UK's Cranswick tumbles as supermarkets suspend pork supplies from Lincolnshire farm

By Yadarisa Shabong and James Davey

(Reuters) -Shares in British meat producer Cranswick slumped about 9% on Monday after UK supermarkets suspended supplies from one of its farms on animal welfare concerns while an investigation takes place.

The Mail on Sunday newspaper reported over the weekend and released footage showing alleged animal abuse carried out by workers at its North Moor Farm in Lincolshire.

"As soon as we saw the footage, we immediately suspended the team working at the farm and we are conducting an urgent and thorough investigation," a Cranswick spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The company's shares were on course for their biggest one-day percentage drop since March 2020.

Cranswick operates in all areas of pig production and supplies fresh pork, sausages and bacon, among other things, to supermarkets across Britain.

"We are extremely disappointed to see the unacceptable lapse of welfare standards captured at North Moor Farm," the spokesperson said. 

The company has suspended the farm from supplying any pigs until the investigation is completed. It did not specify how long the investigation would take.

Major British supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons have suspended supplies from the Cranswick farm.

"We were shocked to see this footage and have suspended the farm in question while a full investigation is carried out,” a spokesperson for Tesco said.

Asda welcomed Cranswick's "swift response" following the report.

"These allegations involve unacceptable treatment of animals, which has no place in our supply chain," a Sainsbury’s spokesperson said, adding that the company was investigating the matter with Cranswick.

(Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru and James Davey in London; Editing by Sonia Cheema)