REG - Portmeirion Group - Trading Update

PortmeirionAnnouncement

14/05/2019 07:06

RNS Number : 8879Y
Portmeirion Group PLC
14 May 2019
 


 
 
 
 
 
 14 May 2019
Portmeirion Group PLC ('the Group')
 
Trading Update
 
 
The Group announces that trading in the four month period to 30 April 2019 has been mixed across our international markets.
We have continued to experience good sales growth in our two largest markets - the UK is up 5% and the US up 8% against the prior period last year. Having had a very strong finish to 2018, we anticipated slower demand in our export markets at the start of 2019, however actual export market sales, particularly for Korea, have been lower than we expected.
We have been working with our Korean distributor on new product development during 2019 which we see as critical to protect and grow this market for the long term. However this new product development, by nature, will take time to bring to market and optimise for manufacturing efficiency.
As a result, total Group sales for the first four months of the year are down 10% against the comparative period last year. While the total effect on Group sales is expected to be less than that for the full year, the Board now expects profit before taxation for the full year will be significantly below market expectations.
We do not anticipate this leading to a change in our expectations for dividend payments in the current year.
We believe our long term strategy is the right one and are pleased with the progress we are making in other areas to protect and grow our brand portfolio.
 
 
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Notes: This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.
 
ENQUIRIES:
 



Portmeirion Group PLC:


 


 




Dick Steele


+44 (0) 1782 744 721


steele_clan@msn.com




Non-executive Chairman
Mike Raybould


 
+44 (0) 1782 744 721


 
mraybould@portmeiriongroup.com




Group Finance Director
 


 


 




Hudson Sandler:


 


 




Dan de Belder


+44 (0) 207 796 4133


ddebelder@hudsonsandler.com




Nick Moore
Oenone Potter


 


nmoore@hudsonsandler.com
opotter@hudsonsandler.com




 


 


 




 


 


 




Panmure Gordon
(Nominated Adviser and Broker):


 
+44 (0) 207 886 2500


 




Freddy Crossley / Joanna Langley


Corporate Finance


 




James Stearns


Corporate Broking


 



 



Cantor Fitzgerald Europe
(Joint Broker):


 
+44 (0) 207 894 7000


 




Phil Davies / Rick Thompson


Corporate Finance


 




Caspar Shand Kydd


Sales


 



 




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