Sunswap and Cranswick Partner to Switch Fleet to Electric Refrigeration

British food producer signs with zero-carbon cold chain pioneer for UK road transport refrigeration, following fleet operations demonstrating 81% cost savings over diesel.

Sunswap, the British manufacturer of Endurance transport refrigeration units, today announced the delivery of multiple battery and solar-powered units to Cranswick's Preston site. Cranswick, one of the UK's largest farm to fork food producers, joins a growing network of operators running zero-emission refrigeration across UK food manufacturing, retail, and logistics, advancing their "Second Nature" sustainability strategy and Science Based Targets.

For companies with ambitious sustainability targets, transport refrigeration represents both a significant challenge and an immediate opportunity. Traditional transport refrigeration burns thousands of litres of diesel a year, generating CO2 emissions and harmful local pollutants such as NOx and particulate matter. Sunswap enables the complete elimination of these emissions while reducing operational costs.

When Cranswick ran Endurance in their own operations in 2024, Endurance demonstrated 81% lower running costs and 43% total cost savings compared to diesel refrigeration. Additionally, when tested against HVO fuel - already a cleaner alternative to standard diesel - Sunswap still came out ahead, eliminating all NOx and particulate emissions while maintaining the cost advantages.

"Cranswick joins the growing number of operators choosing zero-emission refrigeration for UK food manufacturing", said Michael Lowe, Chief Executive Officer,  Sunswap. "What's significant here is that Cranswick didn't just compare us to standard diesel. They compared Endurance against their existing HVO solution, and the operational benefits were compelling. This shows that even companies already investing in lower-carbon fuels can achieve breakthrough improvements with purpose-built electric refrigeration”.

Gary Hewson, Transport Manager, Cranswick commented: "Integrating Sunswap's zero-emission refrigeration technology aligns perfectly with our Second Nature sustainability commitments. Beyond the benefits of direct emissions reduction, the operational cost savings and performance reliability made this a sound business decision that supports our progress towards our Science Based Targets"

The Endurance units will be used to transport temperature-sensitive meat products from Cranswick's manufacturing facilities to retailers across the UK, ensuring product quality while eliminating emissions from refrigeration throughout the journey.

About Sunswap

Sunswap is a British engineering company manufacturing zero-emission transport refrigeration technology. From their Leatherhead, Surrey facility, Sunswap produces Endurance transport refrigeration units that combine advanced battery technology with integrated solar power to replace diesel-powered refrigeration systems. Operating across UK food manufacturing, retail, and logistics sectors, Sunswap enables fleet operators to eliminate emissions while reducing operating costs and maintaining reliable temperature control. The company is backed by leading investors including BGF, Barclays and Clean Growth Fund.

About Cranswick

Cranswick is a leading UK food producer and supplier of premium, fresh and added-value food products. The company operates from 24 facilities across the UK, employing over 14,500 people. They are a diversified business with a vertically integrated supply chain, producing and supplying premium food to UK grocery retailers, the food service sector, and other UK and global food producers. As the business has grown, their purpose has remained the same – to feed the nation with authentically made, sustainably produced food.