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Cushman & Wakefield

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FY2010 Annual Report · Cushman & Wakefield
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R E P O R T   &   A C C O U N T S

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2010

quality products, outstanding performance

Cranswick was formed in the 1970’s by farmers in East Yorkshire to produce animal feed.

The  Company went on to the Stock Market in 1985 and since that time has evolved into a 

business that is highly focused on the food sector. Activities include the supply of fresh pork, 

gourmet sausages, charcuterie, cooked meats, sandwiches and traditional dry cured bacon.

F I N A N C I A l  H I g H l I g H T S

Turnover
(£m)

Profit before tax*
(£m)

Earnings per share*
(pence)

Dividends per share
(pence)

740.3

43.8

69.7

25.0

606.8

559.2

34.7

32.2

53.7

49.1

21.7

19.9

2008

2009

2010

2008

2009

2010

2008

2009

2010

2008

2009

2010

•  Turnover from continuing operations up 22 per cent to £740m 
•  Profit before tax from continuing operations up 26 per cent at £43.8m 
•  Increase of 30 per cent in earnings per share from continuing operations to 69.7p* 
•  Dividend up 15 per cent to 25.0p per share

*Before exceptional items.

 
C o n t e n t s

Chairman’s statement 

Review of activities 

Professional awards 

Group operating and financial review 

Business locations 

Group directors 

Directors 

Directors’ report 

Corporate governance statement 

Directors’ remuneration report 

Corporate social responsibility statement 

statement of directors’ responsibilities  

Report of the auditors 

Group income statement 

Group statement of comprehensive income 

Company statement of comprehensive income 

Group balance sheet 

Company balance sheet 

Group statement of cash flows 

Company statement of cash flows 

Group statement of changes in equity 

Company statement of changes in equity 

notes to the accounts 

Advisers 

shareholder information 

shareholder analysis 

Production facilities 

3

7

10

13

20

20

21

23

29

35

41

45

46

48

49

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

97

98

99

100

C h A i R mA n ’ s   s t A t e m e n t

i  am  pleased  to  report  to  shareholders  that  during  the  past  year  the  Company  has  continued  to 

progress  and  has  further  established  its  presence  in  the  UK  food  sector.  there  was  a  very  strong 

increase in turnover and the Company’s strategy to focus on food production was evidenced by the 

sale  of  the  pet  business  and  the  acquisition  of  the  pork  processing  activities  of  Bowes  of  norfolk 

(‘CCF  norfolk’).  shareholders  were  notified  of  these  transactions  previously.  in  addition  there  has 

again  been  significant  investment  in  the  Group’s  asset  base  to  enable  the  organic  growth  of  the 

business to be maintained.

Results

sales  for  the  year  increased  to  £740  million,  a  rise  of  

operating margin along with lower financing costs, resulting 

22 per cent compared to the previous year. organic growth 

from the strong cash flow of the business and lower interest  

represented 11 per cent of the increase and CCF norfolk 

contributed 11 per cent. there were very strong increases 

in certain product categories. sales of cooked meats rose by 

13 per cent, sausages by 23 per cent and bacon by 61 per 

cent which substantiates the decision to invest significantly 

in  these  categories  in  recent  years.  there  are  plans  for 

investment in certain areas and, in addition, the coming year 

will see completion of the investment project at the fresh 

rates, contributed to an increase in profit before taxation 

of  26  per  cent  to  £43.8  million.  earnings  per  share  rose 

30 per cent to 69.7p per share from 53.7p previously. the 

strong cash flow resulted in a reduction in net debt from 

£66.6  million  a  year  ago  to  £54.7  million  at  the  end  of 

march. the borrowings of the business are conservatively 

structured and interest was covered 21 times compared to 

10 times a year ago. there is further information on trading 

and finance in the Reviews by the Chief executive and Finance 

pork facility in hull. the provision of a high quality fixed 

asset base to meet the organic growth aspirations of the 

business in the most efficient way possible is a key strategic 

Director which follow.

Dividend

priority for the Board.

the  operating  margin  in  the  underlying  business  was  

comparable to that achieved in the previous year which is 

pleasing given the continued raw material cost inflation during 

the first six months. significant inflation was experienced 

the Board is proposing an increase in the final dividend of 

15.6 per cent to 17.0p per ordinary share. Along with the 

interim dividend of 8.0p per ordinary share paid in January 

2010 this makes a total for the year of 25.0p per ordinary 

share an increase of 15.2 per cent on last year’s 21.7p. the 

final dividend, if approved by shareholders, will be paid on 

in the prior year, continued into this year and peaked in the 

3 september 2010 to shareholders on the register at the 

summer. Prices then came back and more recently there 

close of business on 2 July 2010. shares will go ex-dividend 

have been modest increases leaving prices slightly below the 

on 30 June 2010. shareholders will again have the option 

peak of last summer. strong growth in sales and maintained  

to receive the dividend by way of scrip issue. 

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Richard Marginson

Outlook

it is with sadness that i report to shareholders the death 

the  Company  is  well  positioned  to  meet  the  increasing 

during  the  year  of  Richard  marginson.  Richard  was  one 

demand for UK pork products. the business has developed 

of the original 23 shareholders, a founder Director of the 

significant expertise in the supply chain, building on its origins 

Company and the first Chairman. he made an enormous 

in pig feed production and the rearing of pigs, and through 

contribution to the development of the business in those 

acquisitions, joint ventures and organic initiatives it now has 

early days and served as Chairman until retiring from the 

market leading positions in a number of categories.  the 

Board in 1991. on behalf of all at Cranswick we extend our 

past year has seen increased expenditure by the consumer 

sympathy to Richard’s wife Gladys and family.

on products such as air-dried bacon, premium sausages, 

Board

steven esom was appointed as a non executive Director 

during the second half of the year. steven has a wealth of 

experience within the food sector including twelve years at 

Waitrose where he was managing Director and at marks & 

spencer where he was executive Director of Food. 

Staff

Cranswick is operated on a decentralised basis with a number 

of product categories each with its own management team. 

the  continued  successful  growth  of  the  Company  is  a 

reflection of their expertise and commitment and on behalf 

of the Board i would like to thank them and their colleagues 

for their contribution in driving the business forward.

Profit before tax
1990-2010
(£m)

fresh pork and ham and this looks set to continue as the 

value and versatility of pork, the ‘alternative white meat’, 

are increasingly appreciated. With experienced management 

throughout the Group and a well invested asset base the 

Board is confident in the successful long term development 

of the business and is encouraged by the positive start made 

in the current financial year. 

Martin Davey 
Chairman

24 may 2010

43.8

34.7

32.7 33.0

31.1

21.2 21.6

19.8

17.5

11.7

9.3

7.1

1.4

1.7

0.9

2.2

2.3

3.0

3.1

5.0

4.0

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

00

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

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R e v i e W  o F A C t i v i t i e s

BY the C hieF e XeCUtive, BeRnARD ho GGARth

it is very satisfying to report continued growth in sales. total external sales increased by 22 per cent to 

£740 million. Underlying sales grew by 11 per cent after stripping out the contribution from the CCF 

norfolk fresh pork business which was acquired during the year. internal sales within the Group also 

grew strongly to £123 million. internal sales are generated by the supply to the further processing 

sites of primal fresh pork for conversion into sausages and air-dried bacon, and fresh pork legs to be 

cured, cooked and processed into ham products.

During the second half of the year the pig price and the 

Air-dried bacon has created a new premium category in the 

price  of  most  other  proteins  eased  from  the  highs  seen 

market. this is still a developing and immature category and 

earlier in the year. however, prices are now firming again 

new business wins coupled with growth of existing accounts, 

and with demand from the major UK grocery retailers for 

saw sales increase by 61 per cent in the year.

British pork products increasing, the requirement for British 

pig meat is expected to remain strong. the continued price 

competitiveness of pork against the other major proteins 

including beef and lamb should also ensure that demand for 

pork remains strong and that prices remain relatively firm. 

the continuing volatility of sterling against the euro will be 

one of the major factors in the competitiveness of imported 

pig meat going forward.

the extension of the Lazenby’s sausage factory in hull on land 

purchased adjacent to the existing site is nearing completion. 

sales have grown strongly over the five years since the new 

factory was completed, and during the year grew by a further 

23 per cent. the extension which includes new despatch 

facilities is essential to meet peak volume requirements during 

the barbecue season and at Christmas. the new extended 

facility will provide a maximum weekly capacity of 700 tonnes, 

During the year the Board has approved several large capital 

an increase of 50 per cent. Licensed brands including ‘the 

projects to ensure that the Group continues to have sufficient 

Black Farmer’ and ‘Weight Watchers’ have continued to grow 

headroom in production capacity to facilitate future growth. 

strongly, helped by increased listings. it is pleasing to see 

it is vital that the Company remains at the forefront of the 

that even in the current economic climate many consumers 

sector with some of the best invested and efficient plants in 

are continuing to trade up in the sausage category, looking 

the UK pork industry, so maintaining the Group’s competitive 

for high meat content products with good flavour profiles 

edge going forward.

and provenance. these are products which are trusted to 

one such project is the planned investment to expand the 

air-dried bacon facility at sherburn. the factory, which was 

commissioned just over two years ago, is already hitting 

capacity during peaks in seasonal demand. investment in 

the latest generation of high speed slicers, together with 

doubling of throughput by the commissioning of the second 

adjacent unit, will ensure the business is well placed to meet 

growing demand. 

provide a quality, simple, home meal solution, either for a 

family meal, or a special dining-in occasion. trading up and 

buying the best products for home consumption still appears 

to be a consideration for many families as they cut back on 

expenditure and dining out occasions become less frequent. 

this is not to say that ‘red label’ shoppers are any less active; 

they are still price focused and are quite prepared to switch 

between retailers to find the best value deals.

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the largest project the Group has undertaken to date is 

capacity increased by 50 per cent. specialist boning lines 

the redevelopment of the primary pork processing facility 

have  been  added  to  simplify  the  butchery  process  and 

at the Preston site near  hull. When completed later this 

increase efficiency and productivity. management has been 

year, it will lift production capacity at the site by 50 per 

strengthened and it is pleasing to report the good progress 

cent. this is an essential development for several reasons. 

being made in integrating the norfolk site with the Group’s 

the plant is situated in the middle of the largest pig rearing 

existing fresh pork operations.

area in the UK and with other factories in the region now 

processing fewer animals than previously, the Preston site 

will be providing a first class local service to the area’s pig 

farming community. this also helps to reduce ‘food miles’ 

which is a high priority for the industry. this, together with 

the  growing  requirement  for  British  pork,  as  mentioned 

earlier, meant it was imperative that the business was able 

to satisfy the increasing demand from retail customers and 

also ensure the shortest journeys for contracted livestock. the 

continued development of specialist pig breeds for premium 

lines has helped the business become the lead supplier of 

fresh pork to the Group’s largest customer. in tandem with 

Cooked meat sales were strong with growth of 13 per cent. 

With sales to most of the multiple retailers it is vital that 

new product development, which is essential in building 

new accounts, is of the highest standard. this programme 

includes the development of an integrated supply chain by 

entering into longer term supply agreements with certain 

key pig producers which gives them security to develop with 

Cranswick. the supply of specific standards of British pork 

legs including ‘Freedom Foods’ and ‘outdoor Reared’ is of 

increasing importance to the Group’s customers. this, coupled 

with work on the incorporation of certain rare breeds into 

breeding programmes, forms part of the ongoing research 

the investment at Preston the norfolk facility is also being 

upgraded. investment to date has again seen production 

into eating quality. 

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The sandwich category had a successful year and whilst 

A new and exciting project is the planned launch of a range 

sales were down 1 per cent for the year as a whole, they 

of charcuterie products under the ‘Jamie Oliver’ brand in the 

recovered strongly and were ahead of the prior year for the 

autumn. The range will also include fresh pasta, sausage, 

second half, with profitability also much improved. Sales to 

fresh pork and bacon products. Jamie is well respected by 

airline operators continued to grow, benefitting from some 

the  public  for  his  simple  approach  to  food  and  cooking 

global agreements and contracts. Frozen solutions for retail 

and the success of his television series and book sales bear 

and foodservice customers now account for more than 5 

testament to this. This new range has fantastic potential 

per cent of sales with a range of frozen sandwich platters 

to drive sales across all categories with many of the major 

launched  with  a  retail  customer  at  Christmas.  Licensee 

grocery retailers.

agreements with the ‘Chicago Town Pizza’ and ‘Reggae, 

Reggae’  brands  will  help  drive  sales  going  forward.  The 

sandwich filling category is very much a focus too and recently 

there have been business wins in the convenience sector 

with the new fillings range. The trading environment now 

looks much healthier, with longer term contracts secured 

and new accounts growing strongly.

Continental products performed well during the year with sales 

up 8 per cent. ‘Round pound’ deals with retailer customers 

using the ‘Premier Deli’ brand drove sales exceptionally well 

throughout the year. There have been other notable successes 

during the year too, including sales of fresh olives and antipasti. 

Following investment in a new production area and specialist 

equipment at the Guinness Circle site in Manchester, olive 

sales grew by over 50 per cent. The business is now able to 

produce mixed packs and marinated products. The choice 

and availability of Mediterranean products is exceptional at 

a time when the consumer’s interest in this style of food is 

so high. New retail customers have been brought on board 

and business with existing customers has been increased 

These  are  exciting  times  for  the  Company.  The  business 

through the addition of olives and Italian cheeses to the 

continues to grow and there are still many opportunities to 

category.  The  Company  was  also  first  to  market  with  a 

be developed. Cranswick is one of the best invested meat 

premium offering of ‘soft slice’ charcuterie products. This 

based food producers in the UK and this, coupled with the 

range is produced without the need to deep chill prior to 

ongoing work on innovation, efficiency, service levels and, 

slicing and the impact of this process on eating quality and 

most  importantly,  with  the  quality  of  the  people  in  the 

flavour has been exceptional.

businesses, should keep Cranswick as the supplier of choice 

for its customers.

Bernard Hoggarth 
Chief Executive

24 May 2010

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A W A R D s  A n D   R e C o G n i t i o n

2010

Best Pork Product  
Best Red Meat Product 
Richard Woodall Dry Cured Bacon

Meat Management Awards 

2010  Winner 

2009  Winner 

Best Pork Product and Best Red Meat Product 
Richard Woodall Dry Cured Bacon
Manufacturer of the Year

Grocer Own Label Excellence Award

2010 

Gold 

Silver 

2009  Winner 

Winner 

Winner 

Meat Joints Category
sainsbury’s taste the Difference British Ultimate outdoor Reared  
Dry Cured Unsmoked Gammon Joint
Chilled Savoury Category
sainsbury’s taste the Difference British Pork Cocktail sausages  
Wrapped in a Butter Puff Pastry
Delicatessen Meat Category
sainsbury’s taste the Difference traditional spiced ham
Bacon & Sausage Category
morrison’s the Best Lightly oak smoked sweetcure Rindless Back  
Bacon
Meat & Poultry Grocer Own Label Category
Applewood smoked Bacon

Quality Food Awards

2009  Winner 

Fresh Meat Game and Poultry Award
sainsbury’s taste the Difference 12 British Ultimate Chipolatas

BPEX - Bacon Connoisseur’s Week

2010 

2010  Winner 

2010  Winner 

Overall Winner
m&s outdoor Bred British smoked Dry Cured streaky Bacon

Best retailer ‘Smoked’ category
m&s outdoor Bred British smoked Dry Cured streaky Bacon

Best new flavour Category
m&s outdoor Bred British Demerara sweet Cure Back Bacon 

BPEX Foodservice Pork Product of the Year Competiton

2008 

Gold 

Gold 

Gold 

Best Cured Product
Jack scaife hand Cured, Air Dried Gammon steak
Best Fresh Pork Cut
outdoor Reared hampshire Breed thick Cut Pork Chops
Best Pork Ready Meal
ham shanks in Dijonnaise sauce

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Silver 

2007 

Gold 

Gold 

Silver 

Silver 

Best Innovative Pork Product
smokey Flavour maple BBQ Ribs
Best Innovative Pork Product
Pork shanks
Best Cured Product
muscavado sweetcure streaky Bacon
Best Cured Product
muscavado sweetcure Back Bacon
Best Fresh Pork Cut
hampshire outdoor Reared Rib Roast

Yorkshire Company of the Year 2007

AWA RDS

YORKSHIRE POST

2007  Winner 

Yorkshire Business Enterprise Award

Food Awards 2006

2006  Winner 

Best Packaging for a Product
sainsbury’s taste the Difference Dry Cured sweet Cure Back Bacon

British Turkey Awards

2006  Winner 

Best Ready to Eat Product Award
sainsbury’s taste the Difference Free Range turkey Breast

Meat and Poultry News Awards

2009  Winner 

2005  Winner 

Producer of the Year Award
Cranswick plc supplier - thomas Dent of Penrith in Cumbria
Manufacturer of the Year

Super Meat Awards

2007  Winner 

Finalist 

Finalist 

Finalist 

2005 

Finalist 

Best Pork or Bacon Product
truly irresistible oak smoked Dry Cured Bacon
Best Pork or Bacon Product
sainsbury’s taste the Difference slow Cooked outdoor Reared  
British Pork Belly
Best Sausage Product
sainsbury’s taste the Difference British Pork and Caramalised Red  
onion sausages
Best Organic Product
sainsbury’s so organic Dry Cured British Bacon
Best Sausage Product
Aberdeen Angus Beef sausage

Meat Industry Awards

2006  Winner 

Sausage of the Year
sainsbury‘s ‘Pancetta & Parmesan’  sausage

Guild of Fine Food Retailers ‘Great Taste’ Awards

2008 
2005 

Gold 
Gold 
Silver 
Silver 
Bronze 

Taste the Difference Ultimate Oak Smoked Bacon
Smoked Streaky Bacon
Unsmoked Streaky Bacon
Chilli and Coriander Sausage
Pork Sausage

British Sandwich Association Awards

2005  Winner 
Finalist 

En-Route Retailer of the Year Category
British Sandwich Designer of the Year

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G R o U P   o P e R A t i n G   A n D   
F i n A n C iA L   R e v i e W

nAtURe,  oBJeCtives  AnD  st RAteGies

Business objectives

The Group’s business

Following the sale of the pet activities on 24 April 2009, the 

Group’s operations are focused entirely on the production 

it is the Board’s view that meeting the following business 

objectives is key to achieving the financial and non-financial 

measures  that  increase  value  to  shareholders  and  other 

and supply of food products. the Company’s strategy to 

stakeholders:

focus  on  food  production  was  further  evidenced  by  the 

•	

Delivering innovative, quality products to our customers

acquisition of the pork processing activities of Bowes of 

•	

maintaining the highest level of service to our customers

norfolk Limited, now renamed ‘CCF norfolk’, on 24 June 

2009. Both transactions are referred to in more detail below. 

the performance of the business in the year is discussed in 

the Review of Activities. the business operates entirely in 

•	

improving operational efficiency

•	

securing employee health and safety

•	

maximising returns on investment

the UK, although a small proportion of sales are exported. 

Business strategies

it produces a range of high quality,  predominantly fresh 

products including fresh pork, sausages, bacon and cooked 

meats for sale to the high street food retailers. it also supplies 

a range of pre-sliced, pre-packaged charcuterie products for 

sale into these same customers, together with a range of 

pre-packed sandwiches predominantly for sale into food service 

the Group’s market strategy is to focus primarily on the 

growing quality end of the markets in which it operates, to 

establish meaningful and long-lasting relationships with its 

major customers by a combination of product development 

and high service levels and to invest in quality facilities and 

the latest equipment to enable it to operate as efficiently 

outlets. the markets in which the food business operates are 

as possible. operational management is given responsibility 

competitive both in terms of pricing from fellow suppliers and 

for developing plans to deliver the objectives of the Group 

the retail environment in general. the UK food retail market 

with particular emphasis on growing sales through product 

is known to be amongst the most competitive in the world. 

innovation and high service levels, improving operational 

Despite this, Cranswick has a long record of increasing sales 

efficiency and securing employee health and safety.  the 

and profits through a combination of investing in modern 

role of the Board in achieving Group objectives is to support 

efficient factories, developing a range of quality products 

operational management and to identify suitable acquisitions 

and making sound acquisitions. the businesses are under 

that will take the Group into new and growing areas of the 

the control of stable, experienced and talented operational 

market, will open up new customer relationships to the Group 

management teams supported by a skilled workforce. 

or will consolidate existing market positions.

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CURRent  AnD  FUtURe  DeveLoPment  
AnD P eRFoRmAnCe

Profit before tax

Business development and 
performance

operating profit from 

continuing operations

net finance costs 

the key features of the year have been the record profit 

Profit from continuing 

2010 

£m

45.9

(2.1)

2009 

£m

38.4

(3.7)

before tax for the Group and the continuing strong cash 

generation from operating activities. the record of unbroken 

growth in profits now goes back more than 20 years. the 

trading  environment  in  which  we  operate  has  remained 

challenging; in particular we experienced delays in passing 

on increases in raw material costs through the first half of 

the year as the input cost inflation experienced in the prior 

year continued with prices peaking in the summer. Prices 

subsequently eased slightly but more recently have moved 

operations before tax

43.8

34.7

the increase in operating profit from continuing operations 

is attributable to a combination of strong sales growth and 

improved operational efficiency. the reduction in net finance 

costs was as a result of the strong cash flow and the full 

year benefit of the reduction in UK interest rates seen in the 

latter part of the previous financial year.

Discontinued operations

moderately higher. the Group has experienced continuing 

on 24 April 2009 the Board announced that the pet division 

competitor pressure although the efficiencies achieved as 

activities had been sold, following a competitive process, to 

extra volumes are put through our factories have mitigated 

a management buyout team. Accordingly the results of the 

to some extent against those pressures.

pet division have been reported as discontinued at 31 march 

Revenue

Revenue from continuing 

2010 

£m

2009 

£m

2010 and 31 march 2009. the pet business produced a range 

of bird and small animal food for sale into specialist pet and 

more general retail outlets, as well as selling tropical marine 

operations

740.3

606.8

fish and aquatic products largely into specialist retailers both 

in the UK and abroad. the sale proceeds of £18.4 million 

the  Group’s  revenue  from  continuing  operations  has  

were received in cash.

increased by 22 per cent, of which 11 per cent was organic, 

in the four week period prior to its sale, the pet division 

with  the  balance  from  CCF  norfolk.  sales  of  fresh  pork  

generated a profit before tax of £30,000 (year ended 31 

have grown by 48 per cent, reflecting the contribution of 

march 2009 - £2,038,000 before an impairment charge of 

CCF  norfolk,  sausages  by  23  per  cent,  bacon  by  61  per 

£2,544,000). turnover for the same period was £3.6 million 

cent, cooked meats by 13 per cent and charcuterie by 8 per 

(year ended 31 march 2009 - £46.5 million).

cent whilst sandwich sales which, as anticipated, recovered 

strongly in the second half of the year, were 1 per cent lower. 

Revenue in the income statement excludes the activities of 

the pet business, since under iFRs the results of discontinued 

operations are disclosed as a single line item at the foot of 

the income statement.

Acquisition of Bowes of  
Norfolk Limited

on 24 June 2009, after receiving clearance from the UK 

Competition Authorities, the Company acquired the whole 

of  the  issued  share  capital  of  Bowes  of  norfolk  Limited  

(CCF norfolk) for a net cash consideration, before costs, of 

£10.5 million. CCF norfolk is a significant operator in the pork 

processing sector and the acquisition reinforces Cranswick’s 

position in that industry.

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Business KPIs

Future development

the  Board  has  assessed  that  the  following  KPis  are  the 

the Group will continue to seek to increase sales through a 

most effective measures of progress towards achieving the 

combination of product development with existing customers 

Group’s objectives:

•	

 organic sales growth – year on year increase in  

sales revenue excluding the impact of acquisitions  

and disposals

•	

 Gross margin – gross profit as a percentage of  

sales revenue

•	

 operating margin – operating profit as a percentage  

of sales revenue

and business gains with new ones. the standard of the Group’s 

factories will be maintained at the highest level and further 

suitable acquisition opportunities will be pursued.

ResoURCes, RisKs AnD ReLAtionshiPs 

Resources

the Group aims to safeguard the assets that give it competitive 

advantage,  being  its  reputation  for  product  innovation, 

•	

 Free cash flow – cash generated from operations  

product quality, food safety and service levels; its modern 

less tax and interest paid

well-equipped factories; its operational management and 

Performance against KPIs

2010

2009

its skilled workforce.

