A former Royal Stafford customer has restarted manufacturing at its historic site, reemploying more than a dozen workers – and has vowed to maintain a base in the city.
Cornishware, based in Somerset, has invested more than £120,000 in the purchase of Royal Stafford’s plant and machinery and has taken on 17 former workers of the firm which collapsed last month with the loss of 83 jobs.
Production has already recommenced on the Royal Stafford site in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, with more than 5,100 pieces made and a first order – worth £58,000 – from a non-Cornishware customer secured.
Cornishware, founded by TG Green & Co Limited, is a striped kitchenware brand and was a Royal Stafford customer for a number of years, with the Potteries firm making around 70 per cent of its biscuit ware.
Charles Rickards, Managing Director of Cornishware, has told Daily Focus that the company is committed to the area and plans to make a new base in Stoke-on-Trent once the Royal Stafford buildings become unusable.
He said: “Royal Stafford was a key supplier and its demise threatened Cornishware itself.
“The building is old and we would like to move to a purpose-built unit at some point in the future. We are keen for that to be in Stoke-on-Trent because it is the heart of British ceramics and where we have access to highly-skilled workers. We need to be there and are committed to being there.”
Sixteen former Royal Stafford workers are being led by Production Manager John Nixon, also a former employee.
Charles added: “The challenge is not selling our products; it is making the right quantity for our huge customer base in more than 100 countries.
“John is highly-regarded and has assembled a team who worked for the business for many, many years.
“They were very much a family at Royal Stafford and some of them volunteered to work for free for the first couple of days of reopening the factory, which is indicative of the kind of people they are.”
Stoke-on-Trent insolvency firm Moore Recovery has overseen the Royal Stafford liquidation.
A spokesperson said: “The sale concludes a period of high interest from various interested parties and has been negotiated with assistance from John Pye. Bowcock Cuerden LLP have dealt with the legal completion documents.
“The joint liquidators have retained the finished stock which is currently for sale via John Pye.”
