REG - Cranswick PLC - PRELIMINARY RESULTS
24/05/2022 07:00
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RNS Number : 5108M Cranswick PLC 24 May 2022
CRANSWICK plc: PRELIMINARY RESULTS
Strong commercial and strategic progress
24 May 2022
Cranswick plc ("Cranswick" or "the Company" or "the Group"), a leading UK food
producer, todaynounces its audited preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended
26 March 2022.
Commercial and strategic progress:
· Revenue above £2bn, with adjusted Group operating margin
maintained at 7.0%
· Unprecedented industry wide labour and supply chain challenges being
well managed with excellent customer service levels maintained
· Ongoing cost inflation being proactively managed and recovered
· Total capital expenditure of £93.7m across the Group's asset base
to support continued strong growth plans
o Significant uplift in Poultry sales following the successful capacity
expansion at Eye
o £26m Hull Cooked Bacon facility successfully commissioned at the
beginning of the year and performing to plan
o New £32m Hull Breaded Poultry facility successfully commissioned shortly
after year end
· Strong M&A pipeline with three businesses acquired during the
year
oExpansion of Convenience category following two complementary bolt-on
acquisitions, further strengthening our non-meat range
o Entry into fast growing and complementary UK pet food market through
acquisition of Grove Pet Foods
Sustainability highlights:
· All 14 eligible(¥) manufacturing sites now certified carbon
neutral
· Science Based Targets (SBTi) aligned with efforts to limit global
warming to 1.5 degrees under the Paris Agreement now validated, with a
commitment to halve Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2030 and achieve Net Zero
status by 2040
· Sustainability linked refinancing of the Group's bank facility
successfully completed during the year
· Commitment to purchasing 100% certified deforestation-free soya(±)
Financial highlights*:
2022 2021 Change Change
(Reported) (Like-for-like†)
Revenue £2,008.5m £1,898.4m +5.8% +5.3%
Adjusted Group operating profit £140.6m £132.5m +6.1%
Adjusted Group operating margin 7.0% 7.0% +2bps
Adjusted profit before tax £136.9m £129.7m +5.6%
Adjusted earnings per share 205.4p 199.3p +3.1%
· Statutory profit before tax 13.2% higher at £129.9m (2021: £114.8m)
· Statutory earnings per share up 10.9% to 195.7p (2021: 176.4p)
· Full year dividend increased by 8.0% to 75.6p (2021: 70.0p); 32 years
of unbroken dividend growth
· Return on capital employed(‡) of 16.9% (2021: 17.2%)
· Net debt (excluding IFRS 16 lease liabilities) of £36.2m (2021:
£20.8m)
· Robust balance sheet with new £250m bank facility providing
significant headroom following refinancing
Adam Couch, Cranswick's Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"In a year which has been unprecedented in terms of the scale and breadth of
challenges we have faced, we have delivered our strategy at pace and our
long-term growth plan remains firmly on track.
"We have worked tirelessly to support our customers while continuing to
prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues across the business.
We have consistently delivered exemplary service levels to our customers,
supported our local communities and made great strides toward delivering many
of our Second Nature sustainability targets.
"It is at times like this that partnerships and cooperation come to the fore,
and I would like to thank our stakeholders and all our colleagues for their
ongoing support, resilience and understanding during this very demanding
period.
"The terrible events in Ukraine continue to profoundly impact our sector both
at a humanitarian and an economic level. We are proactively supporting
colleagues whose families may be affected by the conflict, including making
donations, offers of employment and resettlement packages.
"Trading in the new financial year has been in line with the Board's
expectations. Notwithstanding the challenging operating conditions we
continue to experience, our outlook for the Group for the current year is
unchanged. We have a solid platform from which to continue Cranswick's
successful long-term development."
¥ Eligible sites exclude new sites commissioned or acquired in the financial
year. These sites will receive certification during the next financial year.
(±) Cranswick has committed to switching to a full mass balance soya purchasing
system. This covers 50% of the soya used by the business. The remaining 50% of
the soya is purchased from deforestation-free sources in North America.
* Adjusted and like-for-like references throughout this statement refer to
non-IFRS measures or Alternative Performance Measures ('APMs'). Definitions
and reconciliations of the APMs to IFRS measures are provided in Note 10.
† Like-for-like revenues exclude the contribution from current year
acquisitions.
‡ Return on capital employed is defined as adjusted operating profit divided by
the sum of average opening and closing net assets, net debt/(funds), pension
(surplus)/deficit and deferred tax.
Presentation
A presentation of the results will be made to analysts and institutional
investors today at 9.45am at Investec Bank plc, 30 Gresham Street, London EC2V
7QP. Analysts and institutional investors will also be able to join the
presentation via a conference call facility. The slides will be made
available on the company website. For the dial-in details please contact
Powerscourt on the details below.
Enquiries:
Cranswick plc
Mark Bottomley, Chief Financial Officer 01482 275 000
Powerscourt
Nick Dibden / Nick Hayns / Chloe Retief 020 7250 1446
cranswick@powerscourt-group.com
Note to Editors:
Cranswick is a leading and innovative supplier of premium, fresh and added
value food products. The business employs over 13,300 people and operates
from 20 well invested, highly efficient facilities in the UK.
Cranswick was formed in the early 1970s by farmers in East Yorkshire to
produce animal feed and has since evolved into a business which produces a
range of high quality, predominantly fresh food, including fresh pork,
poultry, convenience, gourmet products and pet food. The business develops
innovative, great tasting food products to the highest standards of food
safety and traceability. The Group supplies the major grocery multiples as
well as the growing premium and discounter retail channels. Cranswick also
has a strong presence in the 'food-to-go' sector and a substantial export
business. For more information go to: www.cranswick.plc.uk
(http://www.cranswick.plc.uk)
Cranswick is committed to ensuring that its business activities are
sustainable from farm-to-fork. Its ambitious sustainability strategy Second
Nature has been developed to deliver the Group's vision to become the world's
most sustainable meat business. Cranswick has committed to be a Net Zero
business across its operations by 2040. Notable achievements to date include:
a. All 14 eligible(¥) manufacturing sites certified carbon neutral
b. Meeting the Champions 12.3 target to halve edible food loss and waste
10 years ahead of the 2030 deadline
c. Removing over 1,500 tonnes of plastic from the business, including
the removal of black plastic and PVC, and increasing the recycled content of
plastic packaging to up to 80%
d. Committing to purchase 100% certified deforestation-free soya(±)
e. All production facilities are now powered by renewable grid supplied
electricity
f. Donating over 500,000 meals to local communities
g. Over 1,500 colleagues volunteering as Second Nature 'Changemakers' to
help meet the Group's sustainability goals
h. Sustainability Award Winner in 2022: Food Manufacture Excellence
Awards
Find out more at: www.thisissecondnature.co.uk
(http://www.thisissecondnature.co.uk)
Chairman's Statement
This is my first statement as Chairman following my appointment at Cranswick's
Annual General Meeting in July 2021. I am delighted and proud to have taken
on this important role.
During the last nine months I have visited most parts of the Group meeting
many Cranswick colleagues. I have been incredibly impressed by the
resilience and fortitude of the teams at each site, by their operational
excellence, unwavering support and commitment to the business.
We have a highly skilled and experienced management team. In the last few
years they have had to cope with the severe challenges arising from COVID-19,
labour shortages, ongoing inflation and supply chain disruption. I would
like to thank Adam and the executive team for their leadership, guidance and
support during this incredibly eventful year.
The terrible humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is at the forefront of all our
minds. Our teams across the business have shown their support through generous
fundraising efforts. The business has also donated £500,000 to the
Cranswick Charitable Trust to provide financial assistance to the Ukrainian
people.