Reputation

organic sales growth 

(continuing)

11.2%

9.2%

it is the responsibility of local operational management assisted 

Gross margin (continuing)

13.1%  

14.1%

by their own product development team, Group technical 

operating margin 

(continuing) 

Free cash flow

6.2%

6.3%

£29.6m  

£41.2m

and Group health & safety to maintain and where possible 

enhance  the  Group’s  reputation  for  product  innovation, 

product quality, food safety and service levels. 

the Company has seen substantial organic sales growth in 

Factories

the underlying business of 11.2 per cent over the past year 

the Group has some of the best-invested, modern facilities 

driven by its expertise in product development, service levels, 

in the industry, having invested £94 million over the past 

quality and value with further sales growth anticipated in 

five years, and it intends to continue investing to ensure that 

the next twelve months. CCF norfolk contributed a further 

it maintains its competitive edge. 

10.8 per cent of sales growth in the period following its 

acquisition on 24 June 2009. Gross margin including the 

Employees

contribution from CCF norfolk was 13.1 per cent of sales 

compared to 14.1 per cent a year ago. excluding CCF norfolk, 

gross margin at 13.9 per cent was only slightly below the prior 

year level, despite the continued raw material cost inflation 

experienced during the first half of the year as the business 

achieved improved operating efficiencies. operating margin 

on the same basis at 6.7 per cent was 0.4 per cent higher. 

margins  were  lower  in  the  newly  acquired  CCF  norfolk 

business, but this is being addressed through a combination of 

capital investment and operational efficiency improvements. 

Principal cash flows are discussed under financial position 

and performance, below.

the Group aims to recruit, train and retain employees who are 

valued for their contribution and able to fulfil their potential 

in meeting the business objectives of their operating unit. 

the Group companies each have their strategies for retaining 

staff,  including  the  provision  of  competitive  terms  and 

conditions, share options and a stimulating and challenging 

working environment. the Group has had a savings-related 

share option scheme in place for over 10 years, which is open 

to all employees with 2 years’ service and has proved very 

successful with many staff now also shareholders.

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Principal risks and uncertainties

Raw  material  prices  –  the  major  exposure  the  Group 

the Group annually carries out a formal exercise to identify 

and assess the impact of risks on its businesses and the 

exercise has recently been reviewed.

the more significant risks and uncertainties faced by the 

Group, in line with the rest of the food production sector, 

has to raw material price fluctuations is pig meat, part of 

which is as a result of currency movements. Purchasing of 

pigs and pig meat is co-ordinated centrally and whilst the 

Company  does  not  generally  seek  to  hedge  against  pig 

price  movements  because  of  the  downside  risk,  longer 

term contracts have been negotiated in certain instances 

are identified as competition and customer retention, food 

with key pig suppliers.

safety,  business  continuity,  environmental  matters,  raw 

material prices and legislation. these are discussed in more 

detail below.

Competition and customer retention – the Company 

manages the risk of operating in a consolidated sector by 

maintaining strong customer relationships. this process is 

Legislation - Legislation in all the markets we serve changes 

on a regular basis, and interpretation of existing laws can also 

change to create ever tightening standards, often requiring 

additional human resources and the provision of new assets 

and systems. We are committed to respond positively to new 

regulation and ensure that our views are expressed during 

supported by delivering high levels of service and quality  

consultation exercises. 

and  by  continued  focus  on  product  development  and  

technical innovation.

Food  safety  –  the  risk  of  food  scares  is  mitigated  by 

FinAnCiAL P osition A nD 
PeRFoR mAnCe

ensuring that all raw materials are traceable to source and 

Exceptional items

that manufacturing, storage and distribution systems are 

continually  monitored  by  experienced  and  well  qualified 

site based and Group technical teams. 

the exceptional charge of £6.1 million in 2009 related to a 

one-off, non-cash, exceptional deferred tax charge arising 

from a change in UK corporation tax legislation in the Finance 

Business continuity – the Group faces the risk of incidents 

Act 2008 to phase out industrial Buildings Allowances and 

such as a major fire, which may result in significant and 

is referred to in more detail below.

prolonged  disruption  to  its  operating  facilities.  Business 

Finance costs

continuity plans are in place across the Group’s manufacturing 

Finance costs of £2.1 million (2009 - £3.7 million) were lower 

than the previous year reflecting the strong cash generation in 

the year and the full year benefit of the reduction in UK interest 

rates seen in the second half of the last financial year.

facilities and appropriate insurance cover is in place to mitigate 

any  financial  loss.  Business  continuity  has  been  further 

enhanced by the acquisition of a second pork processing 

site in norfolk during the year.

Environmental matters – the Directors believe that good 

environmental  practices  support  the  Board’s  strategy  by 

enhancing the reputation of the Group, the efficiency of 

production and the quality of products. the industry is subject 

to a range of UK and eU legislation. environmental standards 

are being tightened on a regular basis and require increasing 

levels of investment. Compliance imposes costs and prolonged 

failure to comply could materially affect the Group’s ability to 

operate. Further details of these initiatives are set out in the 

Group’s Corporate social Responsibility report and on the 

Group’s website under the ‘Greenthinking’ banner.

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Taxation

Cash flow

the tax charge as a percentage of profit from continuing 

the Group has continued to generate strong operational 

operations before taxation was 25.8 per cent in the current year 

cash flows. Cash generated from operating activities was 

and 28.7 per cent in 2009 excluding the one-off exceptional 

£32.2 million (2009 - £44.8 million) with higher Group profit 

deferred tax charge of £6.1 million. this exceptional charge 

offset by higher tax payments and an increase in working 

had no impact on the cash flow of the business during the 

capital; a significant part of which was attributable to the 

prior year and represented the additional tax payable over 

newly acquired CCF  norfolk. the net cash outflow from 

the twenty five year period the allowances would have been 

investing activities of £11.8 million reflects capital additions, 

available to the Group. the standard rate of UK Corporation 

net of fixed asset sale proceeds, of £19.9 million, and the 

tax was 28 per cent for both 2010 and 2009. the lower than 

net inflow from acquisitions and disposals of £8.1m. the 

standard rate of tax in the current year primarily relates to 

previous year’s outflow was £20.7 million and comprised 

prior year deferred tax adjustments and should not therefore 

entirely of capital additions, net of fixed asset sale proceeds, 

be interpreted as an ongoing feature. in addition the Group 

of £20.7m. the £8.4 million of net cash used in financing 

benefits  from  tax  amounts  taken  directly  to  equity  and 

activities in 2010 is largely due to interest paid of £2.7 million, 

included in the Group statement of Comprehensive income 

dividends paid of £8.8 million and proceeds from issue of 

and Group statement of Changes in equity.

share capital of £2.9 million. the prior year cash outflow 

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share from continuing operations, and 

before the exceptional deferred tax charge in the prior year, 

increased by 30 per cent to 69.7 pence. the average number 

of shares in issue was 46,534,000 (2009 – 46,099,000).

from financing of £24.4 million was largely due to interest 

paid of £3.6 million, dividends paid of £8.8 million, issue 

costs  of  long  term  borrowings  of  £1.3  million  and  net 

repayment of borrowings of £11.2 million. the overall result 

is a net increase in cash and cash equivalents of £12.0 million  

(2009 – decrease of £0.3 million).

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Net debt

net debt reduced by £11.9 million to £54.7 million (2009 - £66.6 

Distributions, capital raising  
and share repurchases

million) at the year end, resulting from strong operating cash flows 

the  proposed  final  dividend  for  2010  together  with  the 

and the net cash inflow from acquisitions and disposals.

interim  paid  in  January  2010  amount  to  25.0  pence  per 

Pensions

share which is 15 per cent higher than the previous year. 

the increase in the share capital of the Group comprises 

the Company operates a number of defined contribution 

504,196 of share options exercised during the year, 265,913 

schemes,  whereby  contributions  are  made  to  schemes 

in respect of scrip dividends and 100,000 shares allotted to 

operated by major insurance companies. Contributions to 

the Cranswick plc employee Benefit trust. there were no 

these schemes are determined as a percentage of employees’ 

share repurchases during the year.

basic salary. CCF norfolk operates a defined benefit scheme 

which has been closed to further accrual since 2004. Under 

international Accounting standard (iAs) 19, the deficit at the 

date of acquisition was £5.8 million and this had reduced to 

tReAsURY PoLiC ies

Functional currency

£5.4 million at 31 march 2010. the present value of funded 

the functional currency of all Group undertakings is sterling. 

obligations was £17.1 million and the fair value of plan assets 

Foreign currency risk

was £11.8 million.

Capital structure

the major foreign exchange risk facing the Group is in the 

purchasing  of  charcuterie  products.  the  major  currency 

the primary objective of the Group’s capital management is 

involved  is  the  euro.  the  policy  of  the  Group  is  to  seek 

to ensure that it maintains a strong credit rating and healthy 

to mitigate the impact of this risk by taking out forward 

capital ratios in order to support its business and maximise 

contracts with UK banks for up to 12 months ahead and for 

value for shareholders and other stakeholders.

the Group regards its shareholders’ equity as its capital and 

manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it 

in light of changes in economic conditions. to maintain or 

adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the dividend 

payment to shareholders, return capital to shareholders or 

amounts that commence at approximately 25 per cent of 

the requirement and move progressively towards full cover. 

At least 2 members of the main Board attend the monthly 

meetings of the subsidiary Board at which the key decisions 

on currency cover are taken.

Interest rate risk 

issue new shares. no changes were made in the objectives, 

the Group’s policy is to manage its cost of borrowing using 

policies or processes during the years ended 31 march 2010 

a  mix  of  fixed  and  variable  rate  debt.  Whilst  fixed  rate 

and 31 march 2009. 

the Group’s capital structure is as follows:

net debt

Cranswick plc shareholders’ 

equity

Capital employed

2010 

£m

54.7

193.6

248.3

2009 

£m

66.6

166.5

233.1

interest bearing debt is not exposed to cash flow interest 

rate risk, there is no opportunity for the Group to enjoy a 

reduction in borrowing costs in markets where rates are 

falling. in addition, the fair value risk inherent in fixed rate 

borrowing means that the Group is exposed to unplanned 

costs should debt be restructured or repaid early as part of 

the liquidity management process. in contrast, whilst floating 

rate borrowings are not exposed to changes in fair value, the 

Group is exposed to cash flow risk as costs increase if market 

rates rise. Cover was implemented by taking out an interest 

rate swap agreement with three UK banks on the amortising 

portion (£35 million) of the medium term loan drawn down  

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GoinG C onCeRn

when the Group renewed its credit facilities in December 

the Group’s business activities, together with the factors 

2008. this is being repaid at the rate of £2.5 million every 

likely to affect its future development, performance and 

3 months from march 2009 to september 2011, with the 

position are set out in the Review of Activities. the financial 

balance of £7.5 million repayable in December 2011. the 

position of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity position and 

hedging policy is reviewed from time to time as circumstances 

borrowing facilities are described above, as are the Group’s 

change. the monitoring of interest rate risk is handled entirely 

objectives, policies and processes for managing its capital; its 

at head office, based on the monthly consolidation of cash 

financial risk management objectives; details of its financial 

flow projections and the daily borrowings position.

instruments and hedging activities; and its exposure to credit 

Credit risk

risk and liquidity risk.

Practically all sales are made on credit terms, the majority of 

the Group has considerable financial resources together 

which are to the major UK food retailers. overdue accounts 

with  strong  trading  relationships  with  its  key  customers 

are reviewed at the monthly Board meetings of the operations. 

and  suppliers.  As  a  consequence,  the  Directors  believe 

the incidence of bad debts is low. For all major customers, 

that  the  Group  is  well  placed  to  manage  its  business  

credit  terms  are  agreed  by  negotiation  and  for  all  other 

risk successfully.

customers,  credit  terms  are  set  by  reference  to  external 

credit agencies. every attempt is made to resist advance 

payments to suppliers for goods and services; where this 

proves impossible, arrangements are put in place, where 

practical, to guarantee the repayment of the monies in the 

event of default.

Liquidity risk

After  making  enquiries,  the  Directors  have  a  reasonable 

expectation  that  the  Group  has  adequate  resources  to 

continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. 

For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern 

basis in preparing the financial statements.

On behalf of the Board

the Group has historically been very cash generative. the 

bank position for each operation is monitored on a daily 

basis and capital expenditure is approved at the monthly 

Board  meeting  of  each  operation  at  which  at  least  two 

Mark Bottomley 
Finance Director

members of the main Board are present and reported at the 

24 may 2010

subsequent monthly main Board meeting. major projects are 

approved by the main Board. each operation has access to 

the Group’s overdraft facility and all term debt is arranged 

centrally. the facilities currently available to the Group are 

a term loan of £35.0 million (£20.0 million of which was 

drawn down during the year) repayable in December 2011, 

an amortising loan facility of £25.0 million repayable in seven 

quarterly instalments of £2.5 million, with a final repayment 

of £7.5 million in December 2011, a revolving credit facility 

of £30.0 million and an overdraft facility of £20.0 million.  

Unutilised facilities at 31 march 2010 were £54.0 million 

(2009 - £53.0 million).

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B U s i n e s s  L o C A t i o n s

SHERBURN
IN ELMET

MANCHESTER

KINGSTON-
UPON-HULL

BARNSLEY

DEESIDE

DENBIGH

ATHERSTONE

NORFOLK

MILTON KEYNES

G R o U P   Di R e C t oR s

Fresh Pork

Neil Willis

James Pontone

Stuart Kelman

Chris Aldersley

Sandwiches

Tony Cleaver

Paul Nicholson

Food Central

Jim Brisby

Malcolm Windeatt

Simon Ravenscroft

Andrew Caines

Nick Anderson  

Charcuterie

Rollo Thompson 

Cooked Meats

Nick Tranfield

Paul Gartside

Andy Jenkins

Clive Stephens

Bacon & Sausage

Linda Watkin

Bill Crossland

Daniel Nolan

D i R e C t oR s

Executive Directors

Non-Executive Directors

+ Martin Davey, Chairman

+†* John Worby

martin qualified as a chartered accountant with Pannell Kerr 

John is a chartered accountant with many years experience 

Forster. he joined Cranswick and became Finance Director 

in the food industry. John is currently Group Finance Director 

in 1985. he was appointed Chief executive in 1988 and 

of Genus plc having previously worked for Uniq plc (formerly 

became Chairman on 26 July 2004. 

Unigate PLC) from 1978 until 2002, in various roles including 

Bernard Hoggarth, Chief Executive 

Bernard holds a national Diploma in Agriculture from the 

norfolk College of Agriculture. he joined Cranswick in 1978,  

focusing on the agribusiness activity before becoming involved 

in  the  development  of  the  food  manufacturing  business 

Group  Finance  Director  and  Deputy  Chairman.  he  was 

appointed a non-executive Director of Cranswick plc on 

1  August  2005  and  is  senior  independent  Director  and 

Chairman  of  the  Audit  Committee.  John  is  also  a  non-

executive Director of smiths news plc.

during the 1990s. he was appointed a Director in 1988 and 

+†* Patrick Farnsworth

Chief executive in 2004.

Patrick has many years experience in the food industry, having 

Adam Couch

Adam joined the operational side of the fresh pork business 

of Cranswick in 1991 after graduating with a finance and 

accountancy  degree  from  the  University  in  hull.  he  was 

appointed a Director in 2003 and is currently  managing 

Director of the Fresh Pork operations. Adam is also a committee 

worked for William Jackson & son Limited, a hull based 

private company, since 1965, where he was Joint Group 

managing Director from 1995 until his retirement in 2005. 

he was appointed a non-executive Director of Cranswick plc 

on 1 August 2004 and was the senior independent Director 

until 1 August 2005. 

member of the British Pig executive a position he has held 

+†* Steven Esom

since 2005.

steven  joined  Cranswick  as  a  non-executive  Director 

Mark Bottomley, Finance Director

mark is a chartered accountant, qualifying with Binder hamlyn. 

he joined Cranswick as Group Financial Controller in January 

2008 and was appointed Finance Director in June 2009. he 

has several years experience in the food production sector 

where he has held a variety of senior finance roles.

on 12 november 2009. he has held a number of senior 

positions within the food sector including executive Director 

of Food at marks & spencer plc which followed 12 years 

at Waitrose, the last 5 years of which he was managing 

Director. Until June 2009 he was a non-executive Director 

of Carphone Warehouse plc. he is currently an operating 

Partner  of  Langholm  Capital,  non-executive  Chairman 

of  Barts  spices  and  a  non-executive  Director  of  tyrells  

investments Limited.

*  member of Remuneration Committee 

†  member of Audit Committee 

+  member of nomination Committee

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D i R e C t oR s ’   R e P oR t

the Directors submit their report and the audited accounts of the Group for the year ended 31 march 2010.

Principal activities, business review 
and future developments

Directors and their interests

the appointment and removal of a Director is governed by the 

the Group’s activities during the year were focused on the food 

Articles of Association and within the terms of the nomination 

sector. A review of the business and future development of the 

Committee. the Company’s Articles of Association provide 

Group and a discussion of the principal risks and uncertainties 

that one third of the Directors retire by rotation each year 

faced by the Group is presented in the Chairman’s statement 

and with the proviso that each Director shall seek re-election 

and Review of Activities on pages 3 to 9 and in the Group 

at the Annual General meeting every three years. All new 

operating and Financial Review on pages 13 to 19.

Results and dividends

the profit on ordinary activities before taxation from continuing 

operations was £43.8 million (2009 - £34.7 million). After a 

taxation charge of £11.3 million (2009 - £16.0 million), the 

profit for the year is £32.6 million (2009 - £19.0 million). An 

interim dividend of 8.0 pence per ordinary share was paid on 

22 January 2010. the Directors recommend the payment of 

a final dividend for the year, which is not reflected in these 

accounts, of 17.0 pence per ordinary share which, together 

with the interim dividend, represents 25.0 pence per ordinary 

share, totalling £11.7 million (2009 – 21.7 pence per ordinary 

share, totalling £10.0 million). subject to approval at the 

Annual General meeting, the final dividend will be paid in 

Directors are subject to election by shareholders at the first 

opportunity following their appointment. the Directors of the 

Company currently in office are as stated on page 21. martin 

Davey, Bernard hoggarth, Adam Couch, John Worby and 

Patrick Farnsworth served for the whole of the year under 

review. Derek Black resigned as a director on 24 April 2009 

following the disposal of the Pet Division and John Lindop 

retired as a director on 31 may 2009. mark Bottomley was 

appointed Finance Director on 1 June 2009 and steven esom 

as a non-executive Director on 12 november 2009. martin 

Davey and Bernard hoggarth retire in accordance with the 

Articles of Association and, being eligible, each offers himself 

for re-election. steven esom who was appointed since the 

last Annual General meeting will stand for election.

cash or scrip form on 3 september 2010 to members on the 

Details of the Directors’ beneficial interests in the ordinary 

register at the close of business on 2 July 2010. the shares 

share capital of the Company are included in the Directors’ 

will go ex-dividend on 30 June 2010.

Remuneration Report on page 40.

Financial instruments

the  Group’s  risk  management  objectives  and  policy  are 

discussed  in  the  treasury  Policies  section  of  the  Group 

operating and Financial Review on pages 18 to 19.

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Major Shareholders

  Disapplication of rights of pre-emption – this disapplies 

the Company has been informed of the following significant 

holdings of voting rights at 1 may 2010 in the 47,336,523 

ordinary shares of the Company:

number of 

shares

% of 

issued 

share 

capital

13,949,221

29.47

AmvesCAP PLC

Legal & General 

investment management

  2,928,195

Jupiter Asset management

  2,437,114

Artemis investment 

management

  1,706,924

standard Life investments

  1,672,169

6.19

5.15

3.61

3.53

Share capital structure

rights  of  pre-emption  on  the  allotment  of  shares  by 

the Company and the sale by the Company of treasury 

shares.  the  authority  will  allow  the  Directors  to  allot 

equity securities for cash pursuant to the authority to 

allot shares mentioned above, and to sell treasury shares 

for cash, on a pro rata basis to existing shareholders (but 

subject to any exclusion or arrangements as the Directors 

consider necessary or expedient in relation to fractional 

entitlements, any legal, regulatory or practical problems 

or costs under the laws or regulations of any overseas 

territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or 

stock exchange) and otherwise on a pro rata basis up to 

an aggregate nominal amount of £232,347, representing 

5 per cent of the Company’s issued share capital as at 

29 may 2009. this authority will expire at the end of the 

Annual General meeting to be held on 26 July 2010.

the Company has one class of shares, being ordinary shares 

  Allot  shares  and  disapply  pre-emption  rights  in 

of 10p each. the authorised, allotted and fully paid up share 

connection with a rights issue – this authorises the 

capital  is  shown  in  note  24.  there  are  no  special  rights 

Directors to allot relevant securities and empowers the 

pertaining to any of the shares in issue.

Directors to allot equity securities and to sell treasury shares 

for cash in connection with a rights issue. this is in addition 

to the authority to allot shares and the disapplication of 

pre-emption rights contained in the authorities mentioned 

above. the nominal value of ordinary shares which the 

Directors may allot in the period up to the next Annual 

General meeting, to be held on 26 July 2010, is limited to 

£1,548,826 which represents approximately 33 per cent 

of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital (excluding 

treasury shares) as at 29 may 2009. the Directors do not 

have any present intention of exercising this authority and 

power. this authority will expire at the end of the Annual 

General meeting to be held on 26 July 2010.

the Directors of Cranswick plc have received limited authority 

to  disapply  shareholders’  pre-emption  rights  in  certain 

circumstances,  to  authorise  the  Company  to  buy  back  a 

proportion of the Company’s share capital and to allow the 

Directors to allot shares. Further resolutions will be placed 

before the Annual General meeting to be held on 26 July 

2010 to renew these powers.

At the last Annual General meeting the Directors received 

authority from the shareholders to:

  Allot Shares – this gives Directors the authority to allot 

authorised but unissued shares and maintains the flexibility 

in respect of the Company’s financing arrangements. the 

nominal value of ordinary shares which the Directors may 

allot in the period up to the next Annual General meeting, 

to be held on 26 July 2010, is limited to £1,548,826 which 

represents approximately 33 per cent of the issued share 

capital (excluding treasury shares) as at 29 may 2009.  

the Directors do not have any present intention of exercising 

this authority other than in connection with the issue of 

ordinary shares in respect of the scrip dividend offer and 

the  Company’s  share  option  plans.  this  authority  will 

expire at the end of the Annual General meeting to be 

held on 26 July 2010.

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  To buy own shares – this authority allows the Company 

Payment policy

to buy its own shares in the market, as permitted under 

the Articles of Association of the Company, up to a limit 

of 10 per cent of the Company’s issued share capital. the 

the Group and the Company do not have a formal policy that 

they follow with regard to payment to suppliers. Payment 

price to be paid for any share must not be less than 10p, 

terms are agreed with each supplier and every endeavour 

being the nominal value of a share, and must not exceed 

is made to adhere to the agreed terms. the average credit 

105 per cent of the average middle market quotations 

for the ordinary shares of the Company as derived from 

the London stock exchange Daily official List for the 5 

business days immediately preceding the day on which 

terms for the continuing Group, based on the year-end trade 

creditors figure and a 365 day year, are 35 days. the average 

credit taken by our customers on a similar basis is 32 days.

the ordinary shares are purchased. the Directors have no 

Essential Contracts

immediate plans to exercise the powers of the Company to 

purchase its own shares and undertake that the authority 

would only be exercised if the Directors were satisfied 

that a purchase would result in an increase in expected 

it  is  imperative  that  Cranswick  is  able  to  source  its  high 

quality raw materials at the most competitive prices and 

to this end the Company has numerous supply contracts 

earnings per share and was in the best interests of the 

in place. While these contracts are collectively essential to 

Company at the time. this authority will expire at the end 

the business, no single contract or supplier is critical to the 

of the Annual General meeting to be held on 26 July 2010.  

Company’s business.

the  Directors  would  consider  holding  any  of  its  own 

shares  that  it  purchases  pursuant  to  this  authority  as 

treasury shares.

the  Company  also  has  strong  relationships  with  certain 

major retailers to supply them with product.

the  Company  is  not  aware  of  any  agreements  between 

Auditors

shareholders that may result in restrictions on the transfer 

ernst & Young LLP have expressed their willingness to continue 

of securities and for voting rights.

in office and a resolution proposing their re-appointment 

there are no restrictions on the transfer of ordinary shares in 

will be submitted at the Annual General meeting.

the Company other than where certain restrictions may apply 

from time to time, on the Board of Directors and other senior 

Directors’ statement as to disclosure 
of information to auditors

executive staff, which is imposed by laws and regulations 

the Directors who were members of the Board at the time of 

relating to insider trading laws and market requirements 

approving the Directors’ Report are listed on page 21. having 

relating to close periods.

