Tile maker Pilkington’s in administration
HISTORIC North West ceramic tile maker Pilkington’s Group has been placed into administration.
The Salford company, which employs around 380 people, is seeking a buyer after the appointment of Brian Green and Paul Flint of KPMG Corporate Recovery yesterday.
There have been no redundancies so far while the situation is assessed.
Established in 1891 Pilkington’s Group, is a major supplier to DIY retailer B&Q as well as other multiples such as Topps Tiles.
In the year to March 31 2009 the company made a loss of £2.9m. Sales of its core ceramic floor and wall tiles were down nearlly 4% to £31.1m.
Joint administrator Paul Flint said the privately-owned company had suffered “intense cash flow pressures” as a result of adverse trading conditions.
“It’s no coincidence that the latest British Retail Consortium -KPMG Retail Sales Monitor indicated that furniture and floor coverings were the worst-performing sectors within retail, highlighting the reluctance of consumers to commit to big-ticket purchases while uncertainty over the future looms.”
“We intend to trade the Pilkington’s Group business while we seek purchaser for the company and its assets, and would encourage any interested parties to contact us as soon as possible,” Mr Flint said.
As well as the main trading business, KPMG has also beein appointed to subsidiary companies Pilkington’s Tiles (Ireland) Limited, Pilkington’s Tiles Limited and Quiligotti Access Flooring Limited.
The majority of people work at its site at Clifton Junction, Swinton, but the group also has a site in Poole, Dorset, which includes a quarry with the capacity for 350,000 tons of heavy clay which is used in the manufacture of vitrified floor tiles.
It also has a showroom and factory shop in Audenshaw, Tameside, and a facility in Swords, Dublin.
Pilkington’s, which was then known as the Royal Lancastrian Pottery Company, received a Royal Warrant in 1913.