We made further positive and sustainable progress during the year delivering
revenue and earnings growth in a relentlessly challenging operating
environment. The character and tenacity of all our colleagues has again been
ably demonstrated and we thank them, along with our customers and suppliers,
for their ongoing support, understanding and resilience.
The positive progress we have made highlights the robust and sustainable
nature of our business model. Growth has continued in our domestic market,
with elevated retail demand offsetting lower revenue from our Far East export
market. The unprecedented, well-publicised, industry wide labour and supply
chain challenges have been well managed with excellent customer service levels
maintained. The cost inflation we continue to experience, a global
phenomenon, is being proactively managed and recovered.
I'm always struck by the high quality of the Group's asset base and recognise
the need to continue to invest at pace to add capacity and capability,
maintain quality and drive ongoing efficiency gains. The Hull Cooked Bacon
facility was successfully commissioned at the beginning of the period and is
performing to plan. Our new Breaded Poultry facility in Hull was
commissioned shortly after the year end and in so doing, became the fourth
new-build production facility that we have commissioned in the past five years
with a combined total investment exceeding £180 million.
We strengthened our Convenience category during the year with the acquisition
of Ramona's Kitchen, a supplier of authentic Mediterranean plant-based foods,
and Atlantica UK, a supplier of Spanish tortillas. Collectively, these
acquisitions broaden our product offering in this fast-growing market sector.
In January, we acquired Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire based Grove Pet
Foods as the entry point to the exciting and fast-growing pet food sector
which sits adjacent to our core food business. I warmly welcome the new
teams to the Cranswick family.
Results
Total revenue in the 52 weeks to 26 March 2022 was £2,008.5 million, 5.8 per
cent higher than the £1,898.4 million reported in the corresponding period
last year. Adjusting for the contribution from the acquisitions, revenue
increased by 5.3 per cent on a like-for-like basis.
Adjusted profit before tax for the period at £136.9 million was 5.6 per cent
higher than the £129.7 million reported last year. Adjusted earnings per
share on the same basis were up 3.1 per cent at 205.4p compared to 199.3p last
year.
Cash flow and financial position
Net debt, including IFRS 16 lease liabilities, at the end of the year
increased to £106.0 million (2021: £92.4 million), primarily reflecting the
cash spent on the three acquisitions during the year. Net debt, excluding
IFRS 16 lease liabilities, was £36.2 million compared to £20.8 million
previously. The Group refinanced its banking facilities in November 2021
with a new £250 million facility providing significant headroom.
Dividend
The Board is proposing a final dividend of 55.6 pence per share, an increase
of 8.4 per cent on the 51.3 pence paid previously. Together with the interim
dividend of 20.0 pence per share this is a total dividend for the year of 75.6
pence per share. That compares to 70.0 pence per share previously, an
increase of 8.0 per cent, and extends the period of consecutive years of
dividend growth to 32.
The final dividend, if approved by Shareholders, will be paid on 2 September
2022 to Shareholders on the register at the close of business on 22 July 2022.
Shares will go ex-dividend on 21 July 2022. Shareholders will again have
the option to receive the dividend by way of scrip issue.
Sustainability
We have made further meaningful progress during the year in delivering our
Second Nature sustainability strategy which reflects our ambition to be the
world's most sustainable meat business. This means responsibly managing our
operations throughout our value chain and acting transparently to produce high
quality food with integrity.
During the year we formed our new ESG Committee, which I will initially chair,
to oversee progress in this crucial area.
We have set validated, 1.5 degree aligned, Science Based Target initiatives to
reduce emissions, achieved carbon neutral status across all our eligible
manufacturing facilities and have committed to purchasing 100 per cent
deforestation-free soya, which we expect will result in a 20 per cent
reduction in Scope 3 carbon emissions compared to the previous system. These
are crucial milestones on our journey to achieve net zero greenhouse gas
emissions across all our operations by 2040.
Board
Kate Allum will step down as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the
Remuneration Committee at the forthcoming AGM at the end of her final
three-year term. On behalf of the Board, I thank Kate for her positive
contribution to Cranswick's successful development over the last nine years.
Pam Powell will succeed Kate as Chair of the Remuneration Committee. A
recruitment process for Kate's replacement is underway.
Also, at this year's AGM, Mark Reckitt will step down as Chair of the Audit
Committee. Mark will continue in his role as our Senior Independent Director.
Liz Barber, who joined the Board in May 2021, will take on the role of Audit
Committee Chair as planned.
Outlook
The start to the current year has been in line with the Board's expectations.
Notwithstanding the challenging operating conditions we continue to
experience, the Board is encouraged by the continued strong commercial and
strategic progress of the business. Our outlook for the current financial
year is unchanged and we have a solid platform from which to continue
Cranswick's successful long-term development.
Tim Smith CBE
Chairman
24 May 2022
Chief Executive's Review
Last year, I referred to FY21 being a year of unparalleled challenge and
complexity. FY22 has, in many ways, been even more difficult. We
continued to live with ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout
this financial year. We also faced the combined challenges of more severe
labour shortages, particularly skilled butchers, further broad-based and rapid
cost inflation, a shortage of CO(2) and the social and economic impact of the
Ukraine conflict. We have worked tirelessly to support our customers while
continuing to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues across the
business. It is at times like this that partnerships and cooperation come to
the fore, and I would like to thank our stakeholders and all of our colleagues
for their ongoing support, resilience and understanding during this very
demanding period.
Our unwavering focus on quality, value, innovation and our people is the
bedrock on which our business model is based. We have developed and further
embedded our key strategic customer relationships over the last 12 months.
These relationships are underpinned by a relentless drive to deliver
iconic and relevant products, developed in the best invested production
facilities in the food manufacturing sector, with raw materials and
ingredients sourced from our transparent and sustainable supply chain.
The terrible events in Ukraine continue to profoundly impact our sector, both
at a humanitarian and an economic level. We are proactively supporting
colleagues whose families may be affected by the conflict, including making
donations, offers of employment and resettlement packages.
We donated £500,000 to the Cranswick Charitable Trust in March to help with
ongoing relief and aid efforts in Ukraine. The Trust is currently evaluating
the best use of these funds and the trustees will report back to the business
in due course.
Alongside the humanitarian crisis, we have also responded to the economic
impact of the conflict on our sector. The rapid escalation in soft commodity
prices and wheat in particular, left unmitigated, would have been
unsustainable for the pig farming industry. The price of cereals, which
represent between 60 per cent and 70 per cent of the cost of growing an
animal, increased by over 50 per cent in the immediate aftermath of the start
of the conflict. With the support of our customers, we have partially
reflected these higher input costs in the price we pay to both our own farming
operations and our third-party producers.
I am, though, disappointed that the Government's response to our sector's
calls for support has been so muted. The rapid escalation in feed costs,
together with other inflationary pressures and the well-publicised shortage of
skilled butchers resulting directly from the Government's post-Brexit
immigration policy, has put the pig producer sector under severe and
unsustainable strain. We have suggested ways to mitigate these challenges,
including reducing exports of soft commodities and their use in bioethanol
production, which have not been acted on. More needs to be done by
Government in the coming months to ensure that we have a viable long-term pig
farming industry.
In a year which has been unprecedented in terms of the scale and breadth of
challenges we have faced, we have delivered our strategy at pace and our
long-term growth plan remains firmly on track. We have delivered record
results, breaking the £2 billion revenue barrier for the first time. It was
only seven years ago that we surpassed the £1 billion revenue threshold. Our
compound annual growth in revenue across this period is over 10 per cent. We
successfully commissioned our Hull Cooked Bacon facility, completed three
acquisitions and invested at pace across our asset base, including building a
new Breaded Poultry facility, again, in Hull. We have invested further in
our pig and poultry farming operations and we continue to expand our product
range through investment and innovation. We have also consistently delivered
exemplary service levels to our customers, supported our local communities and
made great strides toward delivering many of our Second Nature sustainability
targets.