Employment policies

the Group’s policy on employee involvement is to adopt 

an open management style, thereby encouraging informal 

consultation at all levels about aspects of the Group’s operations. 

employees participate directly in the success of the business 

by participation in the sAYe share option schemes.

made enquiries of fellow Directors and of the Company’s 

auditors, each of these Directors confirm that:

•	

 to the best of each Director’s knowledge and belief, 

there is no information relevant to the preparation 

of their report of which the Company’s auditors are 

unaware; and

•	

each Director has taken all the steps a Director might 

reasonably be expected to have taken to be aware of 

employment policies are designed to provide equal opportunities 

relevant audit information and to establish that the 

irrespective of colour, ethnic or natural origin, nationality, sex, 

Company’s auditors are aware of that information.

religion, marital or disabled status. Full consideration is given to 

applications for employment by and the continuing employment, 

training and career development of disabled people.

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Change of control

there are no agreements that the Company considers significant 

and to which the Company is party that would take effect, 

allowed for exercise in these circumstances is any time up to 

the seventh day before the final day upon which that person 

remains entitled to serve such a notice.

alter or terminate upon change of control of the Company 

in each case, the extent to which awards are capable of 

following a takeover bid other than the following:

exercise depends on the scope to which the performance 

•	

the Company is party to a number of banking 

agreements which upon a change of control of 

the Company are terminable by the bank upon the 

provision of 10 working days notice, and

•	

there are no agreements between the Company and 

its directors or employees providing for compensation 

targets (as adjusted or amended) have been satisfied.

Articles of Association

the  Company’s  Articles  of  Association  may  only  be 

amended by a special resolution at a general meeting of 

the shareholders.

for loss of office or employment (whether through 

resignation, purported redundancy or otherwise) that 

occurs because of a takeover bid other than as stated 

Annual General Meeting and Special 
Business to be transacted at the 
Annual General Meeting

in the Directors Remuneration Report relating to martin 

Davey and Bernard hoggarth.

Long Term Incentive Plan

the notice convening the Annual General meeting can be 

found in the separate notice of Annual General meeting 

accompanying this Report and Accounts.

in  the  event  of  a  general  offer  being  made  to  acquire 

Details of the special Business to be transacted at the Annual 

part or all of the issued share capital of the Company as 

General meeting are contained in the separate letter from the 

a  result  of  which  the  offeror  may  acquire  control  of  the 

Chairman which also accompanies this Report and Accounts, 

Company, award holders under the Cranswick plc Long term  

and covers the Directors’ authority to allot shares, the partial 

incentive Plan (‘LtiP’) will have an opportunity to exercise 

disapplication of pre-emption rights and the authority for 

the Company to buy its own shares.

By order of the Board

Malcolm Windeatt 
Company Secretary

24 may 2010 

Company number: 1074383

their awards either:

a) immediately  before  the  time  at  which  the  change  of 

control of the Company occurs or any condition subject 

to which the offer is made has been satisfied (‘take-over 

Date’) but conditional on the take-over Date occurring, 

if the Remuneration Committee issues a written notice 

in advance of the take-over Date to award holders; or

b) at any time within 6 months following the take-over Date, 

in any other case.

in the event that the Court sanctions a scheme of arrangement 

under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 in connection with 

a scheme for the Company’s reconstruction or amalgamation 

with another company, award holders under the LtiP may 

exercise their awards during the six month period commencing 

on  the  date  upon  which  the  scheme  of  arrangement  is 

sanctioned by the Court. the LtiP also contains provisions 

enabling award holders to exercise their awards if a person 

becomes entitled to issue a compulsory acquisition notice 

under the provisions relating to the compulsory acquisition 

of a company set out in the Companies Act 2006. the period 

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C o R P o R A t e   G o v e R n A n C e   

s tAt e m e n t

stAtement  BY  the  DiReCtoRs  on 
ComPLiAnCe  With  the  PRovisions  
oF the Com BineD Co De

year responsibility for the Group’s day-to-day operations 

was delegated to the Chief executive who, supported by the 

executive Directors and executive management, implements 

Principles of good governance

the Board’s strategy and manages the Group’s business. Upon 

the  Board  is  committed  to  high  standards  of  corporate 

governance.  the  adoption  and  maintenance  of  good 

governance is the responsibility of the Board as a whole. 

appointment, all Directors undertake a formal introduction 

to all the Group’s activities and are also provided with the 

opportunity for on-going training to ensure that they are 

this  report,  together  with  the  Directors’  Remuneration 

kept up-to-date on changes in relevant legislation and the 

Report on pages 35 to 40, describes how the Board applies 

general business environment, including the review of relevant 

the principles of good governance and best practice as set 

literature and attending external courses. Procedures are 

out in the Combined Code on Corporate Governance (the 

in place for Directors to seek both independent advice, at 

‘Combined  Code’)  which  can  be  found  on  the  Financial 

the expense of the Company, and the advice and services 

Reporting Council’s website (www.frc.org.uk). A statement 

of the Company secretary in order to fulfil their duties. the 

of compliance with the Combined Code can be found at 

Company secretary is responsible to the Board for ensuring 

the end of this report.

The Board

During the year ended 31 march 2010, the Board consisted 

of  an  executive  Chairman,  a  Chief  executive  (and  up  to 

24 April 2009 a Chief executive of the pet division), two 

other executive Directors and two non-executive Directors 

until 12 november 2009 after which there were three. All the 

that Board procedures are complied with and for advising 

the Board, through the Chairman, on all governance matters. 

the appointment and removal of the Company secretary is 

determined by the Board as a whole.

the Board has completed a register relating to potential 

conflicts of interest with its Directors and confirms that no 

such conflicts exist. this register will be reviewed annually 

non-executive Directors are deemed to be independent. the 

or at such other time as is deemed necessary.

Combined Code states that at least half the board, excluding 

the Board, led by the Chairman, has carried out a formal 

the  chairman,  should  comprise  non-executive  Directors 

evaluation of its performance and that of its Committees 

determined by the Board to be independent. the Board is 

under a system based on a questionnaire circulated to all 

confident that since 12 november 2009 it has complied with 

Directors which was used to facilitate a Board discussion. the 

this requirement of the Combined Code.

evaluation exercise showed that the Board and its Committees 

the Board meets each month to direct and control the overall 

were working well but, as expected, a number of actions 

strategy and operating performance of the Group. to enable 

were agreed to improve effectiveness. the Chairman has 

them to carry out these responsibilities all Directors have 

evaluated the performance of individual Directors through 

full and timely access to all relevant information. A formal 

one-to-one meetings. the Chairman meets with the non-

schedule  of  matters  reserved  for  decision  by  the  Board 

executive Directors at least once a year to share his assessment 

covers key areas of the Group’s affairs including acquisition 

of executive Board member performance. in addition, the 

and divestment policy, approval of budgets, major capital 

non-executive  Directors,  led  by  the  senior  independent 

expenditure projects, profit and cash flow performance and 

Director, meet, without the Chairman present, in order to 

general treasury and risk management policies. During the 

appraise his performance.

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the Company’s Articles of Association provide that one third 

the  Committee  reviews  the  Group’s  accounting  policies 

of the Directors retire by rotation each year and with the 

and internal reports on accounting and internal financial 

proviso that each Director shall seek re-election at the Annual 

control  matters  together  with  reports  from  the  external 

General meeting every three years. All new Directors are 

auditors. the Audit Committee has overall responsibility for 

subject to election by shareholders at the first opportunity 

monitoring the integrity of financial statements and related 

following their appointment.

announcements and for all aspects of internal control and 

Directors’  biographies  and  membership  of  the  various 

Committees are shown on page 21. the formal terms of 

reference for the Board Committees together with the terms 

and conditions of appointment of non-executive Directors 

meets at least three times a year, two of which involve a 

review of the Group’s interim and full year financial statements. 

the  Audit  Committee  considers  annually  the  extent  and 

effectiveness of the work of the internal audit function. the 

are available for inspection at the Company’s Registered 

Audit Committee is also responsible for recommendations for 

office and at the Annual General meeting.

the appointment, reappointment or removal of the external 

auditors and for reviewing their effectiveness. the Committee 

BoARD Commit tees

puts the external audit function out to tender every four to 

Audit Committee

the Audit Committee comprised of two independent non-

executive Directors, John Worby and Patrick Farnsworth until 

12 november 2009 when steven esom joined the Board, 

increasing the number to three. the Committee is chaired by 

John Worby, the Group’s senior independent Director, who 

is a chartered accountant, has considerable recent relevant 

financial experience and has spent many years in the food 

industry. Patrick Farnsworth has many years experience in 

the food sector where he was Joint managing Director of 

William Jackson & son Limited until his retirement in 2005. 

steven esom has held a number of senior positions within 

five years, the last such tender being in 2008. the external 

auditor’s performance is assessed each year. the Committee 

also approves the terms of engagement and remuneration 

of the external auditors, and monitors their independence. 

there is a policy in place in relation to the types of non-audit 

services the external auditors should not carry out so as not 

to compromise their independence and these would include 

internal accounting or other financial services, internal audit 

services or their outsourcing, executive or management roles 

or functions, and remuneration consultancy. there is also a 

whistle blowing policy in place which includes arrangements 

by  which  staff  can,  in  confidence,  raise  concerns  about 

possible improprieties in matters of financial reporting and 

the food industry including managing Director at Waitrose 

and executive Director of Food at marks & spencer. it is a 

other matters. 

requirement of the Combined Code that the Audit Committee 

the terms of reference for the Audit Committee are available 

should comprise of at least three independent non-executive 

from the Company secretary.

Directors.  the  Board  is  confident  that  the  Group,  since 

the Chairman of the Audit Committee will be available at the 

12 november 2009, complies with this requirement.

Annual General meeting to respond to any shareholder questions 

the  Chairman,  the  Finance  Director,  who  is  ultimately 

that might be raised on the Committee’s activities.

responsible  for  assessing  the  Group’s  internal  financial 

Internal Control 

controls, and the Group Financial Controller, together with 

the Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the Group’s 

the external auditors and, when requested, internal audit 

system of internal control, which safeguards the shareholders’ 

attend the meetings as appropriate. the external auditors 

investment and the Group’s assets, and for reviewing its 

have  the  opportunity  to  access  the  Committee,  without 

effectiveness. such a system can only provide reasonable 

the executive Directors being present, at any time, and the 

and not absolute assurance against material misstatement 

Committee formally meets with the external auditors at least 

or loss, as it is designed to manage rather than eliminate the 

once a year on this basis.

risk of failure to achieve business objectives.  

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the Group operates within a clearly defined organisational 

Internal Audit

structure with established responsibilities, authorities and 

the Group’s internal audit function comprises of company 

reporting lines to the Board. the organisational structure has 

employees supported by Grant thornton, which provides 

been designed in order to plan, execute, monitor and control 

specialist advice and resources where necessary. internal 

the Group’s objectives effectively and to ensure that internal 

control becomes embedded in the operations.

the Chairman of the Audit Committee reports to the Board 

on issues relating to internal controls and risk management 

following each Audit Committee meeting. the Board confirms 

that the key on-going processes and features of the Group’s 

internal risk based control system, which accord with the 

turnbull guidance, have been fully operative throughout the 

year and up to the date of the Annual Report being approved. 

these include; a process to identify, evaluate and manage 

business risk (as detailed in the Group operating and Financial 

audit is required to report to the Audit Committee on the 

extent to which systems of internal control are effective and 

to provide independent and objective assurance that the 

processes by which significant risks are identified, assessed 

and managed are appropriate and effectively applied.

the Audit Committee reviews and approves the annual audit 

plan and receives regular updates on progress in meeting 

the plan objectives. the internal audit approach is risk based 

and takes into account the overall Group risk framework, as 

well as risks specific to individual operations. the plan set out 

at the beginning of the current year was achieved. internal 

audit findings together with responses from management 

Review); a strong control environment; an information and 

have been considered and where necessary challenged.

communication process; a monitoring system; and a regular 

Board review of effectiveness. the Group Finance Director 

is ultimately responsible for overseeing the Group’s internal 

controls.

During  the  year  the  management  team  identified  the 

key business risks within their operations, considered the 

Auditor independence

the Board is satisfied that ernst & Young LLP has adequate policies 

and safeguards in place to ensure that auditor objectivity and 

independence is maintained. the Group meets its obligations 

for maintaining an appropriate relationship with the external 

auditors  through  the  Audit  Committee,  whose  terms  of 

financial  implications  and  assessed  the  effectiveness  of 

reference include an obligation to consider and keep under 

the control processes in place to mitigate these risks. the 

review the degree of work undertaken by the external auditor, 

Board reviewed a summary of the findings and this, along 

other than the statutory audit, to ensure such objectivity and 

with direct involvement in the strategies of the businesses, 

independence is safeguarded. there is also an established 

investment appraisal and the budgeting process, enabled 

policy for the work the external auditors can and cannot do 

the Board to report on the effectiveness of internal control. 

so as not to compromise their independence and in addition, 

Following its review the Board determined that it was not 

the Chairman of the Audit Committee is consulted prior to 

aware of any significant deficiency or material weakness in 

awarding to the external auditors any non-audit services in 

the system of internal control. 

Financial Reporting

the Group prepares annual budgets that are agreed by the 

Board. operational management are required to report to the 

excess of £20,000.

During the year the Audit Committee considered the following 

factors in assessing the objectivity and independence of ernst 

& Young LLP:

Board on a monthly basis on financial performance including 

i)  the auditors’ procedures for maintaining and monitoring 

trading results, balance sheet, cash flows and related key 

independence, including those to ensure that the partners 

performance indicators. Updated forecasts are prepared half 

yearly together with information on key risk areas. the use of 

a standard reporting pack by all Group entities ensures that 

and staff have no personal or business relationships with the 

Group, other than those in the normal course of business 

permitted by UK ethical guidance.

the information is gathered and presented in a consistent 

ii) the auditors’ policies for the rotation of the lead partner 

way  that  facilitates  the  preparation  of  the  consolidated 

and key audit personnel.

financial statements.

iii) Adherence by management and the auditor to the Group’s 

policy for the procurement of non-audit services.

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Remuneration Committee

Nomination Committee

the Remuneration Committee comprises of Patrick Farnsworth 

the nomination Committee comprises martin Davey, the 

(Chairman),  John  Worby  and  from  12  november  2009 

Committee’s Chairman, Patrick Farnsworth, John Worby, and 

steven esom. it is a requirement of the Combined Code that 

from 12 november 2009 steven esom. it is a requirement 

the Remuneration Committee should consist of at least three 

of  the  Combined  Code  that  a  majority  of  the  members 

independent non-executive Directors. the Board is confident 

of  the  nomination  Committee  should  be  independent 

that since 12 november 2009 the Group complies with this 

non-executive Directors, and the Chairman should be either 

requirement. martin Davey attends meetings of the Remuneration 

the  Chairman  of  the  Board  or  a  non-executive  Director. 

Committee  by  invitation  and  in  an  advisory  capacity. no 

the  Board  is  confident  that  it  fully  complies  with  these 

Director attends any part of a meeting at which his own 

requirements of the Combined Code. Due to the integration 

remuneration is discussed. the executive Directors determine 

of the Group and the stability of the Board the Chairman’s 

the remuneration of the non-executive Directors.

time commitment to the Committee is not anticipated to 

the Committee recommends to the Board the policy for 

be onerous.

executive remuneration and determines, on behalf of the 

the Committee meets at least once a year and reviews the 

Board, the other terms and conditions of service for each 

structure, size and composition of the Board and is responsible 

executive Director. it determines appropriate performance 

for considering and making recommendations to the Board 

conditions for the annual cash bonus and long term incentive 

on  new  appointments  of  executive  and  non-executive 

schemes and approves awards and the issue of options in 

Directors.  it  also  gives  full  consideration  to  succession 

accordance with the terms of those schemes. the Remuneration 

planning in the course of its work taking into account the 

Committee also, in consultation with the Chairman, determine 

challenges and opportunities facing the Group and what 

the total individual remuneration package of senior executives 

skills and expertise are therefore needed on the Board and 

including bonuses, incentive payments and share option 

from senior management in the future.  the Committee, 

and other share awards. the Remuneration Committee has 

after carrying out an external search process involving an 

access to advice from the Company secretary and to detailed 

outside agency and interviewing a number of candidates, 

analysis of executive remuneration in comparable companies. 

recommended  the  appointment  of  steven  esom  as  an 

in addition, from time to time the Committee undertakes 

additional independent non-executive Director. the current 

a more detailed review using external consultants. the last 

Directors seeking re-election at the Annual General meeting 

such review was undertaken by Deloitte in 2008 and it is the 

will be martin Davey and Bernard hoggarth. steven esom 

Committee’s intention to conduct a review  during the next 

who was appointed since the last Annual General meeting 

financial year. Details of the Committee’s current remuneration 

will stand for election. their biographical details on page 21 

policies are given in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on 

demonstrate the range of experience and skills which each 

pages 35 and 40. 

brings to the benefit of the Company.

the terms of reference for the Remuneration Committee 

the terms of reference for the nomination Committee are 

are available from the Company secretary.

available from the Company secretary.

the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee will attend the 

the Chairman of the nomination Committee will attend the 

Annual General meeting to respond to any shareholder questions 

Annual General meeting to respond to any shareholder questions 

that might be raised on the Committee’s activities.

that might be raised on the Committee’s activities.

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Meetings attendance

Details of the number of meetings of, and members’ attendance at, the Board, Audit, Remuneration and nomination Committees 

during the year are set out in the table below:

No. of meetings

m. Bottomley (from appointment – max 10)

D. Black (to resignation – nil)

A. Couch

s. esom (from appointment – max 5/1/4/1)

m. Davey

B. hoggarth

J. Lindop (to retirement – max 2)

P. Farnsworth

J. Worby

Board

Audit 

Remuneration 

Nomination 

Committee

Committee

Committee

12

10

-

12

5

12

12

2

12

11

3

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

3

3

9

-

-

-

4

-

-

-

9

9

3

-

-

-

1

3

-

-

3

3

All who were Directors at the time attended the Annual General meeting.

Shareholders

Compliance with the Combined Code

the views of shareholders expressed during meetings with 

the Directors consider that the Group has, during the year 

them are communicated by the Chairman to the Board as 

ended 31 march 2010, complied with the requirements of 

a whole, and through this process the Board’s executive 

the Combined Code other than as set out below:

and  non-executive  Directors  are  able  to  gain  a  sound 

i)  the company did not comply with Combined Code provision 

understanding  of  the  views  and  concerns  of  the  major 

A.3.2  for  eight  months  of  the  year  as  the  number  of 

shareholders. the Chairman discusses governance and strategy 

independent non-executive Directors was less than half 

with major shareholders from time to time. other Directors 

the Board. since 12 november 2009 the Company believes 

are available to meet the Company’s major shareholders if 

it now complies.

requested. the senior independent Director is available to 

ii) the Company did not comply, for eight months of the 

listen to the views of shareholders, particularly if they have 

concerns which contact with the Chairman has failed to 

resolve, or for which such contact is inappropriate. Principles  

of  corporate  governance  and  voting  guidelines  issued  

by  the  Company’s  institutional  shareholders  and  their 

representative  bodies  are  circulated  to  and  considered  

by  the  Board.  the  Board  also  welcomes  the  attendance 

and questions from shareholders at the Annual General 

meeting  which is also attended by the Chairmen of the Audit,  

Remuneration and nominations Committees.

Information pursuant to the  
Takeovers Directive

the Company has provided the information required under 

DtR 7.2.6 within the section headed “change of control” in 

the Director’s report on page 27.

year,  with  Combined  Code  provisions  B.2.1  and  C.3.1 

regarding the composition of the Audit and Remuneration 

Committees as there were less than three independent 

non-executive Directors. since 12 november 2009 the 

Company believes it now complies.

By order of the Board

Malcolm Windeatt 
Company Secretary

24 may 2010

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D i R e C t o R s ’   R e m U n e R A t i o n   
R e P o R t

inFoRmAtion not sUBJeCt to AUD it

Bonus scheme 

Remuneration Committee

the bonus scheme in operation is based on the achievement 

of Group profit targets. the targets are set having regard to 

the Remuneration Committee comprises the non-executive 

the Company’s budget, historical performance and market 

Directors Patrick Farnsworth (Chairman of the Committee), 

outlook for the year. A small part of the bonus relates to 

John Worby and steven esom from 12 november 2009. the 

the achievement of a target performance for the first half 

executive Chairman attends the meetings in an advisory 

of the year where a fixed sum is paid with the remaining 

capacity  as  requested.  the  Committee  determines  the 

element based on a percentage of the results in excess of 

remuneration of the Company’s executive Directors and puts 

an annual target. the total bonus is capped at 150 per cent 

forward its recommendations for approval by the Board. 

of basic salary. non-executive Directors do not participate in 

the  remuneration  policy  is  reviewed  and  benchmarked 

the Group’s bonus scheme. incentive payments and benefits 

by external consultants every two to three years; it is the 

are not pensionable.

Committee’s intention to conduct a review during the next 

financial year. PricewaterhouseCoopers were appointed by 

the Remuneration Committee and have given advice during 

the year on share option awards. the remuneration of the 

non-executive  Directors  is  determined  by  the  executive 

Directors and reflects the time, commitment and responsibility 

of their roles.

Remuneration policy

the Group’s policy is that the overall remuneration package 

offered should be sufficiently competitive to attract, retain 

Share options and Long Term Incentive Plan

the basic salary and the bonus scheme are intended as the 

most significant part of Directors’ remuneration; in addition, 

executive share options and the Long term incentive Plan 

(‘LtiP’) can be proposed by the Remuneration Committee 

and are granted periodically to promote the involvement 

of senior management in the longer term success of the 

Group.  even though both option  awards are seen  as  an 

important part of rewarding the employee the Remuneration 

Committee is focusing on using the LtiP rather than the 

and motivate high quality executives and to align the rewards 

executive option scheme. 

of the executives with the progress of the Group whilst giving 

options can only be exercised if certain performance criteria 

consideration to salary levels in similar sized quoted companies 

are achieved by the Group. Under the LtiP half the shares 

in the sector and in the region. the remuneration package is 

granted are subject to an earnings per share (‘ePs’) target 

in two parts; a non performance part represented by basic 

measured against average annual increases in the retail price 

salary (including benefits) and, a significant performance 

index (‘RPi’) over a three year period and the other half to 

related element in the form of a profit related bonus and 

a total shareholder return (‘tsR’) target measured against 

share-based awards. the share-based awards are granted 

a comparable group of food companies over a three year 

by  the  Remuneration  Committee  and  only  vest  on  the 

period. the comparison companies are Carrs milling industries 

achievement of demanding targets aligned to shareholder 

plc, Dairy Crest Group plc, Devro plc, Glanbia plc, Greencore 

returns  and  earnings  per  share.  the  details  of  individual 

plc, northern Foods plc, Robert Wiseman Dairies plc, Premier 

components  of  the  remuneration  package  and  service 

Foods plc and Uniq plc. the ePs target allows 25 per cent of 

contracts are set out below:

the shares subject to the target to be issued at nil cost at an 

Basic salary and benefits 

the  non  performance  related  elements  of  remuneration 

which  comprise  basic  salary,  car  allowance  and  benefits 

are reviewed annually and are effective from the 1 may. 

Benefits principally comprise medical insurance, personal 

tax advice and car benefit.

average annual outperformance of 3 per cent and 100 per 

cent of the shares at an average annual outperformance of 

7 per cent with outperformance between 3 and 7 per cent 

rewarded pro rata. With the first three share awards, made 

in previous years, the tsR target allowed 50 per cent of the 

shares subject to the target to be issued at nil cost at the 

50th percentile and 100 per cent at the 75th percentile with 

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performance between the 50th and 75th percentiles rewarded 

Service contracts

pro-rata. For the LtiP issued in the year the tsR target was 

the service contracts for martin Davey, Bernard hoggarth and 

amended so that only 30% per cent of the shares subject to 

Derek Black (up to his resignation) include one year notice 

the target are to be issued at nil cost at the 50th percentile 

periods from 1 may 2006 except in the case of a takeover of 

and 100 per cent at the 75th percentile with performance 

the Company when the notice period is 2 years for the first 

between the 50th and 75th percentiles rewarded pro-rata. 

six months following the take-over. these conditions were 

Under the terms of the scheme an award to an individual 

incorporated into new contracts several years ago, when the 

cannot exceed 100% of that individual’s annual salary except 

directors changed from contracts which had notice periods 

in exceptional circumstances when up to 200% of the annual 

of up to three years. the Remuneration Committee’s current 

salary is permitted. the Remuneration Committee, which 

policy is not to enter into employment contracts with any 

decides whether performance conditions have been met, 

element of notice period in excess of one year. Accordingly, 

considers these to be the most appropriate measures of the 

Adam Couch and John Lindop (up to his retirement) have 

long term performance of the Group. 

the criteria for executive options is based on total shareholder 

return over a 3 year performance period and requires the Group 

to be in the top half of a basket of food companies quoted 

on the London stock exchange. the comparison companies 

are ABF plc, Carrs milling industries plc, Dairy Crest Group 

plc, Devro plc, Glanbia plc, Greencore plc, northern Foods 

plc, Robert Wiseman Dairies plc, and Uniq plc

one year rolling contracts commencing 1 may 2006. mark 

Bottomley has a 1 year rolling contract which commenced on 

1 June 2009. two year appointment letters have been issued 

to Patrick Farnsworth and John Worby from 1 January 2010 

and steven esom from 12 november 2009. the contracts 

for martin Davey, Bernard hoggarth, Derek Black (up to his 

resignation) and John Lindop (up to his retirement) have 

special provisions relating to liquidated damages requiring 

that the notice period stipulated in the contract will be paid 

Directors may also apply for sAYe options on the same terms 

in full. For the other contracts the Remuneration Committee 

as all other employees. 

