Cranswick Share Discussion Threads

[cheshire man] 30/7/2022 14:49

Manchesrtereveningnews.co.uk 28 JUL 2022


Wildcat strike at Bury food firm as staff clash with management over pay and conditions
"People are tired, exhausted, and just want to have proper breaks - drink, rest"



Workers outside Cranswick Continental Foods today (July 28th). They are in dispute over conditions are the plant in Pilsworth, Bury.

A wildcat strike has been staged at a large Bury food company. Both today and yesterday scores of staff did not go into work at Cranswick Continental Foods in Pilsworth. Early today about 100 workers gathered at the gates of the plant where there are no unions.

They are in dispute with management over working conditions and pay. Several workers said an issue over not being allowed to take proper breaks when working on a production line with low temperatures was the crux of the stoppage, with claims that staff were "marshalled" when taking a break and ordered back to work if they took too long. But others also spoke of disquiet over low wages.

The company insists it provides adequate breaks above the statutory requirement but said it had been concerned that a small number of workers were abusing two ten-minute "comfort breaks", which still remain in place, in addition to a 30 minute lunch break.



There are 52 different nationalities who work at the firm and the stoppage is the first in its history. In 1983, the Continental Fine Foods import business was founded supplying olives, antipasti, whole charcuterie joints and salami to the wholesale market. The business was then acquired by Cranswick in 2001.

As the business expanded it outgrew its processing sites in Trafford Park and in 2018 moved to a brand new, £28m purpose built site in Roach Bank Road which employs 600. It has big name customers including Asda, and other major retailers.

One worker told the Manchester Evening News: "In the mornings I am giving a lift to some of my colleagues because they can't afford to come to work in their own car. We need better conditions, and to be treated like human beings and the wages have to go up - they have to do something about it. I am sure they are aware that the cost of living is too high.

"Maybe they have a nice bank account and earn a lot of money and don't realise for us workers it's not the same. We should take home after tax at least £330 to £350 a week to be okay. We are on the minimum wage working in hard, cold, conditions."


Some staff say they work in temperatures of eight to ten degrees.


Staff at Cranswick Continental Foods, Bury, have walked out over issues with pay and working conditions. (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Another worker said: "Mainly it is about the break times and the worker's conditions. Many of us are not allowed to have a proper break. We can have a glass of water then we are back down on the production line. The workers feel mentally and physically affected by this. We do have a half hour break which is taken but have two subsequent ten minute breaks which are not in the contract but are the custom of the company in which you can go into the canteen and have a drink then you have to go straight back.

"A lot of people feel that because of the targets they have to meet during that break time they need to rest, have a coffee. Generally they have marshalls now in the canteen and they send you back on the line. Workers are packing and cutting and preparing meats for supermarkets."

Yesterday the PM shift did not go to work and today many of the AM shift workers met at the gates and did not go in. "We are asking for a proper break where you can have a drink or a cigarette. Eight hours in that environment when they have increased the production timings it is a problem not having a rest. We even have line managers who have not gone in to work. Because it is a walk out it is done on an individual basis and we are promised there will be no retaliation," the worker added.


Staff from Cranswick Continental Foods in Pilsworth who are demanding long breaks when working in eight to ten degrees on a production line. (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
A colleague said: "People are tired, exhausted, and just want to have proper breaks - drink, rest. If you want to go to the toilet you can go, if you want a sip of water you have that but there is no proper break."

Site director at Cranswick, Mike Palmer said: "The welfare of our employees is out number one priority, which is why we allow all our colleagues a formal break as well as a discretionary comfort break during their shifts. We have recently reminded our colleagues of this policy, and a small number believe we are looking to remove this enhanced provision, this is not the case. We have met with our team today and are working with the team on their concerns and hope to have a resolution as soon as possible."

He added: "We really value our employees and offer enhanced benefits, good development, good training. We have a grading structure in place, which means people can join us and continue to improve their earnings as they develop their skills within the business." He said staff were surveyed regularly to gauge their views and to identify "hot topics".

[philanderer] 17/7/2022 10:45

This sausage maker has lost a quarter of its value – but with an 8pc dividend bump, we can’t ignore it


Questor share tip: low debt, high returns and growth potential mark this food producer out as a buy

[aesymnetes] 01/6/2022 15:07

Saw extension work on two of their sites, that i have not seen mentioned anywhere

[wad collector] 01/6/2022 14:59

A director has obv been reading IC and just spent £40k on them.

[wad collector] 29/5/2022 10:10

Prelims were strong last week and IC have just run an article tipping them as a BUY. They highlight the abattoir staff shortages, the reduction in pork prices as China restricted imports, the worry about African Swine Fever but it's pretax profits are up 5% due largely to poultry.

[pugugly] 12/5/2022 12:36

Daily Mail today. Impact on share price?

Check YOUR fridge for contaminated chicken: Now Tesco strips shelves after Salmonella outbreak at one of Britain's biggest suppliers sees thousands of sandwiches, wraps and salads disappear from Leon, Pret, Aldi and Sainsbury's

Salmonella was detected at Cranswick food processing plant in Hull during a 'routine internal inspection'
The factory on Humberside has been shut down and 'will remain closed until the investigations are complete'
Waitrose latest supermarket to recall 10 of its chicken sandwich and wrap lines as a precaution over bug
Sainsbury's recalls chicken sandwiches, wraps and cooked chicken amid fears they could be contaminated
Pret A Manger has removed all of the chicken items that are usually on its menu and got rid of labels
Have you bought one of the contaminated sandwiches or work at the factory? Email [e-mail]

[salpara111] 30/4/2022 12:59

Popped up on my radar due to the rather curious drop.
Can't see any solid reason for it, the stock has always traded on fairly punchy multiples so I guess any nervousness is going to see it hit.

