Wedgwood halts Staffordshire production amid uncertain demand for fine china

Wedgwood, the esteemed British fine china manufacturer with a heritage stretching back to 1759, has temporarily suspended production at its Barlaston factory in Staffordshire. The hiatus, attributed to declining demand across key international markets, marks a rare pause for a business whose dinnerware has graced the tables of the Royal Family, the White House, and the Vatican for centuries.

The company cited “lower demand in some of our key markets” as the principal reason for the suspension. Vice president of parent company Fiskars Group, Sjoerd Leeflang, pointed to economic instability across China, Japan, and the United States. Since the energy crisis two years ago, manufacturing costs have soared, with gas prices reportedly doubling and electricity up by nearly a third for the factory. The energy-intensive process of firing crockery at 1400 degrees has forced Wedgwood to reassess its operations and pricing.

This is not the first disruption the business has faced in recent years, having previously paused production during the pandemic. Despite these setbacks, staff affected by the current suspension—about 70 employees—will continue to receive full pay until production resumes. Tours at the World of Wedgwood visitor centre have also been put on hold.

Wedgwood has enjoyed royal patronage for over a century, with its Royal Warrant granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1995, though records of association date back to King George V’s visit in 1913. The brand’s dinnerware and tea sets, often costing hundreds of pounds, have traditionally symbolised sophistication and wealth. Nevertheless, appetite for luxury ceramics has faded as consumer habits shift and economic pressures mount.

Rising production costs are not unique to Wedgwood. Royal Stafford, a fellow Staffordshire firm with a 180-year legacy, collapsed into liquidation earlier in the year, a casualty of escalating energy bills and weakening demand. Despite industry-wide challenges, Wedgwood’s management maintains that interest in high-quality ceramics persists, underpinned by a growing trend for vintage and traditional designs among younger buyers.

The firm’s legacy endures. Josiah Wedgwood—pioneering figure and grandfather of Charles Darwin—helped shape Britain’s pottery industry and spearheaded many techniques still employed today. Now owned by Fiskars, the Finnish conglomerate, since 2015, the brand’s future will be closely watched as the company seeks to balance its storied past with modern market realities.