Supermarkets suspend Somerby Top Farm supplies

Three large UK retailers paused purchases from a Lincolnshire pig farm after undercover footage allegedly showed workers abusing piglets.

Supermarkets suspend Somerby Top Farm supplies

Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s said they had immediately suspended supplies from Somerby Top Farm after animal rights group footage appeared to show workers kicking piglets and striking pigs with boards and paddles. The clips also suggested injured pigs were kept in pens covered in faeces, with some left lame and writhing in pain. The disclosures come as Morrisons reportedly sourced products from the same farm, highlighting how quickly retailers act when welfare concerns surface.

The farm was bought by Cranswick in 2023 and audited by Red Tractor in October 2024. Red Tractor responded by suspending the farm’s certification with immediate effect and referring the case to the government Animal and Plant Health Agency for investigation. The animal rights group behind the footage, the Animal Justice Project, says cameras captured abuse from May 2024 to January 2025, including apparent botched killings of lame piglets and injuries that inspectors would have seen in far less than the time needed for a thorough check. Cranswick, which said the staff involved are no longer with the business, added that it has installed CCTV in all indoor pig farms, recruited welfare officers, retrained workers and commissioned an independent vet-led review across its holdings. A Cranswick spokesman stressed that pig health and welfare is the company’s highest priority and that the abuse was unacceptable, historically recorded and brought to attention this week.

The case highlights how welfare standards are policed in large supply networks and the limits of routine audits. Red Tractor’s decision to suspend Somerby Top Farm shows the power of certification schemes to drive swift action, but the timing and transparency of the review will shape public trust. Undercover footage raises questions about how welfare checks are conducted and whether audits capture day-to-day conditions. This incident could intensify scrutiny of who owns what farm and who watches the watchers.

Looking ahead, retailers face reputational risk as consumers increasingly link supermarket brands to animal welfare. The sequence—evidence from activists, a rapid supplier response, and a formal regulatory referral—could push the industry toward more CCTV, third party reviews and clearer disclosure. If enforcement tightens, the industry may see faster changes in farm practices and certification rules, with or without a widening of the regulatory net.

Highlights

The episode tests the balance between rapid corporate risk management and deeper reform of farming practices.