[basingwerk] 29/4/2022 18:20

I suppose the slump in the price today was down to a) being at a high point b) this 'news' you mention from Peel Hunt? c) some dubious figs from PP MP etc. spooked some gigantic holders of CWK shares into selling up altogether each trying not to be left holding the baby, Is that the full story? did you see this PH downgrade? whaty does it say?

[basingwerk] 29/4/2022 17:56

Are you referring to this article:

hxxps://citywire.com/investment-trust-insider/news/peel-hunt-the-stock-market-impact-of-global-food-inflation/a2384934

Can one opinion have such a profound effect on the SP, over two weeks later?

[sspurt] 29/4/2022 15:09

Yup - plus a PH downgrade post poor figs from Pilgrims Pride (Moy Pk etc)

[wad collector] 29/4/2022 09:02

Sp dropping recently, presumably about the huge rise in animal food prices?

[km18] 15/2/2022 18:27

...from last year...

Cranswick is among the leaders in premium, fresh food products supply in the UK. The company operates 15 production facilities across the UK and more than 11 800 people. CWK has full control on their pig breeding and rearing activities, and their chicken operation is fully integrated. Strategy is focused on supplying high quality products, in line with the highest standards of the sector. Cranswick works not only with most UK grocery retailers, but also has good exposure to the “food-to-go” sector and significant exports. This year they have invested additional £12.7m in expansion projects. The company benefits from a well-diversified portfolio supplying various types of meats and high demand levels throughout the pandemic. Strong growth in revenue, channelling even bigger numbers in net profit makes the stock attractive.
Over the years the company proved its ability to generate cash with continuously rising CFO. The controlled amount of leverage and low levels of goodwill on the balance sheet, even in the presence of several acquisitions upon the realization of their blended growth approach, present a strong balance sheet. Last but not least, profitability has been rising, and long-term growth is further supported by company’s ambition to invest in its asset base. Latest trading update is creating more positive sentiment for the stock. Revenue was 9.6% above results from the same period in 2020, volumes were 7.7% up, and Far East export was “well ahead”. The outlook is still in line with expectations of the Board, but there is room for that to change as hospitality is now almost fully functioning and people are desperate to go out....from WealthOracleAM

[wad collector] 09/2/2022 09:05

It's a murky business indeed, but look at the number of people stuffing themselves in fast-food outlets, there are a lot of undiscerning consumers happy to race to the bottom.
Q3 results suggest it is profitable still.

[danvandan] 15/8/2021 17:27

I've got a feeling the 'frankenchickens' are coming home to roost here. Get ready for a boohoo type public revulsion reaction. One major holder is reducing. Maybe it'll be temporary, but it's likely that Morrisons will quickly cave and CWK might have to switch away from the fast growing broilers and adopt a less 'efficient' process for bringing chicken meat to British tables. Environmentalists and animal welfare groups will doubtless be taking a look at the pig-rearing practices too. The first chicken revelations a week or two back had no noticeable effect on the sp, but public awareness is building on this brand in a bad way. For now, I suspect we may have reached the top.

[philanderer] 02/6/2021 10:13

JEFFERIES RAISES CRANSWICK PRICE TARGET TO 4,370 (3,700) PENCE - 'HOLD'

[farnesbarnes] 12/2/2021 08:04

An advisory broker? Go execution only.

[miss womble] 11/2/2021 17:39

Not with Cwk but with many others. Not dealing when asked and dealing when not asked

[farnesbarnes] 11/2/2021 16:31

They're all pretty useless. ISA? SIPP? CFD?

How have iii failed you in relation to CWK?

[miss womble] 11/2/2021 16:18

Can anybody recommend better brokers than iii

[philanderer] 16/12/2020 13:48

'Food producer Cranswick hungry to devour pet food group IPN'

Cranswick is preparing to launch a share sale to fund the potential purchase of Wagg dog food, Sky News learns.

[philanderer] 02/12/2020 08:46

'Cranswick set for ‘substantial growth’, says Berenberg'


Cranswick (CRW) has enjoyed ‘exceptional’ trading and Berenberg says there is more growth potential for the food producer.

Analyst Ned Hammond retained his ‘buy’ recommendation and increased his target price from £38.50 to £40.00. The shares rose 2.5% to £35.28 yesterday.

The group’s first quarter update for 2020/21 ‘confirmed that it has made an excellent start to the year’, with 19% organic revenue growth, said Hammond.

‘Although we expect the rate of expansion to temper from here, we estimate substantial growth will be delivered in full-year 2020/21,’ said Hammond.

‘We believe investment will be needed for expansion to continue in future years, but we feel the company has the balance sheet strength to accommodate this.’

[jg88721] 17/8/2020 08:53

"Revenue in the 13 weeks to 27 June 2020 was 24.8 per cent per cent ahead of the same period last year. Excluding the contribution from acquisitions made in the prior year, revenue on a like-for-like basis was 19.2% higher."

Wow. Just wow. happy day for holders. GLA

[pugugly] 07/7/2020 20:07

Could well be a DEEP RED DAY tomorrow

Wombwell factory safety measures 'not fit for purpose'



OK Deaths were in April (Covid) but from tenor of BBC report with 10 new cases at the site one wonders on likely impact - Anyone closer able to comment?

[jg88721] 23/6/2020 10:01

another good result here. CWK just keeps delivering, and with significant expansion, plenty more to come I think. GLAH

[mjb2] 19/6/2020 11:18

With recent news that entire workforce of abattoir staff have been infected with Covid-19 and chicken processing plants shut down, is it unreasonable to suspect that the virus is being spread through raw meat as well? Has the government been aware of this earlier but has kept quiet to avoid panic? Think Mad Cow. After all, the thought is that it all started in animals in wet markets in China and has started up again.