Duchess China lands investment to fuel growth after administration
What's the deal? Duchess ChinaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Stoke-on-Trent fine bone china producer founded in 1888, has secured fresh investment from Open to Ideas, a firm backing British creative-industries businesses. Rob Ward and Kieran Donovan of Open to Ideas have invested alongside existing directors Jason Simms and Andy Tooth, who will continue to lead the company.
Why now? Duchess China entered administration last year. Its operations were secured under a new entity and the same directorship, and the latest deal is framed as securing the brand's future.
What's the endgame? The money will fund growth in the UK and internationally. Open to Ideas chief executive Rob Ward said the aim is to "invest in the people, skills and manufacturing capability here in Stoke, develop the products and the brand and take what is a fantastic British-made product to many more customers and markets around the world."
The company makes much of its china by hand in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, and has supplied Westminster Abbey, the House of Commons, the Royal Collection Trust, and HarrodsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Recent work includes David Hockney bone china vases for The SerpentineDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and bespoke tableware for a Baz Luhrmann production.
Director Jason Simms called it "an incredibly exciting moment for the brand," adding that the backing gives the business "the resources and ambition to invest, grow and introduce Duchess to a much wider audience."
The signal: A 137-year-old manufacturer returning from administration with new capital points to continued investor appetite for heritage British craft brands with export potential.
Read more: insidermedia.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
