Churchill China teases shareholders over FY trading performance

STOKE-ON-TRENT pottery manufacturer Churchill China has teased shareholders by predicting that its 2015 trading performance will beat market expectations and be well ahead of 2014.

In a brief trading update ahead of its full year results, the company said a strong second half had been a considerable boost to the business, which serves the hospitality and retail markets.

“Trading in the second half year has been ahead of earlier expectations with the levels of growth achieved in the first six months of 2015 being sustained in the second half year,” it said.

“The board now expects that operating performance will be ahead of current market estimates and well ahead of 2014.”

The H2 performance follows a strong first half for the business, which was driven by particular success in its hospitality markets.

The company said back in August that H1 sales to Hospitality customers had increased by £1m (6%), with the contribution to group operating profits also rising by 6% to £2.9m (2014: £2.7m).

Churchill said the performance represented the company’s stronger focus on its Hospitality business as against the Retail division, and it appears this trend has continued.

The company intends to announce its preliminary results for the year to December 31, 2015 on March 24, 2016.