UK’s Cranswick buys cooked poultry producer Benson Park Ltd.

U.K. food producer Cranswick, which predominately operates in the pig sector, has bought cooked poultry business Benson Park Ltd. Benson Park supplies ingredients in the food-to-go sector of the retail-multi-channel, convenience and foodservice markets.

Benson Park operates from a modern, purpose-built facility in Hull, East Yorkshire, and employs approximately 90 staff. In the year to August 31, ^{2014, it recorded revenues of GBP41.4 million (US$65.8million).}

Adam Couch, CEO at Cranswick, commented: “A key component of the group’s strategy is to develop new product channels in its core U.K. market both in pork and other proteins. Today’s announcement represents important progress in that objective.

“This strategic investment moves Cranswick firmly into a new protein category with a well invested business that has a strong presence, supplying premium poultry products, in the fast growing food-to-go sector.”

In the year to March 31, ^{2014, Cranswick recorded sales of GBP980.6 million. The company highlights that it invested GBP14 million in new pig breeding and rearing activities.}