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[November 2001]
Successful Year for Denby Pottery
Denby Group PLC, the manufacturer of Denby Pottery, has completed another successful year as a private company. Overall sales grew by 8% for the second successive year and reflected strong performances in key markets such as the UK, the USA and Canada. Similarly, operating profit grew by 20% for the second year running.
Denby says it has continued to increase its dominance of the casual tableware market sector underpinned by a consistent programme of new designs. 'Storm', introduced in 2000, has become a world-wide success - particularly in North America, where it is now Denby's second ranking pattern. 'Calm', a contemporary green design, was introduced in Spring 2001 and is said to be now establishing itself as another success.
The consistent and strong growth achieved by Denby over the past three years has created the demand for increased capacity in the Denby (Derbys) based factory - 18 months earlier than had been originally anticipated. In early 2001, a decision was made to invest almost £2 million in a new Drayton tunnel kiln and the infrastructure necessary to create a dedicated flatware manufacturing cell, adjacent to the existing factory. The kiln was commissioned in October and the dedicated cell will be fully operational by February 2002.
Commenting on a successful 2001, Denby Group Managing Director Nigel Worne said: "We have demonstrated that a clear focus on designing tableware that is attractive and relevant to today's consumers, backed up by a uniquely skilled team of people that deliver the seemingly impossible year after year, continues to be the recipe for a successful pottery business. It is essential that we continue to innovate throughout the business and avoid complacency at all costs…we are already working on the next two designs to follow 'Blue Jetty'!"
ENDS