Meat giant Cranswick revealed its boss has seen his pay package swell by more than a third to 拢4.6 million as one of its farms remains at the centre of animal abuse claims.
In its annual report, the firm 鈥 Britain鈥檚 largest pork supplier 鈥 said chief executive Adam Couch landed a 拢1.7 million annual bonus and potential long-term share awards worth 拢1.9 million, on top of his 拢847,400 salary in the year to March.
His total pay jumped 34% higher, up from 拢3.4 million in 2023-24.
The East Yorkshire-based group also revealed that Mr Couch saw his salary hiked by more than 拢127,000 to 拢974,600 on April 1 as part of a pay review.
Details of his pay and bonuses comes less than two months after abuse claims emerged against a pig farm run by the business.
The pork producer suspended using Northmoor Farm in Lincolnshire after covert footage emerged appearing to show workers at the site abusing piglets.
Workers were filmed appearing to hold piglets by their hind legs and slamming them to the ground, using a banned method of killing the animals known as 鈥減iglet thumping鈥.
Major supermarkets Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury鈥檚 and Tesco suspended Northmoor Farm as a supplier, and Cranswick shortly afterwards launched an independent review into its animal welfare policies and livestock operations.
In its annual report on Friday, Mr Couch said: 鈥淲e have always placed the highest importance on animal health and wellbeing, and continuously aim to have the most stringent standards in the sector.
鈥淲e take seriously any instance, anywhere in our supply chain, where behaviour fails to meet those standards.
鈥淲e are therefore instigating a new, fully independent, expert veterinarian review of all our existing animal welfare policies, together with a comprehensive review of our livestock operations across the UK.
鈥淲e will provide a further update on this work in due course.鈥
On the chief executive鈥檚 salary rise, the group鈥檚 remuneration committee added in the report that there was 鈥渧ery strong support鈥 for the increase among shareholders.
It added that his base salary previously did not 鈥渁ppropriately and fairly reflect Adam鈥檚 extensive experience and his exceptional contribution to the impressive performance of the business鈥.
鈥淲e believe it is critical to take decisive action now to ensure Adam is appropriately incentivised and retained to deliver Cranswick鈥檚 long-term growth ambitions,鈥 according to the committee.
Cranswick鈥檚 results last month showed record sales and profits for the past year.
The firm revealed revenues grew by 6.8% to 拢2.72 billion for the year to March, compared with the previous year, while pre-tax profits grew by 14.6% to 拢181.6 million.