Pensions  

executive  Directors  are  members  of  the  Group  ‘money-

purchase’  pension  scheme.  employer  contributions  are 

determined by service contracts. in some cases there are 

payments of pension contributions in lieu of salary and in 

other cases there are payments of salary in lieu of pension 

contributions, both at the option of the individual. 

Source: Investec

will consider the circumstances of an early termination and 

determine compensation payments accordingly. 

Performance graph

the graph below shows the percentage change (from a base 

of 100 in may 2000) in the total shareholder return (with 

dividends reinvested) for each of the last ten years on a holding 

of the Company’s shares against the corresponding change 

in a hypothetical holding in the shares in the Ftse 350 Food 

Producers and Processors Price index (“Ftse FPP”) and the 

Ftse All share index (“Ftse All share”). the Ftse FPP and the 

Ftse All share were chosen as representative benchmarks of 

the sector and the market as a whole for the business.

R
S
T

8000 

7000 

6000 

5000 

4000 

3000 

2000 

1000 

0 

M ay 00 

Cranswick 

FTSE 350 Food Producers 

FTSE All Share 

M ay 01 

M ay 02 

M ay 03 

M ay 04 

M ay 05 

M ay 06 

M ay 07 

M ay 08 

M ay 09 

M ay 10 

P A Ge 3 6        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

 
inFoRmAtion sUBJeCt to AUD it

Directors’ remuneration

the remuneration of Directors for the year was as follows:

salary and fees

Bonuses

Benefits

Payment in lieu of pension contribution

Pension contribution

Aggregate notional gains made by Directors on exercise of options

2010 

£’000

1,817

2,258

20

77

4,172

345

4,517

562

2009 

£’000

2,044

1,794

9

77

3,924

509

4,433

18

Individual Directors’ remuneration, including pension contributions:

salary 

Bonus

other

Benefits

and fees

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

Total 

2010

£’000

total 

2009

£’000

Pension 

Pension 

2010

£’000

2009

£’000

Non-Executive 

Directors:

s esom  
(from appointment)

PW Farnsworth

JG Worby

Executive 

Directors:

DJ Black  

(to resignation)

Jm Bottomley  

(from appointment)

Ah Couch

mtP Davey

B hoggarth

JD Lindop 

(to retirement)

12

37

42

28

156

380

623

484

55

-

-

-

-

175

549

826

705

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

77

-

-

-

-

-

-

12

37

42

-

36

41

28

407

10

341

-

3

3

4

-

932

1,529

1,193

58

849

1,152

946

493

-

-

-

5

40

72

120

93

15

-

-

-

62

-

68

114

95

170

“other” comprises payments in lieu of pension contribution – now ceased. Benefits principally comprise medical insurance, 

personal tax advice and car benefit.

the number of Directors who were active members of the money purchase pension scheme during the year was 6 (2009 - 5).

martin Davey was a non-executive Director of thornton’s plc until his resignation on 5 December 2008. his fees in this capacity 

were paid to the Company; amounts receivable for the year ended 31 march 2010 were £nil (2009 - £32,250). John Lindop 

is a non-executive Director of Black sheep Brewery plc. his fees in this capacity were paid to the Company up to the date of 

his retirement; amounts receivable for the year ended 31 march 2010 were £2,856 (2009 - £11,383).

P A Ge 3 7        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share options

the Group operates an executive share option scheme and a long term incentive plan for senior executives, including Directors, 

and a savings related share option scheme which is available to all employees. the interests of the Directors in these schemes 

were as follows:

Executive share option scheme

At 1 April 

Granted  

exercised 

2010 or 

exercise 

Range of 

2009

in the year

in the year

Lapsed

resignation

price

exercise dates

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(pence)

At 31 March 

DJ Black

50,000

Ah Couch 

50,000

mtP Davey

50,000

B hoggarth

50,000

JD Lindop

50,000

-

-

-

-

-

 -

 -

50,000

50,000

50,000

-

-

-

-

-

 -

 -

 -

50,000

601.0

4 July 2008/ 

3 July 2015

601.0

4 July 2008/ 

3 July 2015

601.0

4 July 2008/ 

3 July 2015

601.0

4 July 2008/ 

3 July 2015

50,000

601.0

4 July 2008/ 

3 July 2015

the executive share options of each Director were exercisable subject to the attainment of performance criteria based on 

the total return to shareholders during the 3 year performance period being in the top half of a basket of food companies 

quoted on the London stock exchange. the performance criteria relating to these options have been achieved and the options 

have been exercised. 

the following directors exercised executive share options during the year:

number

Date exercised

exercise Price

Price

notional Gain

(pence)

(pence)

£’000

market 

Ah Couch

mtP Davey

B hoggarth

50,000

50,000

50,000

25 march 2010

19 February 2010

16 December 2009

601.0

601.0

601.0

794.7

766.1

746.6

97

83

73

P A Ge 3 8        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

 
 
Long term incentive plan

Granted  

exercised 

At 31 March 

Year of 

At 1 April 

award

2009

in the 

year

in the 

year

2010 or 

exercise 

Lapsed

resignation

price

market 

price at 

grant

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(pence)

(pence)

Jm Bottomley

2009  -

13,200

DJ Black

Ah Couch 

mtP Davey

B hoggarth

JD Lindop

2006

2007

2008

2006

2007

2008

2009  -

2006

2007

2008

2009  -

2006

2007

2008

2009  -

2006

2007

2008

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

32,500

32,500

32,500

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

10,039

13,992

16,125

14,961

10,039

 -

14,961

14,961

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

10,039

 -

10,039

 -

10,039

13,018

14,600

13,200

14,961

11,008

8,875

25,000

25,000

32,500

25,000

25,000

32,500

25,000

25,000

32,500

14,961

11,982

10,400

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

592.5

755.5

847.5

632.0

755.5

847.5

632.0

592.5

755.5

847.5

632.0

592.5

755.5

847.5

632.0

592.5

755.5

847.5

632.0

Derek Black resigned on 24 April 2009 and John Lindop retired on 31 may 2009 and their holdings above are shown as at 

their leaving date.

the performance periods commence on 1 April in each year and conclude on 31 march three years later and are exercisable 

on the attainment of certain performance criteria detailed on pages 35 and 36. the range of exercise dates are 1 June 2010 

to 19 August 2020.

A proportion of the options granted under the LtiP in 2007 were converted to restrictive share awards during the year.  

the awards remain subject to the same performance criteria and vesting conditions. the above holdings include Directors 

interests in restricted shares held under the LtiP.

the options granted in the year are exercisable between 1 June 2012 and 19 August 2020. the share price at the time of 

issue was 592.5p. 

the following directors exercised LtiP share options during the year:

number

Date exercised

exercise Price

Price

notional Gain

(pence)

(pence)

£’000s

market 

Ah Couch

mtP Davey

B hoggarth

14,961

14,961

14,961

18 september 2009

19 February 2010

18 september 2009

nil

nil

nil

650.4

766.1

650.4

97

115

97

P A Ge 3 9        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

Savings related share option scheme

At 1 April 

Granted  

exercised 

At 31 March 

2010 or 

Weighted 

average 

excerise 

Range of 

2009

in the year

in the year

Lapsed

resignation

price

exercise dates

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(pence)

DJ Black

4,900

Ah Couch 

3,761

mtP Davey

2,025

B hoggarth

2,025

JD Lindop

2,367

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4,900

436

1 mar 2010/ 

1 sept 2016

3,761

472

1 mar 2013/ 

1 sept 2016

2,025

474

1 mar 2012/ 

1 sept 2012

2,025

474

1 mar 2012/ 

1 sept 2012

2,367

442

1 mar 2010/ 

1 sept 2010

the Directors are eligible, as are other employees of the 

Group, to participate in the sAYe scheme, which by its nature 

Director’s Beneficial Interests 
(Unaudited)

does not have performance conditions.

no savings related share options were exercised by executive 

Directors during the year.

Market price of shares

the  market  price  of  the  Company’s  shares  at  31  march 

2010 was 808.5 pence per share. the highest and lowest 

market prices during the year for each share option that was 

unexpired at the end of the year are as follows:

highest

Lowest

(pence)

(pence)

Ah Couch 

mtP Davey

P Farnsworth

B hoggarth

J Worby

At 

At 

31 March 

31 march 

2010

2009

Ordinary 

ordinary 

Shares

shares

64,136

61,921

200,426

200,426

1,161

1,121

112,388

108,388

1,641

1,641

options in issue 

throughout the year

options issued during 

the year:

All the above interests are beneficial. 

820

569

there have been no further changes to the above interests 

- sAYe

- LtiP

820

820

726

589

On behalf of the Board

in the period from 1 April 2010 to 7 may 2010. 

Patrick Farnsworth 
Chairman of the  
Remuneration Committee
24 may 2010

P A Ge 4 0        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
C o R P o R A t e   s o C i A L   
R e s P o n s i B i L i t Y  s t A t e m e n t

Cranswick  take  its  responsibilities  to  employees,  customers,  shareholders  and  the  environment  very 

seriously. the Company increasingly recognises that a balanced and committed approach to all aspects 

of  Corporate  social  Responsibility  will  bring  benefits  to  each  of  the  Company’s  stakeholders  and  will 

strengthen its business position and credentials to facilitate future sustainable growth and development.

Workplace

the Group aims to recruit, train and retain employees who are 

the business takes the health and safety of its employees 

valued for their contribution and able to fulfil their potential in 

very seriously and is committed to high levels of training 

meeting the business objectives of the Company. the Group 

to ensure that all factories and processes remain safe and 

companies each have their own strategies for retaining staff, 

fulfilling places in which to work. overall accident rates have 

including the provision of competitive terms and conditions, 

shown a decrease over the past five years. An industry leading 

share options and a challenging and stimulating working 

web based accident recording system allows the Company 

environment. 

to be reactive to all incidents, monitoring and implementing 

the Company employs 4,138 permanent members of staff 

actions to prevent recurrence.

compared  with  3,349  the  previous  year  (excluding  the 

Total Accidents per 100,000 employees

discontinued pet division); the increase reflecting the acquisition 

of CCF norfolk, in addition to the natural growth of the 

other sites as production levels increase. Agency personnel 

are used to supplement these levels at an average of around 

40 per cent of permanent manning levels. Careful auditing 

of the supplying agencies is carried out to ensure adherence 

to best practice and to see that they are registered under 

20,000

18,000

16,000

14,000

12,000

10,000

8,000

the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004.

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

P A Ge 4 1  

      |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

training is provided both to all full time employees and any 

Environment

temporary or agency workers. All undertake a full health and 

safety induction course, together with training in manual 

handling,  Fire,  and  First  Aid  regulations.  the  Company 

provides in-house courses including Accident investigation, 

Risk Assessment, and manual handling and source other 

training requirements externally. in 2010/11, the Company 

will focus on Behavioural safety management training for 

supervisors and managers.

health and safety is reviewed regularly at Board level, with 

the Group health & safety manager attending quarterly 

Board meetings to present his report to Directors. this report 

includes  accident  statistics,  and  pro-active  and  re-active 

ongoing projects to further enhance the standards of health 

and safety in the business.

each site has a dedicated full time health & safety Co-ordinator, 

who is trained to neBoshh standards with staff appropriate 

to the size of the site. they take local responsibility for health 

& safety, carrying out such tasks as accident investigation, risk 

assessments, training, and safety tours under the guidance 

of two Group health & safety Co-ordinators who report to 

the Group health and safety manager. 

sites  are  internally  audited  to  ensure  that  standards  are 

maintained and improved and the Group’s insurers carry out 

their own external health and safety audits across all sites 

and confirm that there are excellent standards of health & 

safety in the Group.

the  Group  has  committed  to  accredit  all  operating  sites 

to meet the British standard 18001 (occupational health 

and safety management systems) and the Company is one 

year into this three year project, and on course to complete 

in 2011.

the Company is currently co-ordinating the business’ approach 

to socially Responsible trading in order to provide a forum 

to share ethical knowledge and learning across the Group. 

All manufacturing sites are registered on the seDeX scheme 

database to enable customers and suppliers to view the 

ethical standards and two of Cranswick’s largest sites are 

already subject to independent ethical audit. it is the aim to 

extend this initiative to all sites.

environmental progress at site and Group level is measured 

and reported to the Board against performance benchmarks 

for energy efficiency, water usage, and landfill, relative to 

production tonnage. 

nine of the sites are covered by Climate Change Agreements, 

and they have consistently achieved the target reductions 

in carbon emissions per tonne of product since the scheme 

was introduced in 2001. the impending Carbon Reduction 

Commitment may have a small impact on the parts of the 

Group not caught by the existing Climate Change Levy. 

Progress in reducing the carbon footprint has continued since 

the initial benchmarking in 2007. the overall reduction in 

the Group’s defined footprint remains at 11 per cent over 

two years against a three year target of 15 per cent, falling 

from just over 0.36 tonnes of carbon per tonne of product 

to below 0.33 tonnes. 

Further reductions in the Company’s carbon footprint are 

anticipated through the replacement of older refrigeration 

systems,  with  more  environmentally  friendly  systems,  to 

increase efficiencies and reduce the potential for leakage. 

the Group is fully compliant with legislative constraints of 

the  f-Gas  Regulations  and  the  phase  out  of  older  hCFC 

gases such as R22.

Landfill waste reduction has continued, and is down over 

20 per cent since 2007 with recycling and the increased 

availability of waste to energy outlets.  one site now has 

local  access  to  an  anaerobic  digestion  plant  which  will 

potentially  reduce  its  landfill  by  between  70  and  80  per 

cent in the coming year.

the Group’s process water usage continues to be reported 

under the FhC2020 agreement, with individual site initiatives 

to  reduce  usage.  A  reverse  osmosis  unit  installed  at  the 

milton Keynes site has reduced boiler water usage by 6 per 

cent with the further benefit of reducing corrosion in the 

cooker installation. Work to improve effluent quality through 

microbiological pre-treatment is ongoing at several sites to 

ensure that consent limits are met and to reduce treatment 

costs from water companies.

P A Ge 4 2        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

Four of the ten operating sites are now of sufficient size to 

Company’s satisfaction. the approval of raw material suppliers 

require permits under the integrated Pollution and Prevention 

is centrally controlled and involves independent third party 

Control regulation. two of these sites are also fully certified 

audit or approval by the Group  technical services team. 

under the international standard for environmental management, 

Cranswick is committed to clear informative labelling which 

iso14001. the Group’s participation in the Carbon Disclosure 

allows consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.

Project (www.cdproject.net) and the Forest Footprint Disclosure 

Project continues.

Cranswick’s development has been focussed on the British 

pig  market  and  the  Group  has  always  been  a  staunch 

the Cranswick plc website (www.cranswick.co.uk) has been 

supporter of British farming. the acquisition of CCF norfolk 

expanded to cover the environmental initiatives that have 

has strengthened the Company’s position in the British pig 

been introduced under the ‘Greenthinking’ banner. the 

market. Producer groups and development initiatives with 

Company encourages an open approach to these issues, 

retailers,  farmers  and  agricultural  colleges  are  all  aimed 

and a question and answer element and contact facilities 

at  improving  business  relationships  throughout  the  pig 

are provided to help interested parties find the appropriate 

production chain to bolster the market against increasing 

detail at the desired level.

worldwide competition. some 70 per cent of contracted 

Market place

As a food company Cranswick recognises its responsibilities 

to create and produce products which are safe, legal and 

wholesome. the food production sites are of modern design 

and well invested and operate to a high standard of food 

safety, process control, hygiene and housekeeping. All the sites 

are independently audited against the BRC Global standard 

for Food safety and have a consistent record of achieving 

Grade A compliance against this exacting standard which 

is recognised as a performance benchmark for the industry.  

the customer base is heavily focused on the major UK Grocery 

Retailers, Restaurant Groups and Food service Companies.  

in addition products for further processing are supplied to 

other food producers. the sites and their food safety and 

quality  management  systems  are  constantly  assessed  by 

customers for compliance with their own specific policies. 

the Company also has in place a robust system of internal 

audits to ensure that sites continue to operate in compliance 

with the standards expected by customers, third party auditing 

bodies and enforcement authorities, and this system is a key 

driver in maintaining the excellent record of compliance.

Key to all food claims is ensuring that the raw materials used 

(meat, ingredients and packaging) are traceable to source 

and where raw materials are identity preserved, the supplier 

will be challenged to prove their traceability systems to the 

pigs  are  sourced  from  within  Yorkshire,  Lincolnshire  & 

norfolk which are recognised as being some of the best pig 

breeding areas in the UK. of these, approximately 40 per 

cent will be sourced from within 25 miles, 60 per cent within 

40 miles, and 70 per cent within 50 miles of Cranswick’s 

pork processing units in  hull and norfolk. As a result of 

the acquisition of CCF norfolk food miles are significantly 

reduced. Pigs which are transported from further afield are 

done so using transporters equipped with drinkers and air 

ventilators. All hauliers are members of independently audited 

and certified welfare assurance schemes.

the Group does not have a formal policy with regard to 

payment of suppliers, but it does agree individual payment 

terms appropriate to the supplier market sector and makes 

every endeavour to meet those agreements. sites are separately 

managed and encouraged to source locally where it serves 

the Company’s best interests.

Business continuity depends on the effective management 

of crisis situations. each of the sites has a crisis management 

team in place which is centrally coordinated and guided by 

the Group’s crisis management procedures. to ensure that 

these procedures remain robust, a simulated crisis event is 

staged annually utilising the expertise of a specialist crisis 

management  company,  with  all  outcomes  and  learning 

shared across the Group.

P A Ge 4 3        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

Food safety will always be of paramount importance, and 

Summary

well qualified and experienced technical teams are in place at 

site level which are centrally co-ordinated across the Group to 

share best practice and ensure that all products and processes 

meet the increasing demands of customers.

Community

the Group has made real progress towards all targets during 

the year. the ‘Greenthinking’ programme and other Group 

wide initiatives are delivering tangible reductions in energy, 

water and waste usage which will benefit the environment 

and the local communities in which the Group operates. 

All sites are encouraged to participate in charitable activities 

the Company will continue to focus on employee welfare 

including sponsored marathons, cycle rides and other fund 

through training programmes, health and safety initiatives 

raising activities. overall, some 75 per cent of employees live 

and by ensuring that the facilities in which they operate are 

within 10 miles of their place of work, so local involvement, 

maintained to the highest standards.

particularly in rural locations, can be very beneficial.

By order of the Board

When sites undergo development and expansion there is 

always a consideration of environmental and community 

impact.  the  redevelopment  of  the  hull  pork  processing 

facility has been designed to reduce odour and noise, and 

incorporates systems for additional heat recovery and reduced 

water usage. new roads have been put in to relieve traffic 

flow  into  the  outskirts  of  the  village  and  acres  of  trees 

have been planted to reduce the visual impact of the site. 

improvements to the drainage systems at the norfolk site 

have been made to reduce the danger of contamination to 

local water courses.

Malcolm Windeatt 
Company Secretary 

24 may 2010

P A Ge 4 4        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

s t A t e m e n t   o F   D i R e C t o R s ’   
R e s P o n s i B i L i t i e s 

in R eL Ation to the F inAnCiAL stAtements

the  Directors  are  responsible  for  preparing  the  Annual  Report  and  the  financial  statements  in 

accordance with applicable United Kingdom law and those international Financial Reporting standards 

as adopted by the european Union.

the Directors confirm to the best of their knowledge:

•	

the financial statements, prepared in accordance with 

the applicable set of accounting standards, give a true 

•	

state that the Company and the Group has complied 

with iFRss, subject to any material departures disclosed 

and explained in the financial statements; and

and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position 

•	

make judgements and estimates that are reasonable 

and profit of Cranswick plc and the undertakings 

and prudent.

included in the consolidation taken as a whole; and 

•	

the management report includes a fair review of the 

development and performance of the business and 

the position of Cranswick plc and the undertakings 

included in the consolidation taken as a whole, 

together with a description of the principal risks and 

uncertainties that they face.

Under Company Law the directors must not approve the 

financial  statements  unless  they  are  satisfied  that  they 

present fairly the financial position and the cash flows of the 

Company and of the Group and the financial performance 

the directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 

records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company 

and the Group’s transactions and disclose with reasonable 

accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company 

and the Group and enable them to ensure that the financial 

statements  comply  with  the  Companies  Act  2006  and 

Article 4 of the iAs Regulation. they are also responsible for 

safeguarding the assets of the Company and of the Group 

and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention 

and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

of the Group for that period. in preparing these financial 

On behalf of the Board

statements the directors are required to: 

•	

select suitable accounting policies in accordance with 

iAs 8: Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting 

estimates and errors and then apply them consistently;

Martin Davey  
Chairman 

Mark Bottomley 
Finance Director

•	

present information, including accounting policies, in a 

24 may 2010

manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and 

understandable information;

•	

provide additional disclosures when compliance with 

the specific requirements in iFRss is insufficient to 

enable users to understand the impact of particular 

transactions, other events and conditions on the 

Group’s financial position and financial performance;

P A Ge 4 5        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

 
R e P o R t   o F  t h e  A U D i t o R s

to the memBeRs oF CRAnsWiCK plc

Independent auditor’s report to the 
members of Cranswick plc

Scope of the audit of the financial 
statements

We  have  audited  the  financial  statements  of  Cranswick 

An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts 

plc for the year ended 31 march 2010 which comprise the 

and  disclosures  in  the  financial  statements  sufficient  to 

Group income statement, the Group and Parent Company 

give  reasonable  assurance  that  the  financial  statements 

Balance sheets, the Group and Parent Company statements 

are free from material misstatement, whether caused by 

of Comprehensive income, the Group and Parent Company 

fraud or error. this includes an assessment of: whether the 

statements of Cash Flows, the Group and Parent Company 

accounting policies are appropriate to the Group’s and the 

statements  of  Changes  in  equity  and  the  related  notes 

parent Company’s circumstances and have been consistently 

1 to 30. the financial reporting framework that has been 

applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of 

applied in their preparation is applicable law and international 

significant accounting estimates made by the directors; and 

Financial  Reporting  standards  (iFRss)  as  adopted  by  the 

the overall presentation of the financial statements. 

european Union and, as regards the parent Company financial 

statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of 

the Companies Act 2006.

this report is made solely to the Company’s members, as 

a  body,  in  accordance  with  Chapter  3  of  Part  16  of  the 

Opinion on financial statements

in our opinion:

•	

the financial statements give a true and fair view of 

the state of the Group’s and of the parent Company’s 

affairs as at 31 march 2010 and of the Group’s profit 

Companies Act 2006. our audit work has been undertaken 

for the year then ended;

so that we might state to the Company’s members those 

matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report 

•	

the Group financial statements have been properly 

prepared in accordance with iFRss as adopted by the 

and for no other purpose. to the fullest extent permitted by 

european Union; 

law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone 

other than the Company and the Company’s members as a 

•	

the parent Company financial statements have been 

properly prepared in accordance with iFRss as adopted 

body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions 

by the european Union and as applied in accordance 

we have formed.

with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and

Respective responsibilities of directors 
and auditors

•	

the financial statements have been prepared in 

accordance with the requirements of the Companies 

Act 2006 and, as regards the group financial 

statements, Article 4 of the iAs Regulation.

As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities 

statement set out on page 45, the Directors are responsible 

for the preparation of the financial statements and for being 

satisfied that they give a true and fair view. our responsibility 

is  to  audit  the  financial  statements  in  accordance  with 

applicable law and international standards on Auditing (UK 

and  ireland).  those  standards  require  us  to  comply  with 

the  Auditing  Practices  Board’s  (APB’s)  ethical  standards 

for Auditors.

P A Ge 4 6        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

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Opinion on other matters prescribed 
by the Companies Act 2006

in our opinion:

•	

the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be 

audited has been properly prepared in accordance with 

the Companies Act 2006; 

•	

the information given in the Directors’ Report for the 

financial year for which the financial statements are 

th•	 e parent Company financial statements and the part 
of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited 

are not in agreement with the accounting records and 

returns; or

•	

certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified 

by law are not made; or

•	

we have not received all the information and 

explanations we require for our audit; or

prepared is consistent with the financial statements; 

•	

a Corporate Governance statement has not been 

and

prepared by the Company.

