Closed pottery firm Moorcroft is attracting international interest, according to the company set to act as its liquidators.
As reported in Daily Focus, Moorcroft ceased trading with the loss of 57 jobs last month.
Stoke-on-Trent insolvency firm Moore Recovery has been instructed by Moorcroft directors to assist in placing the company into liquidation with Mustafa Abdulali and Neil Dingley from the Stoke-on-Trent firm due to be appointed on 27 May.
Nottingham-headquartered auctioneers John Pye, which has an auction hub in Marchington, near Uttoxeter, will be responsible for the sale of Moorcroft’s assets.
A statement from Moore Recovery reads: “Various parties have been in touch with us to date, spanning local, national and international interest, expressing an interest in assets of the business and John Pye are seeking final offers by 5pm on Wednesday, 4 June 2025.
“At present no sale has been agreed for any part of the business or assets.”
According to John Pye, Moorcroft’s annual sales revenue from 2022 to 2024 was circa £2.2 million, with an average gross profit of £1.3 million.
Sales revenue for the current year to end of January 2025 stands at £893,000.
Current retail stock value was circa £286,000 as at the end of April, with a Heritage stock value of more than £500,000.
Gary Harper, Business Assets Valuer at John Pye, said he hopes to resurrect the company through a collective sale but, failing that a piecemeal sale of the assets will take place.
He said: “We will be conducting a series of sales by way of public online auction should I fail to agree a sale of the company with a view to it being resurrected and work commencing again from site.”
Assets include heritage pieces in the museum, masters and trial pieces and items usually for sale in the retail shop. Heritage stock pieces comprise of 1,200 of individual artwork pottery.
A statement by W.Moorcroft Limited, trading as Moorcroft, at the time of the closure said the decision came after an extended period of intense marketing which did not result in a buyer.
The company was facing an increase in energy and other costs in a ‘difficult’ trading environment.
The business was founded more than 100 years ago by William Moorcroft who commenced production from premises in Burslem in 1919.
Anyone interested in acquiring any of the assets should email businessassets@johnpye.com
