Production at Wedgwood’s Staffordshire factory is to be paused for up to 90 days with 70 employees placed on temporary leave, it was revealed this morning.
The pottery company says the short-term measure at its factory in Barlaston is being taken due to a drop in consumer demand.
The temporary pause will begin on Monday, 29 September and also see factory tours, part of the World of Wedgwood attraction, suspended during this period. They are expected to resume in early January 2026.
Sjoerd Leeflang, Senior Vice President of Wedgwood, said: “This short‑term measure is being taken to address elevated inventory levels caused by lower consumer demand in some of our key markets.
“Barlaston and its community are of key importance to Fiskars Group and Wedgwood. The site serves as a hub for our high-end and bespoke product, including handcrafted pieces in fine bone china and our signature Jasperware. These pieces are brought to life by skilled artisans using techniques pioneered by Josiah Wedgwood – many still in use today. This living tradition reflects our commitment to craftsmanship, the value of Made in England, and Barlaston’s enduring role in our heritage and operations.”
In July, Wedgwood owners Fiskars Group filed a half-year financial report for January to June 2025, showing a decline in net sales and comparable EBIT in a ‘challenging market environment characterised by tariff-driven uncertainty.’
Comparable net sales were down 2.5 per cent in January to June and 6.8 per cent in April to June.
The report adds that the second half of the financial year, particularly the fourth quarter, is the most important time of the year due to the holiday season. It states any negative developments related to product availability, demand, or increased costs in manufacturing or logistics during the important seasons can significantly affect the Group’s full-year net sales and profit.
Fiskars expects comparable EBIT for 2025 to be in the range of €90 million to €110 million, compared to €111.4 million in 2024.
News of the temporary pause in production is the latest blow to the pottery industry which has recently lost the likes of Royal Stafford, seen Moorcroft cease trading before being bought and the announcement that Villeroy & Boch Group plans to close one of two tunnel kilns at its Armitage Shanks site in Rugeley, potentially impacting 100 employees. Profits have also fallen at Churchill China.
Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell has been campaigning for more help for the ceramics industry.
He said today: “The news that manufacturing will be paused at the Barlaston site in September and factory tours will be cancelled is incredibly worrying and further highlights the immediate need for greater support for British Ceramics.
“The support cannot be in some distant future; or the promise of help tomorrow, but real help today.
“Ministers know what we need, and I had already started speaking to the new Secretary of State for Business and Trade about the work I and other MPs had been doing alongside the GMB and Ceramics UK to support the industry.”
He added: “My thoughts are with the workers who now face an uncertain future. I’ll do whatever I can to support constituents affected by today’s news and support the company through this difficult time.”
- All other experiences at the World of Wedgwood site remain open and operating as usual.