•	

the information given in the Corporate Governance 

statement set out on pages 29 to 34 with respect 

to internal control and risk management systems in 

relation to financial reporting processes and about 

share capital structures is consistent with the financial 

statements.

Matters on which we are required to 
report by exception

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review:

t•	 he directors’ statement, set out on page 19, in relation 

to going concern; and

•	

the part of the Corporate Governance statement on 

pages 29 to 34 relating to the company’s compliance 

with the nine provisions of the June 2008 Combined 

Code specified for our review.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following:

On behalf of Ernst & Young LLP, Statutory Auditor

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report 

to you if, in our opinion:

•	

adequate accounting records have not been kept by the 

parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have 

Stuart Watson 
Senior Statutory Auditor

not been received from branches not visited by us; or

hull, 24 may 2010

P A Ge 4 7  

      |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

Group income statement 
for the year ended 31 march 2010

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

operating expenses

2010

Total

Before
exceptionals

2009

exceptionals

total

£’000

740,338

£’000

£’000

£’000

606,774  -

606,774

N
o
t
e
s

3

(643,535)

(521,402)  -

96,803

85,372  -

(50,895)

(46,984)  -

(521,402)

85,372

(46,984)

38,388

3

(3,703)

34,688

Operating profit from continuing operations

3,4  

45,908

38,388  -

Finance revenue

Finance costs

7

7

48

(2,204)

3  -

(3,703)  -

Profit from continuing operations before tax 

43,752

34,688  -

taxation

8,5

(11,295)

(9,951)

(6,063)

(16,014)

Profit for the year from continuing operations

32,457

24,737

(6,063)

18,674

Discontinued operations:

Profit for the year from discontinued operations 

9  

125

Profit for the year attributable to owners of the parent

32,582

Earnings per share (pence)

From continuing operations:

Basic 

Diluted

On profit for the year:

Basic

Diluted

12

12

12

12

69.7p

69.6p

70.0p

69.8p

53.7p

53.5p

55.5p

55.4p

314

18,988

40.5p

40.4p

41.2p

41.1p

P A Ge 4 8        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

Group statement of comprehensive income

for the year ended 31 march 2010

Profit for the year

32,582

18,988

N
o
t
e
s

2010
£’000

2009
 £’000

Other comprehensive income

movement on hedging items:

  Gains arising in the year

  Reclassification adjustment for gains included in the income statement

exchange differences on retranslation of foreign operations

Actuarial losses on defined benefit pension scheme

Deferred tax relating to components of other comprehensive income

Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to  
owners of the parent

Company statement of comprehensive income

for the year ended 31 March 2010

19

19

26

186

(573)

24

(87)

 -

132

(318)

263

(1,029)

(29)

213

(582)

32,264

18,406

N
o
t
e
s

2010
£’000

2009
 £’000

Profit for the year

13,705

9,385

Other comprehensive income

movement on hedging items:

(Losses)/gains arising in the year

  Reclassification adjustment for gains included in the income statement

Deferred tax relating to components of other comprehensive income

Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to owners of the 
parent

19

19

(77)

(434)

143

(368)

124

(70)

(15)

39

13,337

9,424

P A Ge 4 9        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group balance sheet

at 31 march 2010

Non-current assets

Goodwill

Property, plant and equipment

Financial assets

Total non-current assets

Current assets

inventories

trade and other receivables

other financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Assets held for sale

Total assets

Current liabilities

trade and other payables

other financial liabilities

income tax payable

Provisions

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

other payables

other financial liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities

Provisions

Defined benefit pension scheme deficit

Total non-current liabilities

Liabilities held for sale

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Called-up share capital

share premium account

share-based payments

hedging and translation reserves

Retained earnings

Equity attributable to members of the parent company

N
o
t
e
s

13

14

19

17

18

19

27

2010
£’000

128,739

106,137

2009
£’000

117,756

91,688

1,500

 -

236,376

209,444

35,960

84,066

263

5,922

28,464

73,655

263

4,399

126,211

106,781

9  -

20,387

362,587

336,612

20

21

22

20

21

8

22

26

9  -

24

(86,745)

(12,487)

(3,509)

(149)

(75,273)

(34,872)

(5,955)

(334)

(102,890)

(116,434)

(82)

 -

(49,866)

(9,829)

(982)

(36,382)

(11,557)

(1,166)

(5,353)

 -

(66,112)

(49,105)

(169,002)

193,585

4,733

54,322

3,449

(124)

131,205

193,585

(4,591)

(170,130)

166,482

4,646

49,760

2,939

239

108,898

166,482

Martin Davey  
Chairman 

24 may 2010

Mark Bottomley 
Finance Director 

P A Ge 5 0        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

 
 
 
 
 
Company balance sheet

at 31 march 2010

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment 

investments in subsidiary undertakings

Deferred tax assets

Total non-current assets

Current assets

trade and other receivables

other financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

N
o
t
e
s

14

15

8

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

1,953

153,979

220

1,959

155,426

23

156,152

157,408

15,423

18

19  -

22,167

124

4,004

 -

19,427

22,291

non-current assets held for sale

9  -

343

Total assets

Current liabilities

trade and other payables

other financial liabilities

income tax payable

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

other financial liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Called-up share capital

share premium account

General reserve

merger reserve

share-based payments

hedging reserve

Retained earnings

Equity attributable to members of the parent company

175,579

180,042

20  

21  

(38,084)

(10,387)

(902)

(49,373)

(46,048)

(28,290)

(216)

(74,554)

21  

(49,530)

(36,382)

(98,903)

(110,936)

76,676

69,106

24

4,733

54,322

4,000

1,806

638

(387)

11,564

76,676

4,646

49,760

4,000

1,806

568

124

8,202

69,106

Martin Davey  
Chairman 

24 may 2010

Mark Bottomley 
Finance Director 

P A Ge 5 1  

      |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group statement of cash flows

for the year ended 31 march 2010

Operating activities

Profit for the year 

Adjustments to reconcile Group profit for the year  
to net cash inflows from operating activities

tax on discontinued operations

tax on continuing operations

net finance costs

Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment

share based payments

Difference between pension contributions paid and amounts  
recognised in the income statement

Release of government grants

Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment

increase in inventories

increase in trade and other receivables

increase in assets held for sale

(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables

Cash generated from operations

tax paid

Net cash from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

interest received

Reimbursement of consideration paid in prior years

Acquisition of subsidiaries

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

N
o
t
e
s

32,582

18,988

(95)

11,295

2,166

11,852

510

(512)

 -

(6)

(189)

(5,817)

(1,954)

(2,589)

 -

(1,356)

45,887

(13,683)

32,204

48

1,248

16  

(11,233)

 -

 -

(820)

16,014

3,971

13,859

1,000

(7)

(87)

(3,966)

(1,971)

6,381

53,362

(8,602)

44,760

3

(20,294)

376

(20,948)

258

Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations

9

18,067

 -

Net cash used in investing activities

(11,788)

(20,687)

Cash flows from financing activities

interest paid

Proceeds from issue of share capital

Proceeds from borrowings

issue costs of long-term borrowings

Repayment of borrowings

Dividends paid

(2,670)

2,924

20,000

(19,762)

(8,808)

 -

(3,591)

462

59,000

(1,280)

(70,206)

(8,769)

Repayment of capital element of finance leases and hire purchase contracts

(120)

 -

Net cash used in financing activities

(8,436)

(24,384)

net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

effect of foreign exchange rates

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

11,980

(8,038)

24

3,966

27  

27

(311)

(7,698)

(29)

(8,038)

P A Ge 5 2        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company statement of cash flows

for the year ended 31 march 2010

Operating activities

Profit for the year 

Adjustments to reconcile Company profit for the year  
to net cash inflows from operating activities

Dividends received

taxation

net finance costs

Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment

share based payments

Loss on disposal of investments

Decrease in trade and other receivables

Decrease in trade and other payables

Cash generated from operations

tax paid

Net cash from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Reimbursement of consideration paid in prior years

Dividends received

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

N
o
t
e
s

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

13,705

9,385

(8,808)

1,791

4,338

105

70

199

 -

7,392

(7,676)

11,116

(1,112)

10,004

1,248

 -

8,808

(97)

343

 -

(8,769)

108

8,064

171

251

22,445

(9,245)

22,410

(349)

22,061

8,769

(125)

Net cash generated in investing activities

10,302

8,644

Cash flows from financing activities

interest paid

Proceeds from issue of share capital

Proceeds from borrowings

issue costs of long-term borrowings

Repayment of borrowings

Dividends paid

Net cash used in financing activities

net increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

(4,801)

2,924

20,000

(19,460)

(8,808)

(10,145)

10,161

(6,157)

4,004

 -

27

27

(7,592)

462

59,000

(1,280)

(70,171)

(8,769)

(28,350)

2,355

(8,512)

(6,157)

P A Ge 5 3        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

 
 
Group statement of changes in equity

for the year ended 31 march 2010

Share
capital

Share
premium

(Note 1)
£’000

(Note 2)
£’000

Share-
based
payments
(Note 5)
£’000

Hedging
reserve

Translation 
reserve

Retained 
earnings

Total
equity

(Note 6)
£’000

(Note 7)
£’000

£’000

£’000

4,623

48,693

1,939

1,029

5

98,965

155,254

-

-

-

-

11

12

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

617

450

-

-

-

-  -

-

-

1,000  -

(766)

(766)

-  -

-  -

-  -

-  -

-  -

4,646

49,760

2,939

263

(387)

(387)

-

-

-

-

27

60

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,698

2,864

-

-

-

-  -

-

-

510  -

-  -

-  -

-  -

-  -

-  -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

18,988

18,988

(29)

(29)

213

(582)

19,201

18,406

 -

 -

 -

1,000

628

462

(9,397)

(9,397)

90

39

90

39

(24)

108,898

166,482

32,582

32,582

24

24

45

(318)

32,627

32,264

 -

 -

 -

510

1,725

2,924

(10,533)

(10,533)

78

78

135

135

As at 1 April 2008

Profit for the year

  other comprehensive income

total comprehensive income

share-based payments

scrip dividend

share options exercised

Dividends

Deferred tax relating to changes in equity

Corporation tax relating to changes  
in equity

At 31 march 2009

Profit for the year

  other comprehensive income

total comprehensive income

share-based payments

scrip dividend

share options exercised

Dividends

Deferred tax relating to changes in equity

Corporation tax relating to changes  
in equity

At 31 March 2010

4,733

54,322

3,449

(124)  -

131,205

193,585

Notes:
1. Share capital 

  the balance classified as share capital represents the nominal value of ordinary 10p shares issued.

2. Share premium 

the balance classified as share premium includes the net proceeds in excess of nominal value on issue of the Company’s equity 

share capital, comprising 10p ordinary shares.

3. General reserve 

this reserve arose in 1993 when the high Court of Justice granted permission to reduce the Company’s share premium account 

by £4,000,000 which was credited to a separate reserve named the general reserve.

4. Merger reserve 

Where shares have been issued as consideration for acquisitions, the value of shares issued in excess of nominal value has been 

credited to the merger reserve rather than to the share premium account.

P A Ge 5 4        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company statement of changes in equity

for the year ended 31 march 2010

Share
capital

Share
premium

General
reserve

Merger
reserve

(Note 1)
£’000

(Note 2)
£’000

(Note 3)
£’000

(Note 4)
£’000

Share-
based
payments
(Note 5)
£’000

As at 1 April 2008

4,623

48,693

4,000

1,806

317

70

Profit for the year

 -

other 
comprehensive 
income

total comprehensive 
income

share-based 
payments

scrip dividend

share options 
exercised

Dividends

Deferred tax relating 
to changes in equity

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

11

12

At 31 march 2009

4,646

Profit for the year

 -

other 
comprehensive 
income

total comprehensive 
income

share-based 
payments

scrip dividend

share options 
exercised

Dividends

Deferred tax relating 
to changes in equity

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

27

60

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

617  -

450

 -

49,760

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

1,698  -

2,864

 -

 -

 -

4,000

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

1,806

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

251  -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

568

70  -

 -

 -

 -

 -

Hedging
reserve

Retained
earnings

Total
equity

(Note 6)
£’000

£’000

£’000

8,199

9,385

67,708

9,385

54

54

(15)

39

9,370

9,424

 -

 -

 -

251

628

462

(9,397)

(9,397)

30

30

124

8,202

69,106

13,705  

13,705

(511)

143

(368)

(511)

13,848

13,337

 -

 -

 -

70

1,725

2,924

(10,533)

(10,533)

47

47

At 31 March 2010

4,733

54,322

4,000

1,806

638

(387)

11,564

76,676

5. Share-based payments reserve 

  this reserve records the fair value of share-based payments expensed in the income statement.

6. Hedging reserve 

this reserve records the portion of the gain or loss on a hedging instrument in a cash flow hedge that is determined to be an 

effective hedge.

7. Translation reserve 

  this reserve records exchange differences arising from the translation of the financial statements of foreign subsidiaries.

P A Ge 5 5        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
n o t e s   t o   t h e  A C C o U n t s

1.  Authorisation of financial statements and statement of compliance with IFRS

the Group and Company financial statements of Cranswick plc (the “Company”) for the year ended 31 march 2010 were 

authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 24 may 2010 and the balance sheets were signed on the Board’s behalf by 

m Davey and Jm Bottomley. Cranswick plc is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in england and Wales. 

the Company’s ordinary shares are traded on the London stock exchange.

the Group’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with international Financial Reporting standards (iFRs) 

as adopted by the european Union. the Company’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with iFRs as 

adopted by the european Union and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. the principal 

accounting policies adopted by the Group and by the Company are set out in note 2.

the Company has taken advantage of the exemption provided under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to publish 

its individual income statement and related notes.

2.  Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

the financial statements of Cranswick plc, both consolidated and Company, have been prepared under iFRs as adopted by 

the european Union. A summary of the principal accounting policies, which have been consistently applied throughout the 

year and the preceding year, is as follows:

Basis of consolidation

the Group financial statements consolidate the financial statements of Cranswick plc and its subsidiaries. the results of 

undertakings acquired or sold are consolidated for the periods from the date of acquisition or up to the date of disposal. 

Acquisitions are accounted for under the purchase method of accounting.

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

the preparation of financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the 

amounts reported for assets and liabilities as at the balance sheet date and the amounts reported for revenues and expenses during 

the year. however, the nature of estimation means that actual outcomes could differ from those estimates.

in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies, management has made the following judgements, apart from those 

involving estimations, which have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements:

Share-based payments

note 25 – measurement of share-based payments

Goodwill

Provisions

Pensions

note 13 – measurement of the recoverable amount of cash generating units containing goodwill

note 22 – judgements in relation to amounts provided

note 26 – Pension scheme actuarial assumptions

Acquisitions

note 16 – acquisition fair values 

P A Ge 5 6        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

Foreign currencies

in the accounts of the Group’s companies, individual transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated into 

functional currency at the actual exchange rates ruling at the dates of the transactions.  monetary assets and liabilities 

denominated in foreign currencies are translated into functional currency at the rates ruling at the balance sheet date. Profits 

and losses on both individual foreign currency transactions during the year and monetary assets and liabilities are dealt with 

in the income statement.

on consolidation, the income statements of the overseas subsidiaries are translated at the average exchange rates for the 

year and the balance sheets at the exchange rates at the balance sheet date. the exchange differences arising as a result of 

translating income statements at weighted average rates and restating opening net assets at closing rates are taken to the 

translation reserve and the gain or loss on disposal of an overseas subsidiary is calculated after taking into account cumulative 

exchange gains or losses in respect of that subsidiary. Cumulative exchange differences at the date of transition to iFRs were 

deemed to be nil. 

Revenue

Revenue is recognised to the extent it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Group and the revenue, and 

any associated costs can be measured reliably. Revenue on the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and 

rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer on despatch and represents the value of sales to customers net 

of discounts, similar allowances and estimates of returns and excludes value added tax.

Intangible assets

Goodwill is the excess of the fair value of the consideration paid for a business over the fair value of the identifiable assets, 

liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired. Goodwill is capitalised and subject to an impairment review, both annually and 

when there are indications that the carrying value may not be recoverable. 

impairment is determined by assessing the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the goodwill relates. 

Where the recoverable amount is less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognised. When an entity is disposed 

of, any goodwill associated with it is included in the carrying amount of the operation when determining the gain or loss on 

disposal except that goodwill arising on acquisitions prior to 31 march 2004 which was previously deducted from equity is 

not recycled through the income statement.

intangible assets acquired as part of an acquisition of a business are capitalised at fair value separately from goodwill only if the 

fair value can be measured reliably on initial recognition and the future economic benefits are expected to flow to the Group.

Taxation

Current tax assets and liabilities are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities, 

based on tax rates and laws that are enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. Deferred tax is provided 

on temporary differences at the balance sheet date between the tax base of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts 

for financial reporting purposes.

Deferred income tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary differences:

i)  except where the deferred income tax liability arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or the initial recognition of 

an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a business combination and, at the time of the transaction, affects neither 

accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss; and

ii) in respect of taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, except where the timing of the 

reversal of the temporary differences can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary differences will not reverse 

in the foreseeable future.

P A Ge 5 7        |        C R A N S W I C K   p l c  RePoR

t  &   A C CoUn t s  2 0 1 0

Deferred income tax assets are recognised for all deductible temporary differences, carry-forward of unused tax assets and 

unused tax losses, to the extent that it is probable that the temporary differences will reverse in the foreseeable future and 

taxable profits will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilised:

i)  except where the deferred income tax asset relating to the deductible temporary difference arises from the initial recognition 

of an asset or a liability in a transaction that is not a business combination and, at the time of the transaction, affects neither 

the accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss; and

ii) in respect of deductible temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, deferred tax assets are only 

recognised to the extent that it is probable that the temporary differences will reverse in the foreseeable future and taxable 

profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilised.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that apply to the period when the asset is realised 

or the liability is settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance 

sheet date.

income taxes relating to items recognised directly in equity are recognised in equity and not in the income statement. otherwise 

income tax is recognised in the income statement.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are included at cost less accumulated depreciation and any provision for impairment.

Freehold land is not depreciated. Depreciation is charged on property, plant and equipment on the depreciable amount, being 

cost less the estimated residual value (based on prices prevailing at the balance sheet date) on a straight line basis over their 

estimated useful economic lives, or the estimated useful economic lives of their individual parts.

Useful economic lives are principally as follows:

  Freehold buildings   

  short leasehold improvements  

  Plant and equipment 

  motor vehicles 

50 years 

Residue of lease 

5 - 11 years 

4 years

the carrying value of property, plant and equipment is reviewed for impairment individually or at the cash generating unit 

level when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

Capitalised borrowing costs

Borrowing costs incurred in financing the construction of qualifying assets such as property, plant and equipment are capitalised 

up to the date at which the relevant asset is substantially complete. Borrowing costs are calculated using the Group’s weighted 

average cost of borrowing during the period of capitalisation. All other borrowing costs are expensed as incurred.

Accounting for leases

i)  Finance leases

  Assets which are financed by leasing agreements that transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the 

lessee (finance leases) are capitalised at the inception of the lease at fair value or, if lower, the present value of the minimum 

lease payments, in ‘Property, plant and equipment’ and the corresponding capital cost is shown as an obligation to the 

lessor in ‘Borrowings’. Depreciation is charged to the income statement over the shorter of the estimated useful life and 

the term of the lease. the interest element of the rental obligations is allocated to accounting periods during the lease term 

to reflect a constant rate of interest on the remainder of the capital amount outstanding.

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ii) Operating leases

  Leases, which are not finance leases, are classified as operating leases. Lease payments are charged to the income statement 

on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.

Government grants and contributions

UK  Regional  Development  Grants  and  grants  receivable  from  the  european  Union  and  DeFRA  in  respect  of  property,  

plant  and  equipment  are  credited  to  deferred  income  and  released  to  the  income  statement  over  the  relevant  

depreciation period.

Inventories

inventories are stated at the lower of cost (on a first in, first out basis) and net realisable value after making allowance for any 

obsolete or slow-moving items. in the case of finished goods, cost comprises direct materials, direct labour and an appropriate 

proportion of manufacturing fixed and variable overheads based on a normal level of activity.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash equivalents are defined as cash at bank and in hand including short term deposits with original maturity within 3 months. 

For the purposes of the Group cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and cash equivalents net of 

outstanding bank overdrafts.

Financial instruments

i)  Debt instruments, including bank borrowings

  Debt instruments are initially recognised at the fair value of net proceeds received after the deduction of issue costs. 

subsequently debt instruments are recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest method. issue costs are charged 

to the income statement over the term of the debt at a constant rate on the balance sheet carrying amount under the 

effective interest method.

ii) Derivative financial instruments 

  the Group uses derivative financial instruments such as foreign currency contracts and interest rate swaps to hedge its cash 

flow risks associated with interest rate and foreign currency fluctuations. such derivative financial instruments are stated 

at fair value.

  the fair value of forward contracts is calculated by reference to current forward exchange rates for contracts with a similar 

maturity profile. the fair value of interest rate swaps is determined by reference to market values for similar instruments.

  Where derivatives meet the hedging criteria under iAs 39 for cash flow hedges the portion of the gain or loss on the 

hedging instrument that is determined to be an effective hedge is recognised directly in equity and the ineffective portion 

is recognised in the income statement. Gains or losses recognised in equity are transferred to the income statement in the 

same period in which the hedged item affects the net profit or loss.

  For derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting under iAs 39, any gains or losses arising from changes in fair value 

are taken directly to net profit or loss for the period.

Financial assets – Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an 

active market, do not qualify as trading assets and have not been designated as either fair value through profit and loss or 

available-for-sale.  such assets are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method if the time value of money 

is significant.  Gains and losses are recognised in the income statement when the loans and receivables are derecognised or 

impaired, as well as through the amortisation process.

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Employee benefits

i)  Pensions

  the group operates a defined benefit pension scheme for certain employees which requires contributions to be made to 

a separate trustee administered fund. the scheme was closed to new members on 30 June 2004.

  the liability recognised in the balance sheet in respect of the defined benefit pension scheme is the present value of 

the defined benefit obligation at the balance sheet date less the fair value of plan assets, together with adjustments for 

unrecognised past-service costs. the defined benefit obligation is calculated annually by independent actuaries using the 

projected unit method. the present value of the defined benefit obligation is determined by discounting the estimated 

future cash outflows using interest rates of high quality corporate bonds that are denominated in sterling, and that have 

terms to maturity approximating to the terms of the related pension liability.

  the amounts charged to operating profit are any gains and losses on settlements and curtailments, and these are included 

as part of staff costs.

  Past-service costs are recognised immediately in income, unless the changes to the pension scheme are conditional on the 

employees remaining in service for a specified period of time (the vesting period). in this case, the past-service costs are 

amortised on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

  the difference between the interest cost on plan liabilities and the expected return on plan assets is recognised in the 

income statement as other finance revenue or costs.

  Actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are charged or credited 

to equity in the statement of comprehensive income in the period in which they arise.

  the Group also operates a number of defined contribution schemes for employees under which contributions are paid into 

schemes managed by major insurance companies. Contributions are calculated as a percentage of employees’ earnings and 

obligations for contributions to the schemes are recognised as cost of sales or operating expenses in the income statement 

in the period in which they arise.

ii) Equity settled share based payments

  the Group operates a savings related share option scheme under which options have been granted to Group employees 

(‘sAYe scheme’). in addition, the Group operates an executive share option scheme and a Long term incentive Plan (‘LtiP’) 

for senior executives. share options issued are exercisable subject to the attainment of certain market based and non-market 

based performance criteria.

  the cost of equity-settled transactions with employees is measured by reference to the fair value at the date on which 

they are granted and is recognised as an expense over the vesting period, which ends on the date on which the relevant 

employees become fully entitled to the award. Fair value is determined using the Black-scholes option pricing model. in 

valuing equity-settled transactions, no account is taken of any service and performance (vesting conditions), other than 

performance conditions linked to the price of the shares of the Company (market conditions). Any other conditions which 

are required to be met in order for an employee to become fully entitled to an award are considered to be non-vesting 

conditions. Like market performance conditions, non-vesting conditions are taken into account in determining the grant 

date fair value. 

  no expense is recognised for awards that do not ultimately vest, except for awards where vesting is conditional upon a 

market or non-vesting condition, which are treated as vesting irrespective of whether or not the market or non-vesting 

condition is satisfied, provided that all other performance or service conditions are satisfied.