We increased adjusted profit before tax by 5.6 per cent to £136.9 million
with reported revenue ahead by 5.8 per cent at £2,008.5 million. Our
business model continues to be extremely resilient and sustainable. After a
strong start to the year, volumes and pricing in our key Far East export
market fell away. Reinstatement of our Norfolk China export licence would
have gone some way to mitigating the slowdown in Chinese demand. It is
frustrating that 18 months after we temporarily self-suspended our Norfolk
licence we have not, despite intense lobbying, managed to secure
reinstatement. The shortfall in our export revenue compared to a year
earlier was more than compensated for by strong growth in our poultry
businesses and value-added pork operations.
Our business model is now a more resilient and broader based one compared to
when we entered the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago. Poultry revenue now
represents 20 per cent of Group revenue and grew by 30.8 per cent compared to
the previous year. Our investment in breaded poultry will help consolidate
our position as a 'dual protein' provider of pork and poultry as we continue
to diversify our product range.
We invested £93.7 million during the year across our asset base following on
from the £71.9 million we spent in FY21. We successfully commissioned our
new £26 million Hull Cooked Bacon facility. We have also spent £32 million
on our premium Breaded Poultry facility, again, in Hull. The Breaded Poultry
facility was commissioned shortly after year end and can serve the retail,
food service and food-to-go sectors. We now operate from 20 well-invested,
highly efficient facilities in the UK. We will continue to lift capacity,
improve efficiencies and add capability to ensure we serve our customers
from high quality, efficient, safe and technically compliant facilities.
We also continue to invest across our farming operations to maintain our 100
per cent vertical integration in poultry and keep our self-sufficiency in
British pig production at over 30 per cent of our total requirements. In
recent decades the UK has grown accustomed to food in abundance. Following
the UK's exit from the European Union, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing
Ukraine conflict, the issue of food security has come sharply into focus.
Looking ahead, even under the most optimistic of scenarios, climate change
will inevitably play its part here too. It is essential that we reflect this
challenge in our strategic plans and, where necessary, invest further in our
vertical integration to secure our supply chain.
M&A continues to be an important part of our Group strategy and we
purchased three complementary businesses in the year. We expanded our range
of authentic Mediterranean products with the acquisitions of Ramona's Kitchen
and Atlantica UK in the first half of the year. In January, we completed the
acquisition of Grove Pet Foods. Grove specialises in dry dog and other dry
animal food and provides the ideal entry point into this fast-growing and
complementary sector.
Our industry leading animal welfare standards are supported by our vertical
supply chain model, which gives us greater control over the health and
wellbeing of our animals. We have now adopted the NestBorn system for all of
our eggs. This system allows chicks to be born in natural stress-free
conditions with immediate access to space, feed and water as soon as they
hatch. We will continue to invest in technical capability, sustainability
initiatives and our farming infrastructure to ensure that we remain at the
forefront of animal welfare developments and demonstrate continued industry
leadership in this area.
We have made further progress in our quest to become the world's most
sustainable meat business, with all our eligible UK manufacturing sites now
certified carbon neutral. This is a key milestone in our drive to achieve
net zero greenhouse gas emissions across all sites by 2040. We have also
targeted all of our farming operations becoming carbon neutral by 2030. This
will require scaling up our regenerative agriculture and soil health
programmes. We also need to reduce our direct impact if we are to achieve
our Science Based Target of halving emissions across our entire value chain by
2030. A big step on this journey has been our commitment to switch to 100
per cent deforestation free Soya. This initiative alone will reduce our
indirect carbon impact by almost one-fifth.
Cranswick is first and foremost a people business and our people are what
makes Cranswick the business that it is. We remain focused on building a
diverse, talented and engaged workforce that will maintain our competitive
advantage and be a driving force for change throughout our business, in the
communities in which we operate and in wider society. We want to be an
employer of choice in the areas in which we operate and will do so by taking a
sector leading position on pay, working conditions, professional development,
inclusivity and wellbeing. I continue to be immensely proud of the rich
vein of talent that runs through our business, and our performance and results
are a reflection of the capability, commitment and dedication of our
colleagues across the business.
Adam Couch
Chief Executive
24 May 2022
Operating and Financial Review
Operating review
Revenue and Adjusted operating profit
2022 2021 Change Change
(Reported) (Like-for-like*)
Revenue £2,008.5m £1,898.4m +5.8% +5.3%
Adjusted Group Operating Profit* £140.6m £132.5m +6.1%
Adjusted Group Operating Margin* 7.0% 7.0% +2bps
*See Note 10
Revenue
Reported revenue increased by 5.8 per cent to £2,008.5 million.
Like-for-like revenue which excludes the contribution from acquisitions in
the current year increased by 5.3 per cent, with corresponding volumes ahead
by 2.3 per cent. This builds on the strong growth in the prior year with
like-for-like revenue 18.4 per cent ahead, on a two year basis, of the year to
March 2020.
Poultry volumes grew strongly following the successful capacity expansion at
Eye. Convenience and Gourmet Products revenues, which included a full year
contribution from the new Hull Cooked Bacon facility, were also ahead. Fresh
Pork revenue was lower, despite more pigs being processed during the year,
primarily reflecting lower Far East export sales and more volume being sold
internally to add greater value.
Customer service levels remained consistently high throughout the year,
including during a record Christmas trading period, which was executed
exceptionally well against a backdrop of national labour shortages and ongoing
supply chain challenges.
Adjusted Group operating profit
Adjusted Group operating profit increased by 6.1 per cent to £140.6 million,
with adjusted Group operating margin at 7.0 per cent in line with the prior
year despite high input cost inflation, lower Far East export margins and
start-up costs for the new Cooked Bacon facility. Cost inflation, together
with, at times, acute labour shortages and ongoing supply chain disruption is
being proactively managed and recovered.
Category review
FOOD SEGMENT
Fresh Pork
Fresh Pork includes the three primary processing facilities and associated
farming operations and represented 26 per cent of Group revenue.
Fresh Pork revenue was 7.9 per cent lower reflecting the pass through of lower
average UK pig prices during the year, softer export prices and reduced Far
East export volumes. Fresh Pork retail sales were modestly lower
year-on-year as more meat was transferred internally into our added-value
convenience and gourmet product ranges.
Far East export revenue was 25 per cent behind the prior year reflecting
reduced demand from China due to renewed Covid lockdown restrictions and the
ongoing inability to export to China from our Norfolk facility due to the
voluntary suspension of the site's China export licence in October 2020.
Further progress has been made in developing alternative pork export markets
in Asia and South Africa where demand for British Outdoor Bred higher welfare
pork remains high.
Despite reporting lower Fresh Pork revenue, weekly average pig numbers
processed during the year increased by 1.5 per cent to 62,300, peaking at
67,200 in February 2022 with the additional volumes supporting increased
demand from the Group's Convenience and Gourmet Product businesses. With
ongoing investment in our farming operations, we maintained our
self-sufficiency in UK pigs at over 30 per cent despite the uplift in numbers
processed.
We invested £26 million across the three primary processing facilities and
our farming infrastructure in the year. Investment in primary processing
includes automated leg deboning at the Preston site and purchasing the
Ballymena site, which was previously leased, to facilitate its future
expansion. We also invested further to add capacity, automation and
capability across the three sites. We continue to invest in our farming
infrastructure to add capacity and improve our already industry leading animal
welfare standards.
The average UK standard pig price ("SPP") for the year was 4.8 per cent lower
than the prior year average at 148p/kg. The SPP increased from 141p/kg to
161p/kg in mid-August, falling back to 137p/kg in February, before rising
again to close the year at 147p/kg. The increase in the first half of the
year reflected tight supply and strong UK and export demand. Prices then
fell back through the autumn due to the combined effect of lower EU pig prices
and oversupply in the UK market resulting from the shortage of skilled
butchers.
