial Officer, said:

This ten-year partnership with Cranswick means that we are able to place a bigger focus on animal welfare, financial security for our farmers and sustainable production of our pork range; all while protecting value for customers.”

Stability for farmers and a sustainable supply chain

The deal provides long-term security for the 170 farmers in the Sainsbury’s Pork Producer Group, enabling them to invest in farms, factories and processing systems. The agreement also aims to improve resilience in the British pork supply chain, offering farmers financial stability over the next decade.

Beyond welfare improvements, Sainsbury’s and Cranswick have also committed to reducing the environmental impact of pork production. Their sustainability targets include:

• Net zero Taste the Difference pork by 2029
• Net zero fresh pork by 2030
• Ongoing trials to reduce the environmental impact of soya feed, which plays a key role in the pork production process.

Jim Brisby, Cranswick’s Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted the importance of the agreement:

The partnership provides a secure supply chain that is fit for the future, facilitating improved welfare standards, delivering our joint sustainability targets, and ensuring a fair return to over 170 valued farmers.”

Industry Response

The announcement has been welcomed by the National Pig Association (NPA), which sees it as a step towards a stronger and more secure future for British pig producers.

NPA Chief Executive Lizzie Wilson said:

This is another positive announcement for the future of the British pig sector. We have long been calling for a change in supply chain relations that ensures all parties, especially producers, are provided with long-term security, and that producers are supported in moving towards higher standards, for example in transitioning towards flexible farrowing and delivering net zero targets.

“Following Tesco’s recent announcement of its long-term support for British pig producers, this is another important milestone towards that goal.”