  At each balance sheet date before vesting, the cumulative expense is calculated; representing the extent to which the 

vesting period has expired and management’s best estimate of the number of equity instruments that will ultimately vest. 

the movement in cumulative expense since the previous balance sheet date is recognised in the income statement, with a 

corresponding entry in equity. 

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  Where the terms of an equity-settled award are modified or a new award is designated as replacing a cancelled or settled 

award, the cost based on the original award terms continues to be recognised over the original vesting period. in addition, 

an expense is recognised over the remainder of the new vesting period for the incremental fair value of any modification, 

based on the difference between the fair value of the original award and the fair value of the modified award, both as 

measured on the date of the modification. no reduction is recognised if this difference is negative.

  Where an equity-settled award is cancelled (including when a non-vesting condition within the control of the entity or 

employee is not met), it is treated as if it had vested on the date of cancellation, and any cost not yet recognised in the 

income statement for the award is expensed immediately. Any compensation paid up to the fair value of the award at the 

cancellation or settlement date is deducted from equity, with any excess over fair value being treated as an expense in the 

income statement.

  on transition to iFRs, the Group did not apply the measurement rules of iFRs 2 to equity settled awards granted before 7 

november 2002 or granted after that date and vested before 1 January 2005. however later modifications of such equity 

instruments are measured under iFRs 2.

Non-current assets held for sale

non-current assets and disposal groups classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of carrying amount and fair 

value less costs to sell. non-current assets and disposal groups are classified as held for sale if their carrying amounts will be 

recovered through a sale transaction rather than through continuing use. this condition is regarded as met only when the 

sale is highly probable and the asset or disposal group is available for immediate sale in its present condition. management 

must be committed to the sale, which should be expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year 

from the date of classification. 

in the consolidated income statement for the reporting period, and for the comparable period of the previous year, income 

and expenses from discontinued operations are reported separately from continuing income and expenses down to the level 

of profit after taxes, even when the Group retains a non-controlling interest in the subsidiary after the sale. the resulting 

profit or loss (after taxes) is reported separately in the income statement.

Property, plant and equipment once classified as held for sale are not depreciated.

Exceptional items

exceptional items are material items which derive from events or transactions that fall within the ordinary activities of the 

reporting entity and which individually or, if of a similar type, in aggregate need to be disclosed by virtue of their size or 

incidence if the financial statements are to give a true and fair view.

Dividends

Dividends receivable by the Company are recognised in the income statement if they are declared, appropriately authorised 

and no longer at the discretion of the entity paying the dividend, prior to the balance sheet date. Dividends payable by the 

Company are recognised when declared and therefore final dividends proposed after the balance sheet date are not recognised 

as a liability at the balance sheet date. Dividends paid to shareholders are shown as a movement in equity rather than on 

the face of the income statement.

Investments

investments in subsidiaries are shown at cost less any provision for impairment.

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New standards and interpretations applied

the following accounting standards and interpretations became effective for the current reporting period:

International Accounting Standards (IAS/IFRS)

iFRs 2

iFRs 7

iFRs 8

iAs 1

iAs 23

isA 27

iAs 32

share-based Payments: vesting Conditions and Cancellations (Amendments)

Financial instruments: Disclosures (Amendments)

operating segments

Presentation of Financial statements (Revised)

Borrowing Costs (Revised)

Consolidated and separate Financial statements (Amendments)

Financial instruments: Presentation and iAs 1 Puttable Financial instruments and obligations arising on 
Liquidation (Amendment)

improvements to iFRss (may 2008)

International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC)

iFRiC 9

iFRiC 13

iFRiC 15

iFRiC 16

iFRiC 18

Remeasurement of embedded Derivatives and iAs 39 Financial instruments: Recognition and measurement

Customer Loyalty Programmes

Agreements for the Construction of Real estate 

hedges of a net investment in a Foreign operation

transfer of Assets from Customers

the application of iAs 1 (Revised) ‘Presentation of Financial statements’ has resulted in the Group presenting both a Group 

statement of comprehensive income (which replaces the Group statement of recognised income and expense) and a Group 

statement of changes in equity (which replaces the Group reconciliation of movements in equity) as primary statements. the 

Group statement of changes in equity presents all changes in equity, and the Group statement of comprehensive income 

presents all changes in financial position other than through transactions with owners. this presentation has been applied in 

these financial statements for the year ended 31 march 2010. Comparative information has also been presented so that it is 

also in conformity with the revised standard.

iFRs 8 ‘operating segments’ replaces iAs 14, ‘segment Reporting’ and requires the disclosure of segment information on the 

same basis as the management information provided to the chief operating decision maker. the adoption of this standard 

has not resulted in a change in the Group’s reportable segments.

the application of the remaining standards and interpretations has not had a material effect on the net assets, results and 

disclosures of the Group.

New standards and interpretations not applied

the iAsB and iFRiC have issued a number of new standards and interpretations with an effective date after the date of 

these financial statements. the Directors do not consider that the adoption of these standards and interpretations will have 

a material impact on the Group’s and Company’s financial statements in the period of initial application. the standards not 

applied are as follows:

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International Accounting Standards (IAS/IFRS)

First time Adoption of international Reporting standards 

Amendments to iFRs 1 – Additional exemptions for First-time Adopters 

Amendments to iFRs 1 – Limited exemption from Comparative iFRs 7 disclosures 

1 July 2010 

Amendments to iFRs 2 – Group Cash-settled share-based Payment transactions 

1 January 2010 

iFRs 1 

iFRs 1 

iFRs 1 

iFRs 2 

iFRs 3 

iFRs 9 

iAs 24 

iAs 27 

iAs 32 

iAs 39 

Business Combinations (Revised January 2008) 

Financial instruments: Classification & measurement 

Related Party Disclosures (Revised) 

Consolidated and separate Financial statements (Revised January 2008) 

Amendment to iAs 32: Classification of Rights issues 

eligible hedged items 

improvements to iFRs (issued April 2009) 

International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC)

iFRiC 14 

iFRiC 17 

iFRiC 19 

Amendment: Prepayments of a minimum Funding Requirement 

Distributions of non-Cash Assets to owners 

extinguishing Financial Liabilities with equity instruments 

Effective date*

1 July 2009 

1 January 2010 

1 July 2009 

1 January 2013 

1 January 2011 

1 July 2009 

1 February 2010 

1 July 2009 

various dates

Effective date

1 January 2011 

1 July 2009 

1 July 2010 

*the effective dates stated above are those given in the original iAsB/iFRiC standards and interpretations. As the Group 

prepares its financial statements in accordance with iFRs as adopted by the european Union, the application of new standards 

and interpretations will be subject to their having been endorsed for use in the eU via the eU endorsement mechanism. in 

the majority of cases this will result in an effective date consistent with that given in the original standard or interpretation 

but the need for endorsement restricts the Group’s discretion to early adopt standards.

the Group has not early adopted the revised iFRs 3 and so will apply it prospectively to all business combinations on or after 

1 April 2010. Whilst it is not possible to estimate the outcome of adoption, the key features of the revised iFRs 3 include a 

requirement for acquisition-related costs to be expensed and not included in the purchase price; and for contingent consideration 

to be recognised at fair value on the acquisition date (with subsequent changes recognised in the income statement and not 

as a change to goodwill). the standard also changes the treatment of minority interests with an option to recognise these 

at full fair value as at the acquisition date and a requirement for previously held minority interests to be fair valued as at the 

date control is obtained, with gains and losses recognised in the income statement. 

iAs 27 revised is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2009, in line with the revised iFRs 3. the revised 

standard no longer restricts the allocation to minority interest of losses incurred by a subsidiary to the amount of the minority 

equity investment in the subsidiary.

Any future partial disposal of equity interest in a subsidiary that does not result in a loss of control will be accounted for as an 

equity transaction and will have no impact on goodwill, nor will it give rise to any gain or loss. Where there is loss of control 

of a subsidiary, any retained interest will have to be remeasured to fair value, which will impact the gain or loss recognised 

on disposal. 

the Directors do not anticipate that the adoption of the remaining standards and interpretations will have a material impact 

on the Group’s financial statements in the period of initial application.

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3.  Business and geographical segments

the Group has adopted iFRs 8 ‘operating segments’ with effect from 1 April 2009. iFRs 8 requires operating segments to 

be identified on the basis of the internal financial information reported to the Chief operating Decision maker (‘CoDm’). the 

Group’s CoDm is deemed to be the Board, which is primarily responsible for the allocation of resources to segments and the 

assessment of performance of the segments.

the CoDm assesses profit performance using profit before taxation measured on a basis consistent with the disclosure in 

the Group accounts.

the Group continues to report on two reportable segments:

•	

Food – manufacture and supply of food products to UK grocery retailers, the food service sector  

and other food producers

•	

Pet – sales into the pet and aquatic sector through the supply of bird and small animal food, marine fish  

and aquatic products. this segment was discontinued during the year ended 31 march 2009

All Group revenues are received for the provision of goods; no revenues are received in relation to the provision of services.

Previously, segments were determined and presented in accordance with iAs 14, ‘segment Reporting’. the adoption of iFRs 

8 has not resulted in a change in the Group’s reportable segments.

Segment revenues and results

Food

2010

Pet

Total

Food

2009

Pet

total

Continuing Discontinued

Continuing Discontinued

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

Revenue

740,338

3,620

743,958

606,774

46,491

653,265

Operating profit before  
central costs

Central costs

Operating profit

net finance costs

50,882

(4,974)  -

45,908

(2,156)

Fair value remeasurement loss

 -

 -

Profit before tax (Segment results)

43,752

income taxes

Profit for the year

(11,295)

32,457

there was no inter-segment turnover in either period.

40

50,922

43,481

2,309

45,790

(4,974)

45,948

(2,166)

43,782

(11,200)

40

(10)

 -

30

95

125

32,582

 -

(5,093)  -

38,388

(3,700)

34,688

(16,014)

18,674

(5,093)

2,309

40,697

(271)

(2,544)

(3,971)

(2,544)

(506)

34,182

820

314

(15,194)

18,988

Assets and liabilities

non-current assets

Current assets

other - Goodwill

total segment assets

Unallocated assets

Consolidated total assets

non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

total segment liabilities

Unallocated liabilities

Consolidated total liabilities

107,637  -

126,211  -

128,739  -

362,587  -

66,112  -

102,890  -

169,002  -

 -

 -

107,637

126,211

128,739

362,587

362,587

91,688  -

91,688

101,804

20,387

122,191

117,756  -

117,756

311,248

20,387

331,635

66,112

 -

 -

 -

70,970

70,970

4,591

4,591

102,890

169,002

169,002

4,977

336,612

75,561

75,561

94,569

170,130

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Unallocated assets and liabilities in the prior year comprised certain items of property, plant and equipment, loan notes, net 

debt and taxation balances which were managed on a Group basis. subsequent to the sale of the Pet business all assets and 

liabilities have been allocated to the Food segment.

on  24  April  2009  the  assets  and  liabilities  of  the  Pet  segment  were  disposed  of  as  described  in  note  9.  At  31  march 

2009  the  assets  and  liabilities  of  the  Pet  segment  had  been  designated  as  held  for  sale  and  its  operations  treated  as 

discontinued. the turnover and operating profit of the Pet segment for 2010 reflects its trading for the period prior to sale. 

Other segment information

Food  

2010

Pet

Total

Food  

2009

Pet  

total

Continuing   Discontinued

Continuing   Discontinued

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

Capital expenditure:  
Property, plant and 
equipment

Depreciation

20,457  -

11,852  -

20,457

11,852

20,136

1,069

21,205

10,930

718

11,648

in addition to the depreciation reported above, impairment losses of £nil (2009 - £2,211,000) were recognised on property 

plant and equipment in the Pet segment during the prior year on recognition as held for sale.

Geographical segments

the following table sets out sales by destination, regardless of where the goods were produced:

Sales revenue by geographical market

Food 
Continuing
£’000

2010
Pet 
Discontinued
£’000

UK

Continental europe

Rest of World

723,901

15,804

633

3,620

-

-

Total

£’000

727,521

15,804

633

Food 
Continuing
£’000

2009
Pet 
Discontinued
£’000

total

£’000

599,639

43,640

643,279

7,135

-

2,443

408

9,578

408

740,338

3,620

743,958

606,774

46,491

653,265

the following table sets out the geographical location of the Group’s non-current assets:

Carrying amount of segment non-current assets

Food 
Continuing
£’000

236,376

2010
Pet 
Discontinued
£’000

Total

£’000

Food 
Continuing
£’000

2009
Pet 
Discontinued
£’000

total

£’000

-

236,376

209,444

-

209,444

UK

Customer concentration

the Group has three customers within the continuing Food segment which individually account for greater than 10 per cent 

of the Group’s total net revenue. these customers account for 31 per cent, 20 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. in the 

prior year, these same three customers accounted for 32 per cent, 16 per cent and 12 per cent.

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4.  Group operating profit 

this is stated after charging/(crediting):

operating costs:

selling and distribution

Administration

2010

 Continuing   Discontinued  

£’000

£’000

Total
£’000

 Continuing
£’000

2009
 Discontinued
£’000

29,000

21,895

50,895

162

452

614

29,162

22,347

51,509

25,979

21,005

46,984

2,700

5,981

8,681

total
£’000

28,679

26,986

55,665

Depreciation of property, plant 
and equipment

impairment of property plant and 
equipment

 -

Release of government grants

operating lease payments – 
minimum lease payments 

11,852

 -

11,852

10,930

718

11,648

 -

 -

(6)

 -

119

2,092

(6)

(7)

 -

2,211

(7)

4,907

923

net foreign currency differences

(203)

 -

(203)

4,876

16

4,892

4,717

521

190

402

Cost of inventories recognised as 
an expense 

increase in provision for 
inventories

Audit of these financial 
statements*

494,507

2,752

497,259

475,070

31,391

506,461

384

 -

152

 -

384

152

177

128

62

17

239

145

* £25,000 relates to the Company and consolidation (2009 - £25,000) and £127,000 (2009 - £120,000) relates to audit of 
the financial statements of subsidiaries.

in addition, payments to ernst & Young LLP for non audit services amounted to £450,000 (2009 - £85,000) of which £2,000 

related to an audit related service (2009 – £4,000), £374,000 (2009 - £15,000) related to due diligence services and £74,000 

(2009 - £66,000) to taxation.

Fees paid to ernst & Young LLP for non-audit services by the Company itself are not disclosed in the individual accounts  

of  Cranswick  plc  because  Group  financial  statements  are  prepared  which  are  required  to  disclose  such  fees  on  a  

consolidated basis.

5.  Exceptional items

non-recurring expense during the year was as follows:

 Continuing 
£’000

2010
   Discontinued
£’000

Total
£’000

 Continuing
£’000

2009
   Discontinued
£’000

total
£’000

Recognised below operating 
profit

Deferred tax on abolition of 
industrial Buildings Allowances

Cash flow impact of exceptionals

 -

 -

-

 -

-

 -

(6,063)

(541)

(6,604)

 -

-

 -

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6.  Employees

Group

staff costs:

Wages and salaries

social security costs

other pension costs

2010
  Continuing  Discontinued
£’000

£’000

Total
£’000

2009
  Continuing  Discontinued
£’000

£’000

89,899

8,272

1,427

99,598

446

45

10

501

90,345

8,317

1,437

100,099

69,199

6,370

1,364

76,933

4,769

447

70

5,286

total
£’000

73,968

6,817

1,434

82,219

included within wages and salaries is a total expense for share-based payments of £510,000, of which a credit of £13,000 

related to discontinued operations (2009 - £1,000,000, of which a charge of £143,000 related to discontinued operations) 

all of which arises from transactions accounted for as equity-settled share-based payment transactions.

the average monthly number of employees during the year was:

Group

2010
  Continuing  Discontinued
Number

Number

Total
  Number

2009
  Continuing  Discontinued
number

number

Production

selling and distribution

Administration

3,787

179

172

4,138

10

4

3

17

3,797

183

175

4,155

2,988

193

168

3,349

114

43

35

192

total
number

3,102

236

203

3,541

the Group and Company consider the Directors to be the Key management Personnel. Details of each Director’s remuneration, 

pension contributions and share options are detailed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 35 to 40. the employee 

costs shown above include the following remuneration in respect of Directors of the Company:

Group and Company

2010
  Continuing  Discontinued
£’000

£’000

Total
£’000

4,172

345

4,517

2009
  Continuing  Discontinued
£’000

£’000

3,517

447

3,964

407

62

469

4,144

340

4,484

28

5

33

total
£’000

3,924

509

4,433

18

Directors’ remuneration

Pension contribution

Aggregate gains made by 
Directors on exercise of  
share options

no. of directors receiving 
pension contributions under 
money purchase schemes

562

 -

562

18

 -

 5

 1

 6

 4

 1

 5

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7.  Finance revenue and costs

2010

2009

  Continuing  Discontinued  

£’000

£’000

Total
£’000

  Continuing  Discontinued  

£’000

£’000

Finance revenue

Bank interest received

Finance revenue from  
non-current financial assets

3  -

45  -

48  -

Finance costs

Loan note interest paid

1  -

Bank interest paid and similar 
charges

total interest expense for 
financial liabilities not at fair 
value through profit or loss

net finance cost on defined 
benefit pension deficit

Finance charge payable 
under finance leases and hire 
purchase contracts

movement in discount on 
provisions

1,933

1,934

218  -

28  -

24  -

total
£’000

3

 -

3  -

 -

3  -

 -

 3

3

45

48

1

27

-

27

10

10

1,943

3,642

271

3,913

1,944

3,669

271

3,940

 -

 -

218

28

24

 -

 -

 -

 -

34

3,703

-

271

34

3,974

Total finance costs

2,204

10

2,214

the interest relates to financial assets and liabilities carried at amortised cost together with the impact of interest rate swaps.

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8.  Taxation 

a) Analysis of tax charge in the year

tax charge based on the profit for the year:

UK corporation tax:

UK corporation tax on profits of the year

Adjustments in respect of previous years

total current tax

UK deferred tax:

origination and reversal of temporary differences

Adjustments in respect of previous years

total deferred tax

2010

£’000

11,391

(19)

11,372

739

(911)

(172)

2009

£’000

11,112

(314)

10,798

3,956

440

4,396

Tax on profit on ordinary activities

11,200

15,194

the tax charge in the income statement is disclosed as follows:

income tax expense on continuing operations

income tax credit on discontinued operations

tax relating to items charged or credited directly to equity:

Group

Recognised in Group statement of comprehensive income

Deferred tax on revaluation of cash flow hedges

Deferred tax on actuarial losses on defined benefit pension scheme

Recognised in Group statement of changes in equity

Deferred tax on share-based payments

Corporation tax credit on share options exercised

2010

£’000

11,295

(95)

11,200

2010

£’000

(108)

(24)

 -

(132)

(78)

(135)

(213)

2009

£’000

16,014

(820)

15,194

2009

£’000

(213)

(213)

(90)

(39)

(129)

Total tax credit recognised directly in equity

(345)

(342)

Company

Recognised in Company statement of comprehensive income

Deferred tax on revaluation of cash flow hedges

Recognised in Company statement of changes in equity

Deferred tax on share-based payments

Total tax credit recognised directly in equity

2010

£’000

(143)

(47)

(190)

2009

£’000

15

(30)

(15)

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b) Factors affecting tax charge for the period

the tax assessed for the year is lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK. the differences are explained 

below:

2010

£’000

43,782

12,259

550

(679)

(930)

11,200

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

2009

£’000

34,182

9,571

145

619

(872)

(456)

6,004

(94)

151

126

15,194

2010

£’000

2009

£’000

11,804

10,883

129

(219)

(386)

811

326

(463)

(1,499)

 -

9,829

11,557

2010

£’000

284

155

(682)

143

 -

(72)

(172)

2009

£’000

(935)

(114)

(122)

6,004

(437)

4,396

Profit on ordinary activities before tax

Profit on ordinary activities multiplied by standard rate of corporation tax  
in the UK of 28 per cent (2009 - 28 per cent)

effect of:

Disallowed expenses 

impairment of assets held for resale

Release of deferred tax on discontinued operations

Release of deferred tax on change of tax base

industrial buildings allowances

share-based payment deduction

other

Adjustments in respect of prior years

Total tax charge for the year

c) Deferred tax

Group

the deferred tax included in the balance sheet is as follows:

Deferred tax liability in the balance sheet

Accelerated capital allowances

Rollover and holdover relief

other temporary differences

share-based payments

Deferred tax on defined benefit pension scheme

Deferred tax liability

the deferred tax included in the income statement is as follows:

Deferred tax in the income statement

Accelerated capital allowances

share-based payments

Rollover relief

industrial buildings allowances

 -

Deferred tax on defined benefit pension scheme

other temporary differences

Deferred tax (credit)/expense

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Company

the deferred tax included in the balance sheet is as follows:

Deferred tax asset in the balance sheet

Accelerated capital allowances

Rollover relief

other temporary differences

share-based payments

Deferred tax asset

2010

£’000

182

56

(281)

(177)

(220)

2009

£’000

32

56

36

(147)

(23)

d) Temporary differences associated with Group investments

At 31 march 2010 no deferred tax liability has been recognised (2009 - £nil) in respect of any taxes that would be payable 

on the unremitted earnings of certain of the Group’s subsidiaries as the Group can control the timing of any such payments. 

there are no income tax consequences to the Group in relation to dividends paid to shareholders.

9.  Sale of a business (discontinued operations)   

on 24 April 2009, the Group sold the trade and certain assets and liabilities of the Group’s pet division to a management 

buyout team. Cranswick plc has retained a 5.5 per cent share in the business. the Pet Division manufactured and sold bird 

food and also imported and sold tropical marine fish and related products. the initial proceeds of the disposal of £17.0 million, 

plus a subsequent working capital adjustment of £1.4 million, were received in cash. As at 31 march 2009 the assets and 

liabilities of the pet division, which were later disposed, were classified as held for sale and carried at their fair value; with 

the loss on reclassification to held for sale being recognised in the income statement in that period. in accordance with iFRs 

5 the results of the pet division to the date of sale have been treated as discontinued and shown as a single line item at the 

foot of the income statement and the prior year comparatives have been similarly disclosed.

the results of the pet division are presented below:

Revenue

expenses

Operating profit

Finance cost

Loss recognised on remeasurement to fair value

Profit/(loss) before tax from discontinued operations 

tax credit

Profit for the year from discontinued operations 

the tax credit is analysed as follows:

on profit on ordinary activities for the period

exceptional charge on abolition of iBAs

on reclassification to assets held for resale

2010

£’000

3,620

(3,580)

40

(10)

30

95

125

95

95

 -

 -

 -

2009

£’000

46,491

(44,182)

2,309

(271)

(2, 544)

(506)

820

314

(607)

(541)

1,968

820

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the net assets of the Pet Division which were disposed were as follows:

net assets disposed of:

Property, plant and equipment

inventories

trade and other receivables

trade and other payables

total consideration satisfied by cash

Costs associated with disposal, settled in cash

net cash inflow arising on disposal

£’000

8,210

6,447

6,524

(2,796)

18,385

18,385

(318)

18,067

the cash flow impact of the exceptional charge on abolition of industrial Building Allowances in the year ended 31 march 

2009 was £nil.

For the year ended 31 march 2009, on recognition of the Pet Division as discontinued, £20,387,000 of assets (£343,000 of 

which were included in the balance sheet of the Company) and £4,591,000 of liabilities were classified as held for resale.

the net cash flows attributable to the discontinued Pet Division, excluding disposal cash flows were as follows:

operating cash flows

investing cash flows

Financing cash flows

Net (outflow)/inflow

Profit per share from discontinued operations was as follows:

Basic

Diluted

10.  Profit attributable to members

2010

£’000

(448)

-

(10)

(458)

0.3p

0.2p

2009

£’000

2,576

(1,068)

(562)

946

0.7p

0.7p

of the profit attributable to members, the sum of £13,705,000 (2009 - £9,385,000) has been dealt with in the accounts of 

Cranswick plc.

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11.  Equity dividends

Declared and paid during the year:

Final dividend for 2009 – 14.7p per share (2008 – 13.4p)

interim dividend for 2010 – 8.0p per share (2009 – 7.0p)

Dividends paid

2010

£’000

6,802

3,731

10,533

2009

£’000

6,169

3,228

9,397

Proposed for approval of Shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 26 July 2010:

Final dividend for 2010 – 17.0p (2009 – 14.7p)

8,016

6,801

12.  Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share amounts are calculated by dividing net profit for the year attributable to members of the parent company 

of £32,582,000 (2009 - £18,988,000) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year. in calculating 

diluted earnings per share amounts, the weighted average number of shares is adjusted for the weighted average number of 

ordinary shares that would be issued on the conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares into ordinary shares.

the Group discloses in its consolidated income statement as exceptional items those material items which individually or, if 

of a similar type, in aggregate need to be disclosed by virtue of their size or incidence if the financial statements are to give 

a true and fair view. Accordingly, basic and diluted earnings per share are also presented on this basis using the weighted 

average number of ordinary shares for both basic and diluted amounts as per the table below:

Basic weighted average number of shares

Dilutive potential ordinary shares – share options

2010

2009

Thousands

thousands

46,534

112

46,646

46,099

127

46,226

Basic weighted average number of shares for 2010 excludes 176,581 shares (2009 – 195,000 shares) held during the year by 

the Cranswick plc employee Benefit trust.