The increased SPP in March 2022 reflected a rapid response to the sharp rises
in soft commodity prices. Wheat and Soya prices were already at all-time
highs. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which accounts for around 12 per cent
of global wheat production and around 20 per cent of global wheat exports, has
pushed up cereal prices to unsustainable highs.
The sharp increase in feed prices incurred by producers, alongside high levels
of UK cost inflation, has accelerated the need to introduce new compensation
mechanisms for farmers. These measures mark a short-term move away from
prices linked to the SPP as processors work with retailers to establish
greater use of cost of production models. These models provide greater
certainty and speed of cost recovery to producers, in turn creating security
of supply for consumers.
African Swine Fever ("ASF") continues to affect large parts of China and, to a
lesser extent, Eastern Europe. In China, efforts to rebuild herds have been
slowed by the strict Covid restrictions imposed in many parts of the country.
In Europe, most ASF cases continue to be detected in Romania and Poland
however a case was recently detected in a domestic pig in Italy, over 800km
from the nearest case in Germany.
In the UK, we remain acutely aware of the impact an outbreak of ASF would have
on the UK pig industry and its ability to continue exporting, however we are
reassured by the recent agreement between France and China which will allow
exports from France to continue should ASF be found in the country. The UK
industry remains on high alert with intensive bio-security protocols in place.
Convenience
Convenience, which comprises Cooked Meats and Continental Products,
represented 38 per cent of Group revenue. Convenience revenue was 5.9 per
cent ahead on a reported basis. Like-for-like revenue, excluding the
contributions from the Atlantica UK acquisition in June 2021 and the Ramona's
Kitchen acquisition in August 2021, increased by 5.2 per cent. Growth
reflected the ongoing consumer trend of enjoying quality convenience foods in
the home.
Cooked Meats revenue grew with the introduction of new ranges to support
sustained levels of in-home consumption. Slow cook and Sous vide products
continue to drive category growth with a strong pipeline of new products being
developed. Innovation included the introduction of a sliced rare roast beef
product for a premium retail customer together with a new 'street food' style
product range. In more traditional product ranges, a number of key business
wins were secured, including meaningful volume with the anchor customer of one
of the three cooked meats sites.
Over £9 million was invested in the three cooked meats sites during the year.
This included the start of a major expansion programme at the Milton Keynes
facility and investment in automation and new slicing capability across all
three sites.
The Continental Products facility in Bury reported double digit revenue
growth, which was well ahead of the market, across all product ranges. This
performance was delivered through category leadership and launching innovative
new products, including platters, mixed products and tapas boxes for sharing
occasions which have grown in popularity as consumers look to recreate
restaurant quality experiences in the home. Alongside this innovation,
ongoing investment in the Bury facility, which was commissioned in April 2018,
has enabled premium artisanal products to be created efficiently at scale.
This capability has resulted in several major olive and charcuterie business
wins being secured during the year, including the full Olive and Antipasti
range with a major retailer. This level of business growth has accelerated
plans for further development of the site, with £5 million spent during the
year on new highly efficient olive and charcuterie lines and the initial phase
of a capacity expansion programme.
Katsouris Brothers revenue was modestly ahead year-on-year, helped by the
contribution from Ramona's Kitchen and Atlantica UK. Sales of 'Grab and Go'
products, which were introduced following the closure of retailer deli
counters during the pandemic, have remained resilient. Ramona's Kitchen has
been successfully integrated, with products now listed in two major
retailers.
Gourmet Products
Gourmet Products, which comprise Sausage, Bacon, Pastry and the new Hull,
Cooked Bacon facility, represented 16 per cent of Group revenue. Gourmet
Products revenue increased 4.9 per cent reflecting the ramp up in production
at the new Cooked Bacon facility and the recovery of sales into the food
service and food-to-go sectors allied to ongoing strong retail demand for
premium Bacon and Pastry products.
Sausage revenue modestly declined year-on-year with strong sales of Christmas
garnishes unable to fully offset the tough comparatives of an exceptionally
strong summer barbecue season in 2020 during the first lock-down. Product
innovation continued to drive new sales, including gourmet hot dogs, breakfast
boxes, flavoured pigs in blankets and new summer inspired flavours across
premium ranges. The positive contribution from this new product development
was constrained due to lower retailer promotional activity. Food service
volumes continued to recover over the course of the year with more breakfasts
being consumed out of the home. Future category growth will be facilitated
by £5 million spent on the Hull site during the year which includes
investment in new sausage casing capability.
Growth in Bacon reflected the recovery in food service volumes underpinned by
robust retail volume growth, including the full contribution from new business
wins secured during the first half of the previous financial year. The
volume uplift was augmented by increased sales of premium products, including
air dried hams and premium sliced bacon which more than offset lower volumes
of traditional gammon and bacon joints. Christmas trading boosted sales in
the second half of the year with continued product innovation also driving
retail growth. £4 million of capital investment in the year in enhanced
automation and new slicing lines will improve efficiency and add capacity.
Robust year-on-year growth resulted in record Pastry sales. Growth in the
popularity of luxury convenience foods boosted sales to the site's anchor
customer and resulted in a highly successful Christmas campaign. New retail
product launches bolstered sales growth with the launch of new innovative pie
products and premium meal solutions. Sales into national coffee shop chains
and food-to-go outlets remained strong and were complemented, in the final
quarter, by the tie up between the site's anchor premium retail customer and a
leading coffee shop chain.
Sales of cooked bacon and sausage launched at the outset of the year following
the successful commissioning of the new Gourmet Kitchen facility in April
2021. Focus in the first half of the year was on delivering high quality
cooked bacon to the site's anchor customer. Following the successful ramp up
in production, additional premium retail cooked bacon and sausage volumes have
been secured, as well as supply of cooked sausage to a leading coffee shop
chain. Further planned investment in the site, in addition to £5 million
spent in the year, will introduce new innovative cooking methods and support
anticipated growth in demand from the site's lead customer.
Poultry
Poultry, which includes Fresh and Cooked Poultry, represented 20 per cent of
Group revenue. Poultry revenue increased by 30.8 per cent in the year
following the successful capacity uplift in Fresh Poultry at Eye and the
recovery of food service revenues at Cooked Poultry.
Fresh Poultry revenue was substantially ahead of the prior year following the
successful uplift in capacity to 1.4 million birds per week supporting strong
demand from the site's anchor customer. This increase in birds processed has
been enabled through further investment in our farming operations where £3
million has been spent to increase capacity and improve efficiency. A further
£3 million was spent on further processing automation, including additional
deboning and portioning capability. This investment has enabled improved
carcass utilisation with additional sales of wings, drumstick and deboned
thigh meat supporting whole bird and white meat sales.
Avian Influenza ("AI") represents a heightened risk to the Fresh Poultry
business with several cases found in wild birds in the UK. Although the risk
to consumers is very low, controlling the spread of AI remains a priority. The
impact on the business to date has been limited, but outbreaks close to the
Eye facility resulted in the area being designated a disease control zone
which impacted the ability to export product from the facility. The overall
risk to production remains low with enhanced bio-security controls in place.
Cooked Poultry volumes were strongly ahead of the prior year and comfortably
ahead of pre-pandemic levels. Growth in cooked poultry revenue was driven by
the rapid recovery of the food service industry and, in particular, the
food-to-go sector which benefited from strong demand over the festive period
and the easing of lockdown restrictions. Sales to the business's major food
service customer are now fully recovered and retail demand remains resilient
following new product launches resulting from continued product innovation.
