Belleek turnover reaches £30m with Donegal buy

The Belleek Pottery Group has acquired Donegal Parian China, the Ballyshannon-based manufacturers of china giftware, for an undisclosed sum.

The addition of Donegal China brings the Belleek group's turnover to just under £30 million sterling (49.63 million). The group employs 800 people across four companies - Belleek Pottery in Fermanagh, Galway Irish Crystal, Aynsley China in Stoke-on-Trent in the UK and, now, Donegal China, which has a turnover of £2 million and employs 65 people.

The Belleek Pottery chairman, Dr George Moore, said the acquisition of Donegal China represented a natural fit for both companies.

While Belleek said it has yet to consider a strategy for Donegal China, its managing director, Mr John Maguire, said there will be no job losses as a result of the acquisition and that it will be investing in the development of the Donegal brand.

Donegal Parian China was set up in 1985 by four former employees of Belleek Pottery to supply giftware.