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Wedgwood Temporarily Halts Production at Staffordshire Factory

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • Production at Wedgwood’s Barlaston factory paused for up to 90 days
  • Seventy workers placed on temporary leave during the halt
  • Factory tours at World of Wedgwood suspended until early January 2026

Wedgwood’s factory in Barlaston, Staffordshire, will stop production for up to three months beginning 29 September 2025, affecting operations at the historic ceramics site.

The company’s parent, Fiskars Group, stated that the pause is a short-term response to reduced consumer demand in some key markets. During this period, seventy employees at the site have been placed on temporary leave.

The Barlaston facility, which employs around 274 people, will remain closed for production activities until the end of the scheduled pause. Factory tours at the World of Wedgwood tourist destination, located at the same site, have also been suspended, with plans to restart them in early January 2026.

Fiskars Group reported that the temporary production stop is intended to address current market conditions. The company described the measure as a short-term adjustment rather than a permanent change to operations at the site.

What the numbers show

  • Production halt at Barlaston starts 29 September 2025 for up to 90 days
  • Seventy employees placed on temporary leave during the pause
  • The factory employs about 274 people in total
  • Fiskars Group’s net sales in 2024 were €1.2 billion
  • Pre-tax profit declined from €79.7 million to €18.5 million

Wedgwood was established in Staffordshire in 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood and has operated in the region for over two centuries. The Barlaston site is both a manufacturing center and a visitor attraction, drawing tourists for its factory tours and exhibitions.

The temporary leave for seventy staff members applies only for the duration of the production halt. According to the company, normal operations, including factory tours, are expected to resume after the scheduled pause.

Fiskars Group’s financial results for 2024 showed net sales of approximately €1.2 billion, with a decrease in pre-tax profit from €79.7 million to €18.5 million. The company cited lower demand in some markets as a factor in its decision to temporarily halt production at the Barlaston facility.

Factory tours at the World of Wedgwood are planned to restart in early January 2026, following the conclusion of the production pause. The company has not announced any permanent changes to staffing or operations at the site.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

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