£2 million was also invested at the site to reduce odour emissions and
upgrade refrigeration. In early May 2022, a routine internal inspection
identified the presence of Salmonella in a limited number of cooked chicken
products prepared at our cooked poultry facility in Hull. As a precautionary
measure, we asked our customers to withdraw any of their products containing
our Ready-to-Eat chicken produced during the affected period. The cost of this
event cannot yet be reasonably estimated, however, post mitigation, it is
expected that the impact will not be material to the Group.
Shortly before year end, pre-production trials started at our new £32 million
Breaded Poultry facility in Hull, with full commercial roll-out starting in
the first weeks of FY23. This state-of-the-art facility produces
Ready-to-Cook and Ready-to-Eat products using a range of innovative production
processes, including the use of air frying. This method of cooking is far
healthier than traditional cooking methods. Initial interest from retail,
food service and Quick Service Restaurant customers has been strong.
OTHER SEGMENT
Pet food
The new Pet Food category incorporates Grove Pet Foods which was acquired on
28 January 2022. Grove is a producer of dry dog food for several leading
brands under private label relationships alongside its own brands, including
Vitalin (natural) and Alpha Feeds (working dog).
The business operates predominantly from a purpose-built freehold facility in
Lincolnshire that has a footprint for further expansion as a significant
proportion of the freehold site is not currently utilised. Across this site
and a second production site in Nottinghamshire, Grove Pet Foods has a total
workforce of approximately 100 people.
This acquisition represents a platform for future growth in this attractive
and rapidly expanding sector. Grove complements our farm-to-fork integration
strategy for poultry and pigs and enhances our sustainability strategy through
improved carcass utilisation.
Grove Pet Foods made a modest contribution to reported Group revenue in the
first two months of ownership prior to year-end.
Finance review
Revenue
Reported revenue increased by 5.8 per cent to £2,008.5 million (2021:
£1,898.4 million). On a like-for-like basis, excluding the contribution
from acquisitions in the year, revenues increased by 5.3 per cent, with
volumes 2.3 per cent higher.
Adjusted gross profit and adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted gross profit of £281.0 million (2021: £269.2 million) increased by
4.4 per cent with adjusted gross profit margin falling marginally to 14.0 per
cent (2021: 14.2 per cent). Adjusted EBITDA increased by 2.5 per cent to
£201.7 million (2021: £196.7 million) and adjusted EBITDA margin decreased
to 10.0 per cent (2021: 10.4 per cent).
Adjusted Group operating profit
Adjusted Group operating profit of £140.6 million (2021: £132.5 million)
increased by 6.1 per cent and adjusted Group operating margin was 7.0 per cent
of sales, in line with last year.
Full reconciliations of adjusted measures to statutory results can be found in
Note 10. The net IAS 41 movement on biological assets results in a £2.8
million charge (2021: £11.4 million charge) on a statutory basis reflecting
the fall in the UK pig price during the year.
Finance costs and funding
On 22 November 2021, the Group refinanced its banking facility, taking out a
new Sustainability Linked Revolving Credit Facility with Lloyds Bank plc,
National Westminster Bank plc, HSBC UK Bank plc, Rabobank London and Bank of
China Limited.
The new facility, which runs to November 2025 with the potential to extend for
a further year, comprises a revolving credit facility of £250 million,
including a committed overdraft facility of £20 million, with an option to
extend the facility by a further £50 million on the same terms.
This facility provides the business with over £200 million of headroom at 26
March 2022. The adequacy of this facility has been confirmed as part of
robust scenario testing performed over the three-year viability period for the
Group. Net financing costs of £3.7 million included £2.2 million of IFRS
16 lease interest. Bank finance costs were £0.9 million higher than the
prior year at £1.6 million due to higher bank interest rates and costs
relating to refinancing the Group's banking facility in November 2021.
Adjusted profit before tax
Adjusted profit before tax was 5.6 per cent higher at £136.9 million (2021:
£129.7 million).
Taxation
The tax charge of £26.4 million (2021: £22.3 million) was 20.3 per cent of
profit before tax (2021: 19.4 per cent). The standard rate of UK corporation
tax was 19.0 per cent (2021: 19.0 per cent). The effective corporation tax
rate was higher than the standard rate due to non-qualifying depreciation,
disallowable expenses and a deferred tax charge resulting from the future,
enacted increase in the UK corporation tax rate to 25 per cent, partially
offset by the benefit of the-super deduction on eligible capital investment.
Adjusted earnings per share
Adjusted earnings per share increased by 3.1 per cent to 205.4 pence (2021:
199.3 pence). The average number of shares in issue was 52,923,00 (2021:
52,469,000).
Statutory profit measures
Statutory profit before tax was £129.9 million (2021: £114.8 million), with
statutory Group operating profit at £133.6 million (2021: £117.6 million)
and statutory earnings per share of 195.7 pence (2021: 176.4 pence).
Statutory gross profit was £278.2 million (2021: £257.8 million).
Segmental reporting
Following the acquisition of Grove Pet Foods Limited, the Group has a new
operating segment resulting in the need for a new reporting segment 'Other' as
the aggregation criteria for the 'Food' reporting segment is not met for the
new operating segment. Refer to note 3 for further information.
Cash flow and net debt
The net cash inflow from operating activities in the year was £160.0 million
(2021: £181.4 million). This reduction is primarily due to an increase in
working capital due to growth in the business, cost inflation and strategic
purchasing of inventory. Net debt at the end of the year was £106.0 million
(2021: £92.4 million) with the inflow from operating activities offset by the
payment of £38.5 million of consideration on acquisitions, £14.3 million of
IFRS 16 lease charges, £92.4 million invested in the Group's asset base, net
of disposal proceeds and £32.8 million of dividends paid to the Group's
Shareholders.
Pensions
The Group operates defined contribution pension schemes whereby contributions
are made to schemes administered by major insurance companies. Contributions
to these schemes are determined as a percentage of employees' earnings. The
Group also operates a defined benefit pension scheme which has been closed to
further benefit accrual since 2004. The surplus on this scheme at 26 March
2022 was £8.3 million, compared to £5.7 million at 27 March 2021. Cash
contributions to the scheme during the year, as part of the programme to fully
fund the scheme, were £1.8 million. The present value of funded obligations
was £30.1 million, and the fair value of plan assets was £38.4 million.