13.  Intangible fixed assets  

Group

Cost

At 31 march 2008 and 31 march 2009

Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings

Reimbursement of consideration paid in prior years

At 31 March 2010

Impairments as at 31 March 2008, 2009 and 2010

Net book value

net book amount at 31 march 2009

Net book amount at 31 March 2010

Goodwill

£’000

 117,756

12,231

 (1,248)

 128,739

-

117,756

128,739

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on 24 June 2009, the Group acquired 100% of the issued share capital of Bowes of norfolk Limited. Goodwill on acquisition 

amounted to £12,231,000. Further details of the acquisition are disclosed in note 16.

During the year, the Company received a reimbursement of consideration of £1,248,000 from the vendor in relation to an 

acquisition in a prior year. the reimbursement was an agreed adjustment in respect of the total amount payable.

the Group has no other intangible assets. 

Goodwill is subject to annual impairment testing. Goodwill acquired through business combinations has been allocated for 

impairment testing purposes to the following principal cash-generating units:

Cash generating unit

Fresh Pork

Cooked meats

sandwiches

Continental Fine Foods

other

Assumptions used

2010

£’000

12,231

85,655

16,526

10,968

3,359

128,739

2009

£’000

-

86,903

16,526

10,968

3,359

117,756

the recoverable amount for each cash generating unit has been determined based on value in use calculations using annual 

budgets for each business for the following year, approved by the Board of Directors, and cash flow projections for the next 

four years. Forecast replacement capital expenditure is included from budgets and thereafter capital is assumed to represent 

100 per cent of depreciation.

subsequent cash flows are forecast to grow in line with an assumed long-term industry growth rate of between 3 and 5 per 

cent derived from third party market information, including K World Panel data.

A discount rate of 9.9 per cent has been used (2009 - 9.3 per cent) being management’s estimate of the Group’s weighted 

average cost of capital.

the calculation is most sensitive to the following assumptions:

•	
•	
•	

 sales volumes

 Gross margin

 Discount rate

sales volumes are influenced by the growth of the underlying food segment, the market shares of our customers, selling 

prices, and the quality of our products and service. historical volumes are used as the base and adjusted over the projection 

period in line with current growth rates. 

Gross margin depends upon average selling prices, the cost of raw materials and changes in the cost of production overheads. 

historical margins are used as the base, adjusted for management’s expectations derived from experience and with reference 

to budget forecasts.

All calculations of this nature are sensitive to the discount rate used. management’s estimate of the Group’s weighted average 

cost of capital has been used for each cash generating unit.

management believes that currently the assumptions used are unlikely to change to an extent which would reduce value in 

use below the value of the recoverable amount. Assumptions and projections are updated on an annual basis.

P A Ge 7 4  

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14.  Property, plant and equipment

Group

Cost

At 31 march 2008

Additions

transfers between categories

transfers to assets held for resale

Disposals

At 31 march 2009

Additions

on acquisition

Disposals

At 31 March 2010

Depreciation

At 31 march 2008

Charge for the year

transfers to assets held for resale

impairment loss

Relating to disposals

At 31 march 2009

Charge for the year

Relating to disposals

At 31 March 2010

Net book amounts

At 31 march 2008

At 31 march 2009

At 31 March 2010

 -

 -

 -

 -

Freehold
land and
buildings

£’000

34,465

8,347

(5,632)

37,180

697

4,120

 -

(37)

41,960

 -

2,361

472

(2,047)

1,567

2,353

779

3,132

32,104

34,827

38,828

Leasehold 
improvements

Plant, 
equipment 
and vehicles

Assets in the 
course of 
construction

total

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

16,860

102,402

95

(535)

 -

 -

7,491

1,698

(8,108)

(1,103)

16,420

102,380

335

(1,073)

15,682

12,422

1,911

(4,450)

112,263

7,809

864

(535)

477

8,615

870

(1,073)

8,412

9,051

7,805

7,270

52,534

10,312

(3,483)

167

(934)

58,596

10,203

(4,300)

64,499

49,868

43,784

47,764

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

1,698

5,272

155,425

21,205

(1,698)

 -

5,272

7,003

(14,275)

(1,103)

161,252

20,457

6,031

(5,560)

12,275

182,180

62,704

11,648

(6,065)

2,211

(934)

69,564

11,852

(5,373)

76,043

1,698

5,272

92,721

91,688

12,275

106,137

included in freehold land and buildings is land with a cost of £5,418,000 (2009 - £3,198,000) which is not depreciated relating 

to the Group and £795,000 (2009 - £795,000) relating to the Company. the cost of freehold land and buildings includes 

£935,000 (2009 - £935,000) in respect of capitalised interest. the depreciation charge for the year for plant, equipment and 

vehicles includes £154,000 (2009: £nil) in respect of assets held under finance leases and hire purchase contracts.

the impairment loss in the prior year relates to the write down of the fixed assets of the pet division to their fair value on 

recognition as held for sale.

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Company

Cost

At 31 march 2008

Additions

transfers to assets held for resale

At 31 march 2009

Additions

transfers from other Group companies

At 31 March 2010

Depreciation

At 31 march 2008

Charge for the year

transfers to assets held for resale

impairment loss

At 31 march 2009

Charge for the year

transfers from other Group companies

At 31 March 2010

Net book amounts

At 31 march 2008

At 31 march 2009

At 31 March 2010

15.  Investment in subsidiary undertakings

Company

shares at cost:

At 31 march 2008 and 31 march 2009

Reimbursement of consideration paid in prior years

Disposals

At 31 March 2010

Freehold 
land and 
buildings
£’000

Plant, 
equipment and 
vehicles
£’000

 -

 -

 -

 -

2,431

(475)

 -

1,956

 -

 -

1,956

152

21

(132)

119

160

21

181

2,279

1,796

1,775

110

125

235

64

42

341

41

31

72

84

7

163

69

163

178

total

£’000

2,541

125

(475)

2,191

64

42

2,297

193

52

(132)

119

232

105

7

344

2,348

1,959

1,953

£’000

155,426

(1,248)

 (199)

153,979

During the year, the Company received a reimbursement of consideration of £1,248,000 from the vendor in relation to an 
acquisition in a prior year. the reimbursement was an agreed adjustment in respect of the total amount payable.

During the year the Company liquidated its 100% owned dormant subsidiary Cranswick Aps. the loss on disposal recognised 
in the income statement of the Company was £199,000. there was no overall loss to the Group.

the principal subsidiary undertakings during the year were:

Food

  Cranswick Country Foods plc 

  studleigh-Royd Limited 

  Brookfield Foods Limited 

  the sandwich Factory Group Limited (registered in scotland) 

  Delico Limited 

  Cranswick Country Foods (norfolk) Limited (Acquired 24 June 2009) (held by Cranswick Country Foods plc)

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Pet 
  Cranswick Pet & Aquatics plc (trade and assets disposed 24 April 2009) 

except where otherwise stated, each of the companies is registered in england and Wales and Cranswick plc holds directly 

100 per cent of the shares and voting rights of each subsidiary undertaking. on 24 April 2009, the trade and certain assets 

and liabilities of Cranswick Pet & Aquatics plc were disposed of by the Group (note 9).

16.  Acquisition

on 24 June 2009, the Group acquired 100 per cent of the issued share capital of Bowes of  norfolk Limited for a cash 

consideration of £17.2 million. the principal activity of Bowes of norfolk Limited is that of pork processing.

Book and fair values of the net assets at the date of acquisition were as follows:

net assets acquired:

Property, plant and equipment

Financial assets

Deferred tax asset

inventories

trade receivables

Bank and cash balances

Retirement benefit obligations

trade payables

Government grants

Finance lease obligations

Goodwill arising on acquisition

total consideration

satisfied by:

  Cash

  Costs associated with acquisition, settled in cash

net cash outflow arising on acquisition:

  Cash consideration paid

  Costs associated with acquisition, settled in cash

  Cash and cash equivalents acquired

Fair value

Acquiree’s
book value
before
   combination

£’000

£’000

8,489

1,500

656

1,679

7,809

6,658

(5,778)

(12,883)

(100)

(600)

7,430

6,031

1,500

1,344

1,679

7,809

6,658

(5,778)

(12,883)

(100)

(600)

5,660

12,231

17,891

17,157

734

17,891

17,157

734

(6,658)

11,233

From the date of acquisition, the acquired business has contributed a net profit after tax of £0.5 million to the Group. if the 

combination had taken place at the beginning of the year, the Group’s profit after tax from continuing operations for the year 

would have been £32.6 million and revenue from continuing operations would have been £762.2 million.

included in the £12,231,000 of goodwill recognised above, are certain intangible assets that cannot be individually separated 

from the acquiree and reliably measured due to their nature. these items include the expected value of synergies, business 

continuity planning through access to a further pork processing facility and an assembled workforce.

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17.  Inventories

Group

Raw materials

Finished goods and goods for resale

18.  Trade and other receivables

Financial Assets:

trade receivables

Amounts owed by Group undertakings

other receivables

non-financial assets:

Prepayments and accrued income

trade receivables continuing operations

trade receivables held for resale

2010

£’000

30,017

5,943

35,960

Group

Company

2010

£’000

2009
£’000

75,466

64,438

-

3,918

79,384

4,682

84,066

75,466

-

75,466

-

2,810

67,248

6,407

73,655

64,438

5,614

70,052

2010

£’000

-

15,118

62

15,180

243

15,423

-

-

-

2009

£’000

24,944

3,520

28,464

2009
£’000

-

21,852

253

22,105

62

22,167

-

-

-

Financial assets are carried at amortised cost. As at 31 march, the analysis of trade receivables that were past due but not 

impaired was as follows:

Group

trade receivables

              of which:

not due

                                  Past due date in the following periods:

Less than 
30 days

Between 30 and 
60 days

more than 60
days

£’000

75,466

64,438

£’000

63,989

56,425

£’000

8,334

6,572

£’000

2,072

1,006

£’000

1,071

435

2010

2009

trade receivables are non-interest bearing and are generally on 30-60 days’ terms and are shown net of a provision for 

impairment. As at 31 march 2010, trade receivables at nominal value of £639,000 (2009 - £352,000) were impaired and fully 

provided for.  Provision is made when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to recover balances in full. 

Balances are written off when the probability of recovery is assessed as being remote.

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movements in the provision for impairment of receivables were as follows:

Bad debt provision

At 31 march 2008

transferred to assets held for resale

Provided in year

Written off

At 31 march 2009

Provided in year

Written off

At 31 March 2010

there are no bad debt provisions against other receivables.

19.  Other financial assets

Current

Group

Company

Forward currency contracts

interest rate swap (2)

movement on hedged items:

Gains/(losses) arising in the year

Reclassification adjustment for gains included in the 
income statement

 -

2010
£’000

263

263

2010
£’000

Group

2009
£’000

139

124

263

2009
£’000

186

263

(573)

(387)

(1,029)

(766)

2010
£’000

 -

 -

 -

Company

2010
£’000

(77)

(434)

(511)

Non-current

Group

Company

Financial assets

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

1,500

 -

2010
£’000

-

£’000

634

(782)

998

(498)

352

372

(85)

639

2009
£’000

-

124

124

2009
£’000

124

(70)

54

2009
£’000

-

non-current financial assets relate to consideration receivable from east Anglian Pigs Limited, the management buyout team 

which acquired the pig rearing division of Bowes of norfolk Limited concurrently with Cranswick plc’s acquisition of the 

company. Repayment of the loan is receivable in a single instalment of £500,000 on 23 June 2012 with the balance due in 

24 equal monthly instalments with the final payment on 23 June 2014. interest is receivable on the loan at Bank of england 

base rate plus 3 per cent.

movements on hedged foreign currency contracts are reclassified through cost of sales. interest rate movements on hedged 

bank borrowings are reclassified through finance costs. All ‘other’ current financial assets are used for hedging.

Forward currency contracts

Forward currency contracts are used to hedge a proportion of anticipated purchases denominated in foreign currencies and 

are held at fair value in the balance sheet. to the extent that these forward contracts represent effective hedges, movements 

in fair value are taken directly to equity and are then recycled through the income statement in the period during which the 

hedged item impacts the income statement. A description of amounts and maturities is contained in note 23.

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Interest rate swap (1)

Under the terms of this interest rate swap (relating to the Group’s previous bank facilities, which have now been repaid) the 

Group receives LiBoR interest and pays fixed interest of 4.98 per cent. the notional principal amount of the swap stood at 

£9,000,000 as at 31 march 2009 and reduced in equal semi-annual instalments of £4,500,000 to £nil by January 2010.

Interest rate swap (2)

Under the terms of this interest rate swap (relating to the Group’s current bank facilities) the Group receives LiBoR interest 

and pays fixed interest of 2.04 per cent. the notional principal amount of the swap stands at £26,750,000 as at 31 march 

2010 and reduces in equal quarterly instalments of £1,750,000 with a final notional payment of principal of £16,250,000 in 

December 2011.

20.  Trade and other payables

Current

trade payables

Group

Company

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

2010
£’000

55,269

50,236

448

Amounts owed to Group undertakings

-

-

32,482

other payables

Deferred income

Non-current

Deferred income

21.  Other financial liabilities

Current

Bank overdrafts

Amounts outstanding under revolving credit facility

Current instalments due on bank loan

Loan notes

Finance leases and hire purchase contracts

interest rate swap (1) – (note 19)

interest rate swap (2) – (note 19)

Non-current

non-current instalments due on bank loan

Finance leases and hire purchase contracts

2009
£’000

201

41,745

4,102

-

31,464

25,036

5,154

12

1

-

86,745

75,273

38,084

46,048

82

-

-

-

Group

Company

2010
£’000

1,956

-

10,000

-

144

-

387

2009
£’000

12,437

9,000

12,500

762

-

173

-

12,487

34,872

2010
£’000

-

-

10,000

-

-

-

387

10,387

2009
£’000

6,157

9,000

12,500

460

-

173

-

28,290

49,530

336

49,866

36,382

49,530

36,382

-

-

-

36,382

49,530

36,382

none of the finance leases and hire purchase contracts has amounts due after greater than 5 years.

All financial liabilities are amortised at cost, except for interest rate swaps.

A bank overdraft facility of £20 million (2009 - £20 million) is in place until December 2011, of which £1,956,000 (2009 - 

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£12,437,000) was utilised at 31 march 2010. interest is payable at a margin over base rate.

A revolving credit facility of £30 million is in place of which £nil was utilised as at 31 march 2010 (2009 - facility of £30 million 

of which £9 million was utilised). this facility expires in December 2011. interest is payable on the loan at a margin of 1.75 

per cent above LiBoR.

the maturity profile of bank loans is as follows:

Group

Company

in one year or less

Between one year and two years

Between two and five years

Unamortised issue costs

2010
£’000

10,000

50,000

2009
£’000

12,500

10,000

 -

27,500

 -

60,000

(470)

59,530

50,000

(1,118)

48,882

2010
£’000

10,000

50,000

60,000

(470)

59,530

2009
£’000

12,500

10,000

27,500

50,000

(1,118)

48,882

the balance outstanding on the term loan of £60.0 million is repayable in 7 quarterly instalments of £2.5 million from April 

2010, followed by a single payment of £42.5 million in December 2011. A further £20 million was drawndown under the 

facility during the year. interest is payable on the loan at a margin of 1.75 per cent above LiBoR. the loan is unsecured. the 

loan is subject to normal bank covenant arrangements. Under the terms of the interest rate swap the Group receives LiBoR 

interest and pays fixed interest of 2.04 per cent.

interest on the loan notes was based on base rate and was repayable on demand at six-monthly intervals. the loan notes 

were repayable on demand and were repaid in full during the year.

22.  Provisions

Group

At 1 April 2009

Credited in the year

Utilisation in the year

Unwinding of discount

At 31 March 2010

Analysed as:

Current liabilities

non-current liabilities

Lease  

  provisions

£’000

1,500

(59)

(334)

24

1,131

2009
£’000

334

1,166

1,500

Group

2010
£’000

149

982

1,131

Lease provisions are held against dilapidation obligations on leased properties and for the costs of onerous leases for property, 

plant and machinery. these provisions are expected to be utilised over the next four years. there are no provisions held by 

the Company.

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23.  Financial instruments

An explanation of the Company and Group’s financial instruments risk management strategy is set out on pages 13 to 19 in 

the Group operating and Financial Review.

Interest rate risk profile of financial assets and liabilities

the interest rate profile of the interest earning financial assets and interest bearing liabilities of the Group as at 31 march 

2010 and their weighted average interest rates is set out below:

Group

As at 31 March 2010

Weighted 
average 
effective 
interest
rate
%

Total

At floating
interest
rates

1 year
or
less

Fixed interest

1-2 years

2-3 years

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

Financial liabilities: 
Bank overdrafts

Bank loan (including the effect 
of interest rate swaps)

2.25%

(1,956)

(1,956)  -

 -

 -

3.09% (60,000)

(33,250)

(7,000)

(19,750)  -

Finance leases and hire purchase contracts

5.75%

(480)

-  

(144)  

(154)  

(62,436)

(35,206)

(7,144)

(19,904)

(182)

(182)

Less: effect of interest rate swaps

-

(26,750)

7,000

19,750  -

total financial liabilities excluding the effect 
of interest rate swaps

(62,436)

(61,956)

(144)  

(154)

(182)

Financial assets: Cash at bank

non-current financial assets

0.00%

3.50%

5,922

1,500

5,922  -

1,500  -

 -

 -

 -

 -

(55,014)

(54,534)

(144)

(154)

(182)

As at 31 march 2009

Weighted 
average 
effective 
interest 
rate
%

total

At floating
interest
rates

1 year
or
less

Fixed interest

1-2 years

2-3 years

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

Financial liabilities: 
Bank overdrafts

Revolving credit facility

Bank loan (including the effect  
of interest rate swaps)

5.11%

(12,437)

(12,437)

3.48%

(9,000)

(9,000)

-

-

-

-

-

-

3.67% (50,000)

(7,250)

(16,000)

(7,000)

(19,750)

Loan notes

2.40%

(762)

(762)

-

-

-

(72,199)

(29,449)

(16,000)

(7,000)

(19,750)

Less: effect of interest rate swaps

-

(42,750)

16,000

7,000

19,750

total financial liabilities excluding the effect 
of interest rate swaps

(72,199)

(72,199)

Financial assets: Cash at bank

2.86%

4,399

4,399

(67,800)

(67,800)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

the maturity profile of bank loans is set out in note 21.

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the interest rate profile of the interest earning financial assets and interest bearing liabilities of the Company as at 31 march 

2010 and their weighted average interest rates is set out below:

Company

As at 31 March 2010

Financial liabilities: 

Bank loan (including the effect  
of interest rate swaps)

Weighted 
average 
effective 
interest 
rate
%

Total

At floating
interest
rates

1 year
or
less

Fixed interest

1-2 years

2-3 years

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

3.09%

(60,000)

(33,250)

(7,000)

(19,750)  -

Less: effect of interest rate swaps

-

(26,750)

7,000

19,750  -

total financial liabilities excluding the effect  
of interest rate swaps

(60,000)

(60,000)  -

Financial assets: Cash at bank

0.00%  

4,004  

4,004  -

(55,996)

(55,996)  -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

As at 31 march 2009

Weighted 
average 
effective 
interest 
rate
%

total

At floating
interest
rates

1 year
or
less

Fixed interest

1-2 years

2-3 years

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

Financial liabilities: 
Bank overdrafts

Revolving credit facility

Bank loan (including the effect  
of interest rate swaps)

5.11%

3.48%

(6,157)

(9,000)

(6,157)  -

(9,000)  -

3.67%

(50,000)

(7,250)

(16,000)

Loan notes

2.40%

(460)

(460)  -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

(7,000)

(19,750)

(65,617)

(22,867)

(16,000)

(7,000)

(19,750)

Less: effect of interest rate swaps

-

(42,750)

16,000

7,000

19,750

total financial liabilities excluding the effect  
of interest rate swaps

(65,617)

(65,617)  -

Financial assets: Cash at bank

2.86%  -

 -

 -

(65,617)

(65,617)  -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

Currency profile

the Group’s financial assets at 31 march 2010 include sterling denominated cash balances of £4,349,000 (2009 - £2,853,000), 

Danish krona £nil (2009 - £8,000), euro £1,573,000 (2009 - £1,378,000) and Us dollar £nil (2009 - £160,000), all of which 

are held in the UK (2009 – euro £297,000 held with banks outside the UK). the Group’s financial liabilities are denominated 

in sterling.

the proportion of the Group’s net assets denominated in foreign currencies is immaterial.

the Group’s other financial assets and liabilities are denominated in sterling.

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Credit risk

the Group makes a significant proportion of its sales to the major UK supermarket groups, which correspondingly represent 

a significant proportion of the Group’s trade receivables at any one time. Based on the financial strength of these customers, 

the Directors do not consider that the Group faces a significant credit risk in this regard.

All cash financial assets are held by UK financial institutions. the maximum credit exposure relating to financial assets is 

represented by their carrying values as at the balance sheet date.

Fair value hierarchy

the Group uses the following hierarchy for determining and disclosing the fair value of financial instruments by valuation 

technique:

Level 1: quoted (unadjusted) prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: other techniques for which all inputs which have a significant effect on the recorded fair value are observable, either 

directly or indirectly.

Level 3: techniques which use inputs which have a significant effect on the recorded fair value that are not based on observable 

market data.

the Group’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value, comprising the interest rate swap and forward currency contracts, are 

all measured using Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. the Group’s 5.5% retained shareholding in Cranswick Pet & Aquatics 

Limited (described in note 9) would have been classified as level 3, however as the investment is an unquoted entity and 

cannot be reliably measured the Directors consider that its value is immaterial and no fair value has been applied.

Fair value of financial instruments

Fair value is the amount for which an asset could be exchanged, or a liability settled, between knowledgeable, willing parties 

on an arm’s length basis. the fair value of floating rate assets and liabilities is estimated to be equivalent to book value. All 

derivative financial instruments are shown on the balance sheet at fair value.

Group

2010

2009

Financial assets

Cash

non-current financial assets

Forward currency contracts

interest rate swap (2) – (note 19)

Financial liabilities

Bank overdraft

Amounts outstanding under revolving credit facility

Bank loan

Loan notes

Finance leases and hire purchase contracts

interest rate swap (1) – (note 19)

interest rate swap (2) – (note 19)

At 31 March

Book value
£’000

Fair value
£’000

Book value
£’000

Fair value
£’000

 -

 -

 -

 -

5,922

1,500

263

7,685

(1,956)

(60,000)

(480)

(387)

(62,823)

(55,138)

5,922

4,399

4,399

1,500

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

263

7,685

(1,956)

(60,000)

(480)

(387)

(62,823)

(55,138)

139

124

4,662

(12,437)

(9,000)

(50,000)

(762)

(173)

(72,372)

(67,710)

 -

 -

139

124

4,662

(12,437)

(9,000)

(50,000)

(762)

(173)

(72,372)

(67,710)

 -

 -

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Company

2010

2009

Book value
£’000

Fair value
£’000

Book value
£’000

Fair value
£’000

Financial asset

Cash

interest rate swap (2) – (note 19)

Financial liabilities

Bank overdraft

Amounts outstanding under revolving credit facility

Bank loan

Loan notes

interest rate swap (1) – (note 19)

interest rate swap (2) – (note 19)

4,004

4,004

 -

4,004

124

124

-

124

124

4,004

(60,000)

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

(6,157)

(9,000)

(6,157)

(9,000)

(60,000)

(50,000)

(50,000)

(460)

(173)

(460)

(173)

(387)

(387)

 -

 -

(60,387)

(60,387)

(65,790)

(65,790)

At 31 March

(56,383)

(56,383)

(65,666)

(65,666)

the book value of trade and other receivables and trade and other payables equates to fair value for the Group and Company. 

Details of these financial assets and liabilities are included in notes 18 and 20.

Hedges

Financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges are held at fair value in the balance sheet. the Group hedges two 

types of cash flows:

i)  Forward contracts to hedge expected future purchases

  the Group hedges a proportion of its near-term expected purchases denominated in overseas currencies. Where these 

hedges meet the hedge criteria of iAs 39 changes in fair value are posted directly to equity and subsequently reclassified 

through the income statement at the time that the hedged item affects profit or loss.

