Manufacturer forecasts stronger-than-expected performance

Ceramics manufacturer Churchill China is forecasting it will outperform expectations this year, building on strong growth last year.

The Stoke-on-Trent business, which was founded in 1795, exported more than half of its £53.5m sales for the first time last year.

In a statement to the stock market, the AIM-listed business said: “We have continued to make good progress against our strategic objectives.

“In the first six months of the year we have achieved better than expected levels of growth in Europe, reflecting our investment in market and product development. We now anticipate trading performance will be ahead of our earlier expectations for the full year.”

It will publish its half-year figures on August 30.