Group income statement
For the 52 weeks ended 26 March 2022
2022 2021
Notes £'m £'m
Revenue 2,008.5 1,898.4
Adjusted Group operating profit 140.6 132.5
Net IAS 41 valuation movement on biological assets (2.8) (11.4)
Amortisation of intangible assets (4.2) (3.5)
Group operating profit 4 133.6 117.6
Finance costs (3.7) (2.8)
Profit before tax 129.9 114.8
Taxation (26.4) (22.3)
Profit for the year 103.5 92.5
Earnings per share (pence)
On profit for the year:
Basic 5 195.7p 176.4p
Diluted 5 194.8p 175.6p
Group statement of comprehensive income
For the 52 weeks ended 26 March 2022
2022 2021
£'m £'m
Profit for the year 103.5 92.5
Other comprehensive income/(expense)
Other comprehensive income/(expense) to be reclassified to profit or loss in
subsequent periods:
Cash flow hedges
(Losses)/gains arising in the year (0.3) 0.2
Reclassification adjustments for gains included in the income statement - (0.4)
Income tax effect 0.1 -
Net other comprehensive expense to be reclassified to profit or loss in
subsequent periods
(0.2) (0.2)
Items not to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods:
Actuarial gains/(losses) on defined benefit pension scheme 0.7 (3.4)
Income tax effect (0.5) 0.6
Net other comprehensive income/(expense) not to be reclassified to profit or
loss in subsequent periods
0.2 (2.8)
Other comprehensive income/(expense), net of tax
- (3.0)
Total comprehensive income, net of tax 103.5 89.5
Group balance sheet
At 26 March 2022
2022 2021
Notes £'m £'m
Non-current assets
Intangible assets 231.3 203.8
Defined benefit pension scheme surplus 8.3 5.7
Property, plant and equipment 434.8 376.7
Right-of-use assets 65.5 68.8
Biological assets 2.7 2.4
Total non-current assets 742.6 657.4
Current assets
Biological assets 50.7 41.1
Inventories 105.2 81.8
Trade and other receivables 244.4 221.7
Financial assets - 0.9
Cash and short-term deposits 7 0.2 39.0
Total current assets 400.5 384.5
Total assets 1,143.1 1,041.9
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables (238.7) (217.2)
Financial liabilities (3.1) (1.0)
Lease Liabilities (13.8) (12.5)
Provisions (1.8) (0.1)
Income tax payable (2.4) (1.4)
Total current liabilities (259.8) (232.2)
Non-current liabilities
Other payables (0.6) (0.8)
Financial liabilities 7 (36.4) (59.8)
Lease liabilities (56.0) (59.1)
Deferred tax liabilities (19.7) (2.7)
Provisions (1.7) (1.2)
Total non-current liabilities (114.4) (123.6)
Total liabilities (374.2) (355.8)
Net assets 768.9 686.1
Equity
Called-up share capital 5.3 5.3
Share premium account 115.9 106.4
Share-based payments 44.3 37.4
Hedging reserve (0.3) (0.1)
Retained earnings 603.7 537.1
Equity attributable to owners of the parent 768.9 686.1
Group statement of cash flows
For the 52 weeks ended 26 March 2022
Notes 2022 2021
£'m £'m
Operating activities
Profit for the year 103.5 92.5
Adjustments to reconcile Group profit for the year to net cash inflows from
operating activities:
Income tax expense 26.4 22.3
Net finance costs 3.7 2.8
(Gain)/loss on sale of property, plant and equipment (0.1) 0.1
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 47.9 51.9
Depreciation of right-of-use assets 13.2 12.3
Amortisation of intangible assets 4.2 3.5
Share-based payments 6.9 6.0
Difference between pension contributions paid and amounts recognised in the
income statement
(1.9) (2.0)
Release of government grants (0.2) (0.2)
Net IAS 41 valuation movement on biological assets 2.8 11.4
Increase in biological assets (12.7) (9.2)
Increase in inventories (21.3) (6.3)
Increase in trade and other receivables (20.1) (7.8)
Increase in trade and other payables 17.5 26.2
Cash generated from operations 169.8 203.5
Tax paid (9.8) (22.1)
Net cash from operating activities 160.0 181.4
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired 9 (38.5) (10.7)
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (93.7) (71.9)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 1.3 0.6
Receipt of government grants - 0.2
Net cash used in investing activities (130.9) (81.8)
Cash flows from financing activities
Interest paid (1.6) (0.5)
Proceeds from issue of share capital 4.6 3.0
Issue costs of long-term borrowings (1.8) -
Repayment of borrowings (22.0) (43.0)
Dividends paid (32.8) (27.9)
Payment of lease capital (12.1) (11.4)
Payment of lease interest (2.2) (2.3)
Net cash used in financing activities (67.9) (82.1)
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents 7 (38.8) 17.5
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 7 39.0 21.5
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 7 0.2 39.0
Group statement of changes in equity
For the 52 weeks ended 26 March 2022
Share-
Share Share based Hedging Retained Total
capital premium payments reserve earnings equity
£'m £'m £'m £'m £'m £'m
At 28 March 2020 5.2 98.5 31.6 0.1 479.1 614.5
Profit for the year - - - - 92.5 92.5
Other comprehensive income - - - (0.2) (2.8) (3.0)
Total comprehensive income - - - (0.2) 89.7 89.5
Share-based payments - - 6.0 - - 6.0
Scrip dividend - 4.8 - - - 4.8
Share options exercised 0.1 2.9 - - - 3.0
Share transfer - 0.2 (0.2) - - -
Dividends - - - - (32.7) (32.7)
Deferred tax related to changes in equity - - - - 0.4 0.4
Current tax related to changes in equity - - - - 0.6 0.6
At 27 March 2021 5.3 106.4 37.4 (0.1) 537.1 686.1
Profit for the year - - - - 103.5 103.5
Other comprehensive income - - - (0.2) 0.2 -
Total comprehensive income - - - (0.2) 103.7 103.5
Share-based payments - - 6.9 - - 6.9
Scrip dividend - 4.9 - - - 4.9
Share options exercised - 4.6 - - - 4.6
Dividends - - - - (37.7) (37.7)
Deferred tax related to changes in equity - - - - (0.1) (0.1)
Current tax related to changes in equity - - - - 0.7 0.7
At 26 March 2022 5.3 115.9 44.3 (0.3) 603.7 768.9
Notes to the accounts
1. Basis of preparation
The results comprise those of Cranswick plc and its subsidiaries for the 52
weeks ended 26 March 2022. This preliminary announcement has been prepared on
the basis of accounting policies as set out in the statutory accounts for the
52 weeks ended 27 March 2021 (except as detailed below and in note 2). This
announcement does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts within the
meaning of Section 435 of the Companies Act 2006.
The Group and Company's financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with UK-Adopted International Accounting Standards ('UK-Adopted IAS') and with
the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies
reporting under those standards. The change in basis of preparation is
required by UK Company Law for the purposes of financial reporting as a result
of the UK's exit from the EU on 31 January 2020 and cessation of the
transition period on 31 December 2020, with future changes being subject to
endorsement by the UK Endorsement Board. The change does not constitute a
change in accounting policy but rather a change in framework which is required
to ground the use of IFRS in Company Law. There is no impact on recognition,
measurement or disclosures in the period as a result of the change in the
framework.
The Financial Statements of the Group are prepared to the last Saturday in
March. Accordingly, these Financial Statements are prepared for the 52 week
period ended 26 March 2022. Comparatives are for the 52 week period ended 27
March 2021. The Balance Sheet for 2022 and 2021 have been prepared as at 26
March 2022 and 27 March 2021 respectively.
Statutory accounts for the 52 weeks ended 26 March 2022 and 27 March 2021 have
been reported on by the auditors who issued an unqualified opinion in respect
of both years and the auditors' reports for 2022 and 2021 did not contain
statements under 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006. Statutory
accounts for the 52 weeks ended 27 March 2021 have been filed with the
Registrar of Companies. The statutory accounts for the 52 weeks ended 26
March 2022, which were approved by the Board on 24 May 2022, will be delivered
to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual General Meeting.
Viability and Going Concern
In accordance with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code, the
Board has assessed the viability of the Group over an appropriate time period,
taking into account the current position, future prospects and the potential
impact of the principal risks to the Group's business model and ability to
deliver its strategy.
The Board has determined that a three-year period to March 2025 is an
appropriate period over which to provide its Viability Statement. This
timeframe has been specifically chosen due to the fast moving nature of the
food industry and the current financial and operational forecasting cycles of
the Group.
In making this assessment of viability, the Board carried out a robust
assessment of the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group as well
as considering material macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical challenges
including the consideration of an outbreak of Avian Influenza impacting our
chicken flock and a widespread outbreak of African Swine Fever in the UK and
Europe. Focus was also placed on the emerging risks of the impact of the
conflict in Ukraine.
The sensitivity analysis utilised the Group's robust 3 year budget and
forecasting process to quantify the financial impact on the strategic plan and
on the Group's viability against specific measures including liquidity, credit
rating and bank covenants. This process also incorporated reverse stress
testing.
Given the strong liquidity of the Group; the committed banking facilities
which are now in place beyond the viability period; and the diversity of
operations; the results of the sensitivity analysis highlighted that the Group
would, over the three-year period, be able to withstand the impact of the most
severe combination of the risks modelled by making adjustments to its
strategic plan and discretionary expenditure, with strong headroom against
current available facilities and full covenant compliance in all modelled
scenarios.