  Group

Currency

Amount

Maturities

Exchange rates

euros

euros 14,750,000 

12 April 2010 to  
22 september 2010

€1.09 – €1.15

Fair value
£’000

263

  these contracts were effective cash flow hedges under the criteria set out in iAs 39 and therefore these fair value gains 

were recognised directly in equity.

  the Company does not hold any forward contracts.

ii) Interest rate swaps

  the Group hedges a proportion of the interest cash flows payable in respect of bank loans.

• Interest rate swap (1) – (note 19)
  Under the terms of this interest rate swap (relating to the Group’s previous bank facilities, which have now been repaid) 

the Group received LiBoR interest and paid fixed interest of 4.98 per cent. the notional principal amount of the swap 

stood at £9,000,000 as at 31 march 2009 and reduced in equal semi-annual instalments of £4,500,000 to £nil by January 

2010.

  the swap was an ineffective cash flow hedge under the criteria set out in iAs 39 and therefore movements in fair value 

have been posted to the income statement.

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•	

Interest rate swap (2) – (note 19)

  Under the terms of this interest rate swap (relating to the Group’s current bank facilities) the Group receives LiBoR 

interest and pays fixed interest of 2.04 per cent. the notional principal amount of the swap stands at £26,750,000 as 

at 31 march 2010 and reduces in equal quarterly instalments of £1,750,000 with a final notional payment of principal 

of £16,250,000 in December 2011.

  the swap was an effective cash flow hedge under the criteria set out in iAs 39 and therefore movements in fair value 

have been posted directly to equity and reclassified through the income statement, in finance costs, at the time the 

hedged item affects the income statement.

Interest rate risk

the following table demonstrates the sensitivity to a reasonably possible change in interest rates, with all other variables held 

constant, of the Group’s profit before tax (through the impact on floating rate borrowings). there is no material impact on 

the Group’s equity.

Currency derivatives have not been included in the sensitivity analysis below as they are not considered to be exposed to 

interest rate risk.

2010

sterling

2009

sterling

Liquidity risk

Increase / decrease  
in basis points

Effect on profit before tax
£000

+100

-100

+100

-100

(271)

271

(565)

565

the tables below summarise the maturity profile of the Group’s financial liabilities at 31 march 2010 and 2009 based on 

contractual undiscounted payments: 

Group

Year ended 31 March 2010

Bank overdraft

Bank loan

interest rate swap

Finance leases and hire purchase contracts

trade and other payables

Year ended 31 march 2009

Bank overdraft

Revolving credit facility

Bank loan

interest rate swap

Loan notes

trade and other payables

Less than 
1 year
£’000

1,956

11,225

357

170

86,733

100,441

Less than 
1 year
£’000

12,437

9,000

11,231

304

762

75,273

109,007

1 to 2 
years
£’000

-

50,757

197

171

-

51,125

1 to 2 
years
£’000

-

-

10,943

234

-

-

2 to 5 
years
£’000

-

-

-

191

-

191

2 to 5 
years 
£’000

-

-

30,515

129

-

-

11,177

30,644

Total

£’000

1,956

61,982

554

532

86,733

151,757

total

£’000

12,437

9,000

52,689

667

762

75,273

150,828

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Company

Year ended 31 March 2010

Bank loan

interest rate swap

trade and other payables

Cross guarantees

Year ended 31 march 2009

Bank overdraft

Revolving credit facility

Bank loan

interest rate swap

Loan notes

trade and other payables

Cross guarantees

Less than 
1 year

£’000

11,225

357

38,084

1,956

51,622

Less than 
1 year
£’000

6,157

9,000

11,231

304

460

46,048

6,280

79,480

1 to 2 
years

£’000

50,757

197

-

-

50,954

1 to 2 
years
£’000

-

-

10,943

234

-

-

-

2 to 5 
years

£’000

-

-

-

-

-

2 to 5 
years 
£’000

-

-

30,515

129

-

-

-

11,177

30,644

Total

£’000

61,982

554

38,084

1,956

102,576

total
£’000

6,157

9,000

52,689

667

460

46,048

6,280

121,301

the interest rate swaps disclosed in the above tables are the net undiscounted cash flows as these amounts are settled net.

24.  Called-up share capital

Group and Company 

Authorised

2010

Number

2009

number

2010

£’000

2009

£’000

ordinary shares of 10p each

100,000,000

63,600,000

10,000

6,360

Allotted, called-up and fully paid

ordinary shares of 10p each

2010

2009

Number

number

2010

£’000

2009

£’000

At 1 April

on exercise of share options

scrip dividends

Allotted to Cranswick plc employee Benefit trust

46,459,958

46,225,491

4,646

4,623

504,196

265,913

100,000

125,168

109,299

-

50

27

10

12

11

-

At 31 March

47,330,067

46,459,958

4,733

4,646

on 4 september 2009, 168,701 ordinary shares were issued at 594.0 pence as a result of shareholders exercising the scrip 

dividend option in lieu of the cash payment for the 2009 final dividend. 

on 22 January 2010, 97,212 ordinary shares were issued at 744.6 pence as a result of shareholders exercising the scrip dividend 

option in lieu of the cash payment for the 2010 interim dividend. 

During the course of the year, 504,196 ordinary shares were issued to employees exercising sAYe and executive options at 

prices between 255.0 pence and 679.0 pence.

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of the unissued ordinary share capital £54,395 is reserved for allotment under the savings Related and executive share option 

schemes. the options are exercisable as follows:

savings related

savings related

savings related

savings related

savings related

savings related

savings related

savings related

executive

number

4,277

421

20,285

38,010

37,435

33,904

204,953

154,665

50,000

exercise price

exercise period

415p

255p

375p

471p

679p

665p

474p

594p

march 2006 to october 2010

march 2007 to october 2011

march 2008 to october 2012

march 2009 to october 2013

march 2010 to october 2014

march 2011 to october 2015

march 2012 to october 2016

march 2013 to october 2017

601p

July 2008 to July 2015

on 5 september 2008, 77,905 ordinary shares were issued at 567.7 pence as a result of shareholders exercising the scrip 

dividend option in lieu of the cash payment for the 2008 final dividend. 

on 23 January 2009, 31,394 ordinary shares were issued at 593.1 pence as a result of shareholders exercising the scrip 

dividend option in lieu of the cash payment for the 2009 interim dividend. 

During the course of the prior year, 125,168 ordinary shares were issued to employees exercising  sAYe options at prices 

between 255.0 pence and 471.0 pence.

25.  Share-based payments

the Group operates three share option schemes, a Revenue approved scheme (sAYe), an unapproved scheme (executive 

share option) and a Long term incentive Plan (LtiP), all of which are equity settled.  the total expense charged to the income 

statement during the year in relation to share-based payments was £510,000 (2009: £1,000,000).

Executive Share Option Scheme

share options are granted periodically to promote the involvement of senior management in the longer term success of the 

Group. options can only be exercised if certain performance conditions are met by the Group. these conditions are based 

on total shareholder return over the performance period and require the Group to be in the top half of a basket of food 

companies quoted on the London stock exchange selected by the remuneration Committee. options have a contractual life 

of ten years.

Directors may also apply for sAYe options on the same terms as apply to all other employees. 

the following table illustrates the number and weighted average exercise prices (WAeP) of, and movements in, executive 

share options during the year:

Group

outstanding as at 1 April

Lapsed during the year

exercised during the year (i)

outstanding as at 31 march (ii)

exercisable at 31 march

2010
Number

475,000

 -

(425,000)

50,000

50,000

2010
WAEP
£

6.01

-

6.01

6.01

6.01

2009
number

490,000

(15,000)

475,000

475,000

 -

2009
WAeP
£

6.01

6.01

-

6.01

6.01

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Company

outstanding as at 1 April

exercised during the year (i)

outstanding as at 31 march (ii)

exercisable at 31 march

2010
Number

265,000

219,991

45,009

45,009

2010
WAEP
£

6.01

6.01

6.01

6.01

2009
number

265,000

-

265,000

265,000

2009
WAeP
£

6.01

-

6.01

6.01

i) the weighted average share price at the date of the exercise for the options exercised was £7.67.

ii) For the share options outstanding as at 31 march 2010, the weighted average remaining contractual life is 4.25 years. 

(2009 – 5.25 years). the exercise price for all options outstanding at the end of the year was £6.01.

there were no options granted during the year.

Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)

During the course of the year 182,700 options at nil cost were granted to Directors and senior executives, the share price 

at that time was 592.5 pence. Details of the performance criteria relating to the LtiP scheme can be found in the Directors’ 

Remuneration report on pages 35 and 36.

Group

outstanding as at 1 April

Granted during the year (i)

Lapsed during the year

exercised during the year (ii)

outstanding as at 31 march (iii)

exercisable at 31 march

Company

outstanding as at 1 April

Granted during the year (i)

Lapsed during the year

exercised during the year (ii)

outstanding as at 31 march (iii)

exercisable at 31 march

2010
Number

532,500

182,700

(136,738)

(118,419)

460,043

37,343

2009
number

365,000

177,500

(10,000)

532,500

2010
WAEP
£

-

-

-

-

-

-

 -

 -

2009

  Number

2009

WAEP

2008

number

 £

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

375,000

110,700

(107,930)

(79,727)

298,043

37,343

250,000

125,000

-

-

375,000

-

2009
WAeP
£

-

-

-

-

-

-

2008

WAeP
£

-

-

-

-

-

-

i)  the weighted average fair value of options granted during the year was £3.89 (2009 - £4.22). the share options granted 

during the year were at £nil. the share price at the date of grant was £5.92.

ii)  the weighted average share price at the date of the exercise for the options exercised was £6.62.

iii) For the share options outstanding as at 31 march 2010, the weighted average remaining contractual life is 8.37 years. 

(2009 – 8.32 years). the exercise price for all options outstanding at the end of the year was £nil.

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All Employee Share Option Scheme (SAYE)

All employees are entitled to a grant of options once they have been in service for two years or more. the exercise price is 

equal to the market price of the shares less 20 per cent on the date of the grant. the contractual life of the options is 3, 5 

or 7 years. 

the following table illustrates the number and weighted average exercise prices (WAeP) of, and movements in, sAYe share 

options during the year.

Group

outstanding as at 1 April

Granted during the year (i)

Lapsed during the year

exercised during the year (ii)

outstanding as at 31 march (iii)

exercisable at 31 march

Company

outstanding as at 1 April

Granted during the year (i)

Lapsed during the year

exercised during the year (ii)

outstanding as at 31 march (iii)

exercisable at 31 march

2010
  Number

529,244

156,161

(112,259)

(79,196)

493,950

14,723

2010
WAEP
£

5.00

5.94

5.14

4.55

5.35

5.70

2009
number

504,672

284,808

(135,068)

(125,168)

529,244

17,461

2010
  Number

2010
WAEP

2009
number

 £

12,051

1,984

(3,896)

10,139

 -

 -

10,599

9,371

(5,339)

(2,580)

12,051

5.08

5.94

 -

5.36

5.14

 -

 -

2009
WAeP
£

5.16

4.74

6.28

3.69

5.00

3.20

2009
WAeP
£

5.28

4.74

6.71

4.71

5.08

-

i)  the share options granted during the year were at £5.94, representing a 20 per cent discount on the price at the relevant 

date. the share price at the date of grant was £7.85.

ii) the weighted average share price at the date of the exercise for the options exercised was £7.45 (2009 - £6.37).

iii) included within this balance are options over nil shares (2009 – 6,396 shares) that have not been recognised in accordance 

with iFRs 2 as options were granted on or before 7 november 2002. these options have not been subsequently modified 

and therefore do not need to be accounted for in accordance with iFRs 2.

  For the share options outstanding as at 31 march 2010 the weighted average remaining contractual life is 3.39 years (2009 

– 3.58 years).

  the weighted average fair value of options granted during the year was £1.87 (2009 - £1.23). the range of exercise prices 

for options outstanding at the end of the year was £2.55 - £6.79 (2009 - £2.55 - £6.79).

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the fair value of the sAYe and LtiP equity settled options granted is estimated as at the date of grant using the Black-scholes 

option pricing model, taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the options were granted. the following 

table lists the inputs to the model used for the years ended 31 march 2010 and 31 march 2009.

Group and Company

Dividend yield

expected share price volatility

Risk free interest rate

2010

LTIP

4.48%

31.0%

2010

SAYE

3.39%

31.0%

2.74%

2.09% - 3.33%

expected life of option (years)

3 years

3,5,7 years

exercise prices

£nil

£5.94

2009

LtiP

3.87%

31.0%

5.27%

3 years

£nil

2009

sAYe

4.27%

31.0%

2.75% - 3.25%

3,5,7 years

£4.74

the expected life of the options is based on historical data and is not necessarily indicative of exercise patterns that may 

occur. the expected volatility reflects the assumption that the historical volatility is indicative of future trends, which may not 

necessarily be the actual outcome.

the initial fair value of LtiP options is adjusted to take into account the market-based performance condition.

26.  Pensions schemes

Defined benefit pension scheme

the Group acquired a defined benefit final salary pension scheme during the year, which is funded by the payment of contributions 

to separately administered trust funds. the scheme was closed to new members and future accrual on 30 June 2004.

Pension costs are determined with the advice of an independent qualified actuary on the basis of a triennial valuation using 

the projected unit credit method. the latest available formal actuarial valuations of the schemes were carried out as at 1 

January 2007, with the 1 January 2010 valuation currently in progress. these valuations were updated to the year end. Plan 

assets are stated at fair value at the respective balance sheet dates and overall expected rates of return are established by 

applying published brokers’ forecasts to each category of scheme assets.

a)  Change in benefit obligation

Benefit obligation acquired

interest cost

Actuarial losses

Benefits paid from plan

Benefit obligation at end of year

b)  Change in plan assets

Fair value of plan assets acquired

expected return on plan assets

Actuarial gain on plan assets

employer contributions

Benefits paid from plan

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

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2010

£’000

14,869

692

2,042

(462)

17,141

2010

£’000

9,091

474

1,955

730

(462)

11,788

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
c)  Amounts recognised in the balance sheet

Present value of funded obligations

Fair value of plan assets

net liability recorded in the balance sheet

d)   Components of pension cost

Amounts recognised in the income statement

interest cost

expected return on plan assets

total pension cost recognised in the income statement

Actual return on assets

Actual return on plan assets

Amounts recognised in the Group statement of comprehensive income 

Actuarial losses immediately recognised

Cumulative amount of actuarial losses recognised

e)   Principal actuarial assumptions 

the weighted average actuarial assumptions used in the valuation of the scheme were as follows:

Discount rate

Rate of price inflation

expected long term rate of return on plan assets during financial year

Rate of compensation increase

Future expected lifetime of pensioner at age 65:

Current pensioners

  male

Female

Future pensioners

  male

Female

2010

£’000

(17,141)

11,788

(5,353)

2010

£’000

692

(474)

218

2,429

87

87

2010

5.60%

3.45%

7.55%

3.45%

23.8

26.3

25.9

28.2

the mortality rates used have been taken from Base tables PCmA00 and PCFA00.

A 0.1% increase in the discount rate would give rise to a £6,000 decrease in the amounts charged to the income statement 

during the year, and a £360,000 decrease in the deficit at 31 march 2010

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f)   Plan Assets

Asset Category

equity securities

Bonds

Cash

total

2010

Percentage  
of Plan  
Assets

  Fair value 
of Plan 
Assets

8.50%

5.60%

4.50%

£’000

8,540

1,750

1,498

11,788

the expected rates of return on cash and bonds are determined by reference to relevant gilt yield and corporate bond indices 

respectively. the long term rate of return on equities is calculated at a premium of 4 per cent above gilt yields.

the overall expected rate of return is calculated by weighting the individual rates in accordance with the anticipated balance 

in the plan’s investment portfolio.

the plans have not invested in any of the Group’s own financial instruments nor in any properties or other assets used by 

the Group.

g)  History of experience gains and losses

experience adjustments on plan liabilities

experience adjustments on plan assets

net actuarial loss for the year

Cumulative actuarial loss

2010

£’000

(2,042)

1,955

(87)

(87)

the Group expects to contribute approximately £800,000 to the scheme during the year to 31 march 2011 in respect of 

regular contributions. in addition the Company will pay a one off special contribution of £870,000.

Defined contribution pension schemes

the  Group  also  operates  a  number  of  defined  contribution  pension  schemes  whereby  contributions  are  made  to 

schemes  operated  by  major  insurance  companies.  Contributions  to  these  schemes  are  determined  as  a  percentage 

of  employees’  earnings.  Contributions  owing  to  the  insurance  companies  at  the  year-end,  included  in  trade  and 

other  payables,  amounted  to  £104,000  (2009  -  £55,000).  Contributions  during  the  year  totalled  £1,314,000  

(2009 - £1,364,000).

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27.  Additional cash flow information

Analysis of Group net debt

Cash and cash equivalents

overdrafts

other financial assets

At
31 march 
2009

Cash 
flow

£’000

£’000

other
non cash
changes

£’000

At 
31 March
2010

£’000

4,399

(12,437)

(8,038)

1,499

10,481

 -

11,980

263

 -

(7,775)

11,980

24

24

1,500

1,524

5,922

(1,956)

3,966

1,763

5,729

other financial liabilities

(173)

 -

(214)

(387)

Revolving credit

Bank loans

Loan notes

Finance leases and hire purchase contracts

 -

(9,000)

(48,882)

(762)

 -

 -

9,000

(10,000)

762

120

net debt

(66,592)

11,862

 -

 -

(59,530)

(480)

(54,668)

(648)

(600)

62

net debt is defined as cash and cash equivalents, loans receivable and derivatives at fair value less interest bearing liabilities 

(net of unamortised issue costs). Cash and cash equivalents all relate to continuing operations.

non-cash movements include £1,500,000 of loans receivable (see non-current financial assets – note 19) and £600,000 of 

finance lease obligations which were acquired as part of the acquisition described in note 16.

Cash and cash equivalents

overdrafts

other financial assets

other financial liabilities

Revolving credit

Bank loans

Loan notes

net debt

At
31 march 
2008

Cash 
flow

£’000

£’000

other
non cash
changes

£’000

At 
31 march
2009

£’000

3,770

(11,468)

(7,698)

658

(969)

 -

(311)

70

 -

(7,628)

(311)

 -

 -

(8,000)

(61,664)

(1,093)

(78,385)

 -

 -

(1,000)

13,155

331

12,175

(29)

(29)

193

164

(173)

4,399

(12,437)

(8,038)

263

(7,775)

(173)

(9,000)

(373)

(48,882)

(762)

(382)

(66,592)

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Analysis of Company net debt

Cash and cash equivalents

overdrafts

other financial assets

other financial liabilities

Revolving credit

Bank loans

Loan notes

net debt

overdrafts

other financial assets

other financial liabilities

Revolving credit

Bank loans

Loan notes

net debt

At
31 march 
2009

Cash 
flow

£’000

£’000

other
non cash
changes

£’000

At 
31 March
2010

£’000

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

(6,157)

(6,157)

124

 -

4,004

6,157

10,161

(6,033)

10,161

(173)

 -

(9,000)

(48,882)

(460)

(64,548)

At
31 march 
2008

9,000

(10,000)

460

9,621

Cash 
flow

£’000

£’000

(8,512)

2,355

 -

70

 -

(8,442)

2,355

 -

 -

(8,000)

(61,664)

(756)

(78,862)

 -

 -

(1,000)

13,155

296

14,806

4,004

4,004

4,004

(387)

(59,530)

 -

 -

 -

 -

(124)

(124)

(214)

(648)

(986)

(55,913)

other
non cash
changes

£’000

At 
31 march
2009

£’000

54

54

(173)

(6,157)

124

(6,033)

(173)

(9,000)

(373)

(48,882)

(460)

(492)

(64,548)

28.  Contingent liabilities

the Company, together with its subsidiary undertakings, has entered into a cross guarantee with Lloyds tsB Bank plc, the 

Royal Bank of scotland plc and Clydesdale Bank plc in respect of the Group’s facilities with those banks. Drawn down amounts 

totalled £61,956,000 as at 31 march 2010 (2009 - £71,437,000).

For the Company, the amounts drawn down by other group companies which were guaranteed by the Company at the year 

end totalled £1,956,000 (2009 - £6,280,000).

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29.  Commitments

a) the Directors have contracted for future capital expenditure for property, plant and equipment totalling £14,917,000 

(2009 - £3,083,000).

b) the Group’s future minimum rentals payable under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Group

not later than one year

After one year but not more than five years

After five years

the Company has no non-cancellable operating leases.

30.  Related party transactions

2010
£’000

3,348

8,032

12,207

23,587

2009
£’000

2,718

7,481

14,007

24,206

on 24 April 2009 the Pet Division was sold to the management team, headed up by Derek Black, previously a main Board 

director responsible for the Pet Division, for an initial consideration of £17.0 million, plus a subsequent working capital 

adjustment of £1.4 million. Derek Black resigned as a main board director of Cranswick plc on that day and is a shareholder 

and director of the new company. Cranswick plc has retained a 5.5 per cent share in the business.

During the year the Group and Company entered into transactions, in the ordinary course of business, with related parties, 

including transactions between the Company and its subsidiary undertakings. in the Group accounts transactions between the 

Company and its subsidiaries are eliminated on consolidation but these transactions are reported for the Company below:

Company only

Related party

subsidiaries

2010

2009

services rendered to the 
related party
£’000

interest paid to  
related party  
£’000

Dividends received from 
related party
£’000

18,200

15,660

2,415

4,267

8,808

8,769

Amounts owed by or to subsidiary undertakings are disclosed in notes 18 and 20. Any such amounts are unsecured and 

repayable on demand.

Remuneration of key management personnel

short-term employee benefits

Post-employment benefits

share-based payment

2010
£’000

4,172

345

139

2009
£’000

3,924

509

579

4,656

5,012

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Advisers

Secretary

malcolm Windeatt FCA

Company Number

1074383

Registered Office

74 helsinki Road

sutton Fields 

hull 

hU7 0YW

Stockbrokers

investec investment Banking – London

Brewin Dolphin securities – newcastle

Registrars

Capita iRG plc

northern house

Woodsome Park

Fenay Bridge

huddersfield

hD8 0GA

Auditors

ernst & Young LLP – hull

Solicitors

Rollits – hull

Bankers

Lloyds tsB Bank plc

the Royal Bank of scotland plc

Clydesdale Bank plc

Merchant Bankers

n m Rothschild & sons – Leeds

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Shareholder information

Five year statement

2010

£’m

2009

£’m

2008

£’m

2007

£’m

2006

£’m

turnover *

740.3

606.8

559.2

479.8

401.6

Profit before tax *

43.8

34.7

33.0

32.1

30.6

earnings per share *

69.7p

40.5p

51.9p

49.3p

50.3p

Dividends per share

25.0p

21.7p

19.9p

18.1p

16.5p

Capital expenditure

20.5

21.2

25.8

11.8

14.3

net debt

net assets

(54.7)

(66.6)

(78.4)

(75.9)

(77.1)

193.6

166.5

155.3

135.8

112.4

*: Excludes discontinued Pet Division operations for all years presented.

Dividends per share relate to dividends declared in respect of that year.

Net debt is defined as per note 27 to the accounts.

Financial calendar

Preliminary announcement of full year results 

Publication of Annual Report 

Annual General meeting 

Payment of final dividend 

Announcement of interim results 

Payment of interim dividend 

may

July

July

september

november

January

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Shareholder analysis

at 12 may 2010

Classification

Private shareholders

Corporate bodies and nominees

Size of holding (shares)

1 – 1,000

1,001 – 5,000

5,001 – 10,000

10,001 – 50,000

50,001 – 100,000

 Above 100,000

Share price

share price at 31 march 2009

share price at 31 march 2010

high in the year

Low in the year

Share price movement

number of 
holdings

number of 
shares

5,888,003

41,450,356

47,338,359

400,007

1,289,231

830,079

3,091,002

3,510,155

38,217,885

47,338,359

1,161

732

1,893

939

583

115

137

48

71

1,893

544p

808p

820p

569p

Cranswick’s share price movement over the ten year period to may 2010 and comparison against the Ftse 350 Food Producers 

and Processors Price index (“Ftse FPP”) and against the Ftse All share Price index (“Ftse All share”), both rebased at may 

2000, is shown below:

)
p
(

e
c
i
r
p

e
r
a
h
s

d
e
s
a
b
e
R

1200 

1100 

1000 

900 

800 

700 

600 

500 

400 

300 

200 

100 

0 

M ay 00 

Cranswick 

FTSE 350 Food Producers 

FTSE All Share 

source: investec

M ay 01 

M ay 02 

M ay 03 

M ay 04 

M ay 05 

M ay 06 

M ay 07 

M ay 08 

M ay 09 

M ay 10 

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P R o D U C t i o n   F A C i Li t i e s

Fresh pork

Sausages

Bacon

Cooked meats

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