Interim Results

Portmeirion Group PLC
17 August 2000

                     PORTMEIRION GROUP PLC
                               
                        INTERIM RESULTS
                               
                     CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT


Financial Highlights

                    First   First   Increase
                    Half     Half      %
                    2000     1999      
                   £000's   £000's
                                           
Turnover            14,898  13,124     13.5
                                           
Profit before tax    1,097     926     18.5
                                           
Earnings per share   7.09p   5.86p     21.0
                                           
Interim dividend     3.30p   3.30p        -
per share


Results

First half sales increased by 13.5% on last year's.  Profit
before tax increased by 18.5%, and earnings per share
increased by 21.0%.


Dividend

The Board has decided to declare an unchanged interim dividend
of 3.30p per share, payable on 2nd October 2000, to
shareholders on the register on 15th September 2000.


Trading Performance

It is encouraging to report that the results continue to be
positive.  We have continued to build on the improved
performance of the second half of 1999.  The total sales
increase of 13.5% included a 23% increase in the UK, and a 13%
increase in the USA, our two major markets.  Sales to the EU
were some 18% higher.

The new product ranges have contributed greatly to this
improved performance.  'The Seasons Collection', launched last
year has continued to sell very well, and our two new ranges
launched this spring, 'Dawn' and 'Dusk', have been a great
success.

Our strategy of product diversification into other areas of
home-ware and giftware, including lines of glass, metal and
textiles, continues under the 'Portmeirion' brand and is being
very well received by our major customers. The range of out-
sourced non-ceramic products enhances our overall product
offer, adding variety and interest and we will continue to
pursue this strategy.

Our manufacturing efficiency is steadily improving, as we
begin to reap the benefits of our 'lean' manufacturing
techniques.  As a result, the operating margin has improved,
and we expect this improvement to continue.

We have now had notice that we will receive grants totalling
approximately £3.1m. towards the cost of building our Visitors
Centre and high technology factory extension.  We will now
proceed with this project, which will further enhance the
Portmeirion brand image while generating additional sales and
profits.


Future

The second half of the year has started well and we view the
future with growing confidence.  The company will continue to
emphasise high quality design, and the designers themselves,
in our marketing effort in order to further enhance
Portmeirion's reputation as a leading brand for style and
quality, both classic and contemporary.



Arthur Ralley
Chairman
17th August 2000







CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS                           
ACCOUNT
(Unaudited)                                             
                                                          
                                                             
                              Notes      Six      Six    Year
                                      Months   Months
                                          to       to      to
                                     30.6.00  30.6.99 31.12.99
                                      £000's   £000's  £000's
                                                             
Turnover - continuing           6     14,898   13,124  27,469
operations
                                                             
                                                             
Raw materials and operating          (14,048)  (12,451) (25,110)
costs                                                             
                                     --------  ------- -------
                                                    -       -
Operating profit -                       850      673   2,359
continuing operations
                                                             
                                                             
Share of profit of                        71       64     133
associated undertakings
Interest receivable and                  176      190     332
similar income
Interest payable and similar               -      (1)     (1)
charges
                                     --------  ------- -------
                                                    -       -