Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Housewares manufacturer Portmeirion Group has announced that it will be investing £1.5 million in a new kiln and other equipment for its factory, following a period of strong growth and an increased demand for its British-made products.
The Stoke-on-Trent business has appointed Burslem-based kiln builder Therser (UK) to design and manufacture a bespoke Glost Roller Tunnel Kiln, which will be installed later this year.
Portmeirion Group sales and marketing director Phil Atherton, said: “Since 2009, demand at our factory has grown dramatically. By investing in a new kiln and other equipment we are able to increase our factory output by 50%. We are delighted to be working with Therser UK, a local company who understand the needs of businesses based within The Potteries.”
The construction of the kiln will be complete by September. As well as increasing factory capacity by as much as 50%, it is also expected to create up to 100 new jobs over the next three years.
Phil Atherton added: “This is an extremely exciting investment for us and highlights our confidence in the future of the business. The tableware and giftware market is currently booming and we are seeing growth across all markets with a particularly strong demand coming from the Far East. The installation of a new kiln and other equipment will enable us to meet these demands and continue to expand and grow as a business.”
News of this investment follows the recent announcement that the Group are expecting to report record revenues for 2014 of over £61 million, approximately 5% above last year. This will mark the sixth consecutive year Portmeirion Group has achieved record sales.
Portmeirion Group manufactures tableware, cookware, giftware and tabletop accessories. It encompasses four brands: Portmeirion, Spode, Royal Worcester and Pimpernel.
