A growing focus on supplying outlets such as garden centres helped Stoke-on-Trent pottery maker Churchill China raise half-year profits by 22%.
In the six months to the end of June, the company saw pre-tax profits rise to £841,000 from £689,000 in the same period last year. Sales were flat at £19.2m, but the manufacturer has improved margins by concentrating on the hospitality side of its business and sticking to its policy of pulling away from low-margin retail trade.

Despite sales to retail customers falling from £6.3m to £5.2m, operating profit more than doubled from £168,000 to £481,000 as the company turns its back on high-volume business in favour of middle market growth, primarily through independents.

Outlining its new approach earlier this year, Churchill said: "Non-traditional retail outlets such as garden centres and cookshops are offering the consumer high quality branded merchandise with high design content that is appealing for giftware and other occasions, and appears more attractive than own-label products offered by many of the major retailers."