CUSTOMERS’ growing appetite for sausages and bacon has helped a meat producer record £1bn sales for the first time.

Cranswick, which has a factory at Norton, near Malton, North Yorkshire, hailed its successes, despite suffering a fall in fresh pork sales.

The company said revenues for the year to March 31 inched up 0.8 per cent from £995m to £1bn, with adjusted pre-tax profits 10.6 per cent higher at £57.8m.

Martin Davey, chairman, said: “All the company can feel rightfully proud of sales exceeding £1bn for the first time.”

He added it saw a six per cent rise in sausage sales, driven by its premium range, with bacon four per cent higher.

Those successes covered a drop in fresh pork sales, which were down ten per cent, partly due to the loss of business with a customer, and a nine per cent drop in pig prices.