Wedgwood factory to close for 90 days due to low demand

The owner of the ceramics business Wedgwood has said it will freeze production at its factory in Staffordshire for 90 days in a move that will place 70 workers on temporary leave.

- Lauren Almeida

The shutdown, which will start on 29 September, was described as a "short-term measure" by the company's owner, Fiskars Group, in response to weaker demand in some of its most important markets.

It will also pause factory tours at its World of Wedgwood tourist attraction, with plans to restart them early next year.

Wedgwood, which can trace its heritage back to the 18th century, makes fine china, porcelain and luxury home accessories.

It is headquartered in Barlaston, near Stoke-on-Trent, where it employs 274 people. The company said it had "many more people" working globally for the business in markets such as China and Japan, where it had the majority of its stores.