Based on the results of this analysis, the Board has a reasonable expectation
that the Group will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities
as they fall due over the period to 29 March 2025.
2. Accounting policies
The accounting policies applied by the Group in this preliminary announcement
are the same as those applied by the Group in the financial statements for the
52 weeks ended 27 March 2021, except for the new standards and interpretations
explained below.
New standards and interpretations applied
The following accounting standards and interpretations became effective for
the current reporting period:
International Accounting Standards (IAS/IFRSs) Effective date
IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7 (amendments) 1 January 2021
IFRS 7, IFRS 4 & IFRS 16 Interest rate benchmark reform (amendments) 1 January 2021
IFRS 16 Leases - Covid-19 related rent concessions (amendments) 1 April 2021
The application of these standards has not had a material effect on the net
assets, results and disclosures of the Group.
New and revised standards and interpretations not applied
In these Financial Statements, the Group has not applied the following new and
revised IFRSs that have been issued but are not yet effective:
International Accounting Standards (IAS/IFRSs) Effective date
Annual improvements to IFRSs 2018-20 cycle 1 January 2022
IFRS 3 Business combinations (amendment) 1 January 2022
IAS 16 Property plant and equipment (amendment) 1 January 2022
IAS 37 Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets 1 January 2022
Narrow scope amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8 1 January 2023
IFRS 17 Insurance contracts 1 January 2023
IAS 12 Deferred tax (amendment) 1 January 2023
IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements (amendment) 1 January 2024
None of these are expected to have a significant effect on the Financial
Statements of the Group.
3. Business and geographical segments
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 Executive Directors on the Board,
who are primarily responsible for the allocation of resources to segments and
the assessment of performance of the segments.
The CODM assesses profit performance principally through adjusted profit
measures consistent with those disclosed in the Annual Report and Accounts.
The reportable segment 'Food' represents the aggregation of four operating
segments which are aligned to the product categories of the Group; Fresh Pork,
Convenience, Gourmet Products and Poultry, all of which manufacture and supply
food products. These operating segments have been aggregated into one
reportable segment as they share similar economic characteristics. The
economic indicators which have been assessed in concluding that these
operating segments should be aggregated include the similarity of long-term
average margins; expected future financial performance; and operating and
competitive risks. In addition, the operating segments are similar with regard
to the nature of the products and production process, the type and class of
customer, the method of distribution and the regulatory environment.
Following the acquisition of Grove Pet Foods Limited, the Group has a new
operating segment resulting in the need for a new reporting segment 'Other' as
the aggregation criteria for the 'Food' reporting segment is not met for the
new operating segment.
The reporting segments are organised based on the nature of the end markets
served. The 'Food' reporting segment entails manufacture and supply of food
products to UK grocery retailers, the food service sector and other UK and
global food producers. The 'Other' segment represents all other activities
which do not meet the above criteria, principally Grove Pet Foods Limited.
2022 £'m 2022 £'m 2022 £'m 2021 £'m 2021 £'m 2021 £'m
Food Other Total Food Other Total
Revenue 2,004.6 3.9 2,008.5 1,898.4 - 1,898.4
Adjusted operating profit 140.7 (0.1) 140.6 132.5 - 132.5
Finance costs (3.7) - (3.7) (2.8) - (2.8)
Adjusted profit before tax 137.0 (0.1) 136.9 129.7 - 129.7
Assets 1,132.2 10.9 1,143.1 1,041.9 - 1,041.9
Liabilities (368.3) (5.9) (374.2) (355.8) - (355.8)
Net assets 763.9 5.0 768.9 686.1 - 686.1
Depreciation 60.9 0.2 61.1 64.2 - 64.2
Non-current asset additions 139.5 0.2 139.7 89.2 - 89.2
4. Group operating profit
Group operating costs comprise:
2022 2021
£'m £'m
Cost of sales excluding net IAS 41 valuation movement on biological assets 1,727.5 1,629.2
Net IAS 41 valuation movement on biological assets* 2.8 11.4
Cost of sales 1,730.3 1,640.6
Gross profit 278.2 257.8
Selling and distribution costs 80.3 69.0
Administrative expenses excluding amortisation of intangible assets
60.1 67.7
Amortisation of intangible assets 4.2 3.5
Administrative expenses 64.3 71.2
Total operating costs 1,874.9 1,780.8
* This represents the difference between operating profit prepared under IAS
41 and operating profit prepared under historical cost accounting, which forms
part of the reconciliation to adjusted operating profit.
5. 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 £103.5 million (2021:
£92.5 million) 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 weighted average number of ordinary shares for both basic and diluted
amounts was as per the table below:
2022 2021
Thousands Thousands
Basic weighted average number of shares 52,923 52,469
Dilutive potential ordinary shares - share options 246 244
53,169 52,713
Adjusted earnings per share are calculated using the weighted average number
of shares for both basic and diluted amounts as detailed above (see Note 10).
6. Dividends
Subject to Shareholders' approval the final dividend will be paid on 2
September 2022 to Shareholders on the register at the close of business on 22
July 2022.
7. Analysis of changes in net debt
At Other At
27 March Cash non-cash 26 March
2021 flow changes 2022
Group £'m £'m £'m £'m
Cash and cash equivalents 39.0 (38.8) - 0.2
Revolving credit (59.8) 22.0 1.4 (36.4)
Lease liabilities (71.6) 14.3 (12.5) (69.8)
Net debt (92.4) (2.5) (11.1) (106.0)
Net (debt)/funds are defined as cash and cash equivalents less
interest-bearing liabilities net of unamortised issue costs.
8. Related party transactions
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.
9. Acquisitions
During the year, the following acquisitions were completed:
i) On 18 June 2021, the Group acquired 100 per cent of the
issued share capital of Atlantica UK Limited, an importer of Continental
foods. On 3 August 2021, the Group acquired 100 per cent of the share capital
of Ramona's Kitchen Limited, a producer of dips and Mediterranean foods. The
two businesses were acquired for a combined initial net cash consideration of
£5.5 million.
ii) On 28 January 2022, the Group acquired 100 per cent of
the share capital of a holding entity Holdco Alpha Limited and its subsidiary
Grove Pet Foods Limited (Grove), a producer of dried pet foods for several
leading brands under private label relationships alongside its own brands,
together with associated freehold land and buildings, for an initial net cash
consideration of £33.0 million.
Ramona's Kitchen Limited and Atlantica UK Limited
The following table sets out the fair values of the identifiable assets and
liabilities acquired by the Group in relation to Atlantica UK Limited and
Ramona's Kitchen Limited. The fair values have been provisionally determined
at the balance sheet date.
Provisional fair value
£'m
Net assets acquired:
Customer relationships 2.6
Trademark 1.0
Property, plant and equipment 0.3
Right-of-use assets 0.2
Inventories 0.2
Trade and other receivables 0.9
Bank and cash balances 0.9
Trade and other payables (0.5)
Lease liability (0.2)
Corporation tax liability (0.1)
Deferred tax liability (0.9)
4.4
Goodwill arising on acquisition 4.7
Total consideration 9.1
Satisfied by:
Initial cash consideration 6.4
Deferred contingent consideration 2.7
9.1
Net cash outflow arising on acquisition:
Cash consideration paid 6.4
Cash and cash equivalents acquired (0.9)
5.5
Included in the £4.7 million of goodwill recognised above are certain
intangible assets that cannot be individually separated and reliably measured
due to their nature. These items include the expected value of synergies and
an assembled workforce.
Transaction costs in relation to the acquisitions of £0.2 million have been
expensed within administrative expenses.
All of the trade receivables acquired are expected to be collected in full.
From the date of acquisition to 26 March 2022, the combined external revenues
of Atlantica UK Limited and Ramona's Kitchen Limited were £5.4 million and
the businesses contributed net profit after tax of £0.4 million to the Group.
Had the acquisition taken place at the beginning of the year, revenue in the
year would have been £2.2 million higher and profit in the year would have
been £0.3m higher.
Contingent Consideration
The agreement includes contingent consideration payable in cash to the
previous owners of Atlantica UK Limited and Ramona's Kitchen Limited based on
the performance of the businesses in the period to 30 June 2024. The amount
payable will be between £nil and £2.8m.
The fair value of the contingent consideration on acquisition was estimated at
£2.7 million and was estimated calculating the present value of the future
expected cashflows.
Holdco Alpha Ltd (Grove Pet Foods)
The following table sets out the fair values of the identifiable assets and
liabilities acquired by the Group in relation to Grove. The fair values have
been provisionally determined at the balance sheet date.
Provisional fair value
£'m
Net assets acquired:
Customer relationships 5.3
Trademark 2.2
Property, plant and equipment 10.1
Inventories 2.0
Trade and other receivables 2.5
Right of use assets 0.3
Bank and cash balances (0.5)
Trade and other payables (3.0)
Hire purchase leases (0.3)
Lease liabilities (0.3)
Corporation tax liability (0.7)
Deferred tax liability (1.8)
15.8
Goodwill arising on acquisition 15.9
Total consideration 31.7
Satisfied by:
Initial cash consideration 32.5
Completion accounts adjustment (0.8)
31.7
Net cash outflow arising on acquisition:
Cash consideration paid (included in cash flows from investing activities) 32.5
Cash and cash equivalents acquired 0.5
33.0
Included in the £15.9 million of goodwill recognised above are certain
intangible assets that cannot be individually separated and reliably measured
due to their nature. These items include the expected value of synergies and
an assembled workforce.
Transaction costs in relation to the acquisitions of £0.4 million have been
expensed within administrative expenses.
All of the trade receivables acquired are expected to be collected in full.
A review of the completion accounts has been undertaken in line with the Sale
and Purchase Agreement. This has resulted in an adjustment of £0.8 million
receivable from the seller, referred to as the 'completion accounts
adjustment' above.
Post-acquisition Grove has contributed £3.9 million revenue and £0.1 million
operating loss which is included in the Group income statement. Had the
acquisition taken place at the beginning of the year, revenue in the year
would have been £19.0 million higher and profit in the year would have been
£0.8 million higher.
10. Alternative performance measures
The Board monitors performance principally through adjusted and like-for-like
performance measures. Adjusted profit and earnings per share measures
exclude certain non-cash items including the net IAS 41 valuation movement on
biological assets, amortisation of acquired intangible assets, profit on sale
of a business and goodwill impairment charges. Free cash flow is defined as
net cash from operating activities less net interest paid and like-for-like
revenue excludes the benefit of acquisitions in the current year.
The Board believes that such alternative measures are useful as they exclude
volatile (net IAS 41 valuation movement on biological assets), one-off
(impairment of goodwill and profit on sale of a business) and non-cash
(amortisation of intangible assets) items which are normally disregarded by
investors, analysts and brokers in gaining a clearer understanding of the
underlying performance of the Group when making investment and other
decisions. Equally, like-for-like revenue provides these same stakeholders
with a clearer understanding of the organic sales growth of the business.
Like-for-like revenue
2022 2021 Change
£'m £'m
Revenue 2,008.5 1,898.4 +5.8%
Ramona's Kitchen and Atlantica UK Limited (5.4) -
Grove Pet Foods (3.9) -
Like-for-like revenue 1,999.2 1,898.4 +5.3%
Adjusted gross profit
2022 2021 Change
£'m £'m
Gross profit 278.2 257.8 +7.9%
Net IAS 41 valuation movement 2.8 11.4
Adjusted gross profit 281.0 269.2 +4.4%
Adjusted Group operating profit and adjusted EBITDA
2022 2021 Change
£'m £'m
Group operating profit 133.6 117.6 +13.6%
Net IAS 41 valuation movement 2.8 11.4
Amortisation of intangible assets 4.2 3.5
Adjusted Group operating profit 140.6 132.5 +6.1%
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 47.9 51.9
Depreciation of right-of-use assets 13.2 12.3
Adjusted EBITDA 201.7 196.7 +2.5%
Adjusted profit before tax
2022 2021 Change
£'m £'m
Profit before tax 129.9 114.8 +13.2%
Net IAS 41 valuation movement 2.8 11.4
Amortisation of intangible assets 4.2 3.5
Adjusted profit before tax 136.9 129.7 +5.6%
Adjusted earnings per share
2022 2022 2022 2021 2021 2021
Basic Diluted Basic Diluted
£'m pence pence £'m pence pence
On profit for the year 103.5 195.7 194.8 92.5 176.4 175.6
Amortisation of intangible assets 4.2 7.9 7.9 3.5 6.6 6.6
Tax on amortisation of intangible assets (0.5) (1.0) (1.0) (0.7) (1.3) (1.3)
Net IAS 41 valuation movement 2.8 5.2 5.2 11.4 21.7 21.7
Tax on net IAS 41 valuation movement (1.3) (2.4) (2.4) (2.2) (4.1) (4.1)
On adjusted profit for the year 108.7 205.4 204.5 104.5 199.3 198.5
Free cash flow
2022 2021 Change
£'m £'m
Net cash from operating activities 160.0 181.4 -11.8%
Net interest paid (1.6) (0.5)
Free cash flow 158.4 180.9 -12.4%
11. Principal risks and uncertainties
The Group has a structured and mature approach to risk management which
facilitates the identification, evaluation and mitigation of key risks facing
the business. The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group are set
out in detail on pages 60 to 63 of the Report & Accounts for the 52 weeks
ended 27 March 2021, dated 18 May 2021 a copy of which is available on the
Group's website.
These risks include: competitor activity, climate change, growth and change,
consumer demand, reliance on key customers & exports, pig meat
availability & price, health & safety, Brexit disruption, IT systems
& cyber security, food scares & product contamination, disease &
infection within livestock, disruption to Group operations, recruitment &
retention of senior management, labour availability & cost, COVID-19
pandemic; and interest rate, currency, liquidity & credit risk.
Whilst the Board considers the principal risks and uncertainties as at 26
March 2022 to be the same as those described in the Report & Accounts for
the 52 weeks ended 27 March 2021, during the latter part of February 2022 the
emerging risks associated with the Ukraine conflict were captured and
discussed at an extra ordinary Group Risk Committee meeting in March 2022,
together with the significant inflationary pressures and 'cost of living
crisis' within the UK economy. In addition, given the unique exposure that the
Group faces regarding animal rights campaigners and other activists, the
associated risks in this area have now been consolidated into a new principal
risk - Adverse Media Attention as summarised below:
Potential risk Impact Risk mitigation strategies
The Group may be subject to reputational damage from adverse media and or The Group closely monitor media attention relating to both our business and · Social media monitoring has been put in place to allow for the early
social media coverage, as a result of alleged animal welfare incidents, the industry we operate in. We have arrangements in place to identify, identification of potential issues.
protests, vigils or other operational challenges. escalate and respond to media coverage in a consistent and appropriate manner.
· We have proactively engaged within key external stakeholders, including
friendly activist groups to support peaceful activity.
· Site security arrangements and visitor access and vetting procedures
have been reviewed.
12. Report and accounts
The Report and Accounts will be available on the Company's website at
www.cranswick.plc.uk (http://www.cranswick.plc.uk) on 24 June 2022. Further
copies will be available upon request from the Company Secretary, Cranswick
plc, Crane Court, Hesslewood Country Office Park, Ferriby Road, Hessle, HU13
0PA.
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