Portmeirion Group PLC manufactures, markets, and distributes ceramics, home fragrances, and associated homeware products in the United Kingdom, the United States, South Korea, and internationally. It offers tableware, cookware, giftware, glassware, and tabletop accessories under the Portmeirion, Spode, Wax Lyrical, Royal Worcester, Nambé, and Pimpernel brand names. The company provides placemats, coasters, bone china and porcelain tableware, wood, glass and metal alloy giftware, and other products. It is also involved in property business. The company sells its products directly to retailers and independent stores through a network of agents and distributors, as well as through its own retail shops and Websites. Portmeirion Group PLC was incorporated in 1912 and is headquartered in Stoke-on-Trent, the United Kingdom.

History

Portmeirion Pottery began in 1960 when pottery designer Susan Williams-Ellis and her husband, Euan Cooper-Willis, took over a small pottery-decorating company in Stoke-on-Trent called A. E. Gray Ltd, also known as Gray's Pottery. Susan Williams-Ellis had been working with A.E. Gray for some years, commissioning designs to sell at the gift shop in Portmeirion Village, the items bearing the backstamp "Gray's Pottery Portmeirionware". In 1961, the couple purchased a second pottery company, Kirkhams Ltd, that had the capacity to manufacture pottery, and not only decorate it. These two businesses were combined and Portmeirion Potteries Ltd was born.

Susan Williams-Ellis' early Portmeirion designs included Malachite , Moss Agate and Talisman . In 1963, she created the popular design Totem, an abstract pattern based on primitive forms coupled with a cylindrical shape.

She later created Magic City and Magic Garden , but arguably Portmeirion's most recognised design is the Botanic Garden range, decorated with a variety of floral illustrations adapted from Thomas Green's Universal or-Botanical, Medical and Agricultural Dictionary , and looking back to a tradition begun by the Chelsea porcelain factory's "botanical" designs of the 1750s. It was launched in 1972 and, with new designs added periodically, is still made today, the most successful ceramics series of botanical subjects. More recent designs have included Sophie Conran's Crazy Daisy and Dawn Chorus.

On 23 April 2009, Portmeirion Potteries Ltd purchased the Royal Worcester and Spode brands, after they had been placed into administration the previous November. Portmeirion Potteries has since changed its company name to Portmeirion Group to reflect this acquisition. The purchase did not include the manufacturing facilities of Royal Worcester or Spode. The manufacture of much of Spode's ware was returned to Britain from the Far East, to the Portmeirion Group's factory in Stoke-on-Trent.In 2019, the Victoria and Albert Museum mounted an exhibition of Portmeirion pottery.

Mission

At Portmeirion, we design, develop and distribute innovative and imaginative products. We revere beauty, creativity and quality and we are inspired by the shapes, patterns and colour found in nature, bringing them to life in our work. We bring individual, joyful products to our customer’s homes, making their everyday special.

Vision

It is our mission to bring a unique combination of beautiful design and function to the everyday home. Our vision is to create products with accessible design, beautiful and practical craftsmanship, keen attention to detail, quality and creativity that celebrates both tradition and pioneering innovation.

Key Team

Ms. Moira MacDonald ACIS, FCIS (Group Company Sec.)

Mr. William J. Robedee B.A., J.D. (Global Sales Director, Pres of North America & Director)

Ms. Samantha Pearce Assoc CIPD (Mang. of HR and Benefits)

Recognition and Awards

Portmeirion is the proud recipient of numerous awards for design excellence, including the Prince Philip Designers Prize, the Duke of Edinburgh's Design Prize, the Queen's Award in both Manufacturing and Design, the Sunday Times British Home Awards and the Good Housekeeping Award, to name a few.