August 2025
ENTERPRISE CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT
Cranswick x BlakBear Partnership
Digital shelf-life program will improve quality testing across 17 Cranswick sites through the use of BlakBear’s freshness sensor technology and AI software

BlakBear, a UK-based technology company, is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Cranswick to launch a digital quality program. Cranswick is one of the largest British food manufacturers, and this program supports Cranswick’s focus on delivering product quality throughout the supply chain.
The program, a first in the UK meat industry, will improve quality testing across 17 Cranswick sites through the use of BlakBear’s freshness sensor technology and AI software. The program will deliver unique insight into quality by generating 1,000 times more data per pack, and improve sustainability by minimizing the amount of food wasted in destructive testing. BlakBear’s technology is also enabling seamless collaboration with retailers by monitoring freshness and temperature through depots and stores.
Before developing into a commercial relationship, work was originally funded by InnovateUK, the UK’s national innovation agency. This funding enabled R&D and validation to establish trust in the new technology, by demonstrating strong correlation between BlakBear and traditional quality testing methods across many product categories and sites.
Quote from Cranswick
Food quality testing used to mean one destructive test per pack, resulting in high costs and waste, all for a single data point. With BlakBear we gather 1,000 times more data per test, providing us with unique insight into quality and minimising product waste.
Clive Stephens, Head of Research and Development
Quote from BlakBear
Cranswick is one of the most innovative British food manufacturers, dedicated to delivering the highest quality products to retailers and consumers. The roll-out with BlakBear will provide Cranswick with real-time insights into quality, and enable Cranswick to lead the industry in data and AI.
Dr Max Grell, CEO