Portmeirion pottery group reports sales rise

Stoke-on-Trent pottery manufacturer Portmeirion has said a successful Christmas trading period has put the company in a strong position.

Portmeirion Group PLC, which also owns Spode, Pimpernel and Royal Worcester, said it made more than £53m of sales in 2011, a 4% increase on 2010.

It is the third year in a row it has reported an increase in revenues.

Group non-executive chairman Dick Steele said Portmeirion was predicting to make a profit of £6m this year.

The company employs 570 staff.

Portmeirion said it had seen particular growth in the UK, United States and South Korea.

Mr Steele said: "Three quarters of what we make gets exported. We really are an export-led business."

The Spode and the Royal Worcester brands were bought by the Portmeirion Group in 2009.