UK-based meat powerhouse Cranswick has secured a stake in The Jolly Hog, a regional enterprise dedicated to “higher welfare” pork production.
According to a joint announcement, Cranswick is set to become The Jolly Hog’s “long-term manufacturing partner.”
The specifics of the financial arrangement were not revealed. However, a notice filed with Companies House indicates that Cranswick’s investment in The Jolly Hog is over 25% but below half of the company.
As a publicly traded entity, Cranswick stands as one of the leading suppliers of pork products in the UK, catering to both retail and foodservice sectors.
Founded in 2007 by brothers Olly, Max, and Josh Kohn, The Jolly Hog specializes in providing a range of sausage and bacon items to UK retailers.
In their announcement, Cranswick emphasized that The Jolly Hog is set to benefit from “a stronger platform for growth through increased capacity, enhanced supply security, and access to world-class technical expertise.”
Jim Brisby, the chief commercial officer of Cranswick, remarked: “The Jolly Hog is a brand with a clear purpose, a loyal following, and a reputation for delivering exceptional products.”
Situated in Bristol, The Jolly Hog will continue to operate “independently with the same team and headquarters,” as stated in their announcement.
The three Kohn brothers expressed their enthusiasm in a joint statement, labeling the arrangement as “a major milestone for our business.”
They further noted: “With Cranswick by our side, we have the investment, expertise, and manufacturing capacity to grow more rapidly without sacrificing the quality, flavor, or values that define our brand.”
Cranswick categorizes its revenue across five business segments. Its convenience products division, which includes sous vide offerings and Mediterranean items such as halloumi, is the largest by revenue, contributing 35% of the company’s £2.98bn ($3.98bn) sales for the year ending March 28.
Sausages and bacon feature within Cranswick’s Gourmet Products sector, which accounted for 19.7% of the group’s total revenues in that period. This unit experienced a 15.3% increase in sales, bolstered by the recent acquisition of UK sausage producer Blakemans.
