Royal Stafford directors have confirmed its closure 'with great sadness'. Photo: Royal Stafford.
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Directors reveal falling orders and increasing energy costs led to closure of historic pottery brand Royal Stafford

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Royal Stafford directors have confirmed the company has closed with immediate effect, citing a ‘dramatic’ reduction in orders and an increase in energy costs as reasons why it was left unable to trade.

Daily Focus reported yesterday that the GMB union had revealed that the manufacturer had gone into liquidation and expected more than 70 jobs to be lost, calling for more to be done to help the sector.

A statement which has now been released by Royal Stafford says the closure announcement came with ‘great sadness’ and that directors had ‘pursued every avenue possible’ to save the business.

Eighty-three jobs have been lost.

The statement reads: “It is with great sadness that the directors announce the closure of RST Limited, which trades as Royal Stafford, with immediate effect.  The company has faced a dramatic reduction in orders in recent months and coupled with the increase in energy prices this has left it unable to afford to continue to trade.”

It adds: “The directors have pursued every avenue possible to save the business, but without the guarantee of a profitable forward order book, this was not possible.  The directors have engaged the services of local insolvency firm Moore Recovery to place the company into liquidation.  Creditors of the company will be contacted by Moore Recovery in due course.

“A closing down sale is planned and further information regarding this will be provided when possible.  Anyone who has orders to collect from the factory shop will also be contacted in due course.”

Royal Stafford has traded as a manufacturer and retailer of tableware from its factory in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, since 2007, when its current owners bought the business and assets of Royal Stafford Tableware Limited.

The Royal Stafford brand was established in 1845, and the company was one of the few remaining traditional pottery manufacturers in North Staffordshire. 

Many of those who have been made redundant had worked for the company since 2007 and some worked for Royal Stafford Tableware prior to that.

Hayley Johnson

Senior journalist with over 15 years’ experience writing for customers and audiences all over the world. Previous work has included everything from breaking news for national newspapers to complex business stories, in-depth human-interest features and celebrity interviews - and most things in between.

1 Comment

  1. Sadly this company has, like other high energy users, fallen victim to the exhorbitant energy costs essential for the firing of ceramics. That said, it isn’t “one of the few remaining traditional pottery manufacturers in North Staffordshire” as stated : Churchill China, Steelite, Portmeirion, Fiskars Wedgwood, Walpole Fine China, Roy Kirkham, Emma Bridgewater, Moorland Pottery etc. are all still trading within the city, having adopted energy-efficient equipment and lean manufacturing processes to optimise their production and keep their manufacturing process competitive. Staffordshire Chambers Of Commerce, in conjunction with Staffordshire Business Enterprose Newtwork (SBEN) and Stoke Council are excellent supporters of business innovation.

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