Pottery giant offering hope over new jobs

Portmeirion eyeing bounce back after challenging year

- Gary Porter

POTTERY giant Portmeirion is aiming to more than double the rate of production at its Stoke factory - which would in turn lead to new jobs.

Chief executive Mike Raybould wants the firm to follow a challenging 2024 by getting back to - and eventually surpassing - previous production levels for its branded tableware products.

Last year saw just 26 per cent of Portmeirion tableware made at its London Road factory, which was partly blamed on a 'much tougher consumer market.' Further Portmeirion job losses were announced this year following redundancies in 2024 and the switch to four-day working weeks.

But after a positive start to trading in 2025 - and on the back of its iconic brand Spode enjoying a fourth consecutive year of growth - the pottery giant is now pledging to increase production in the city over the next two years. Currently its products are mainly produced in Asia, with some also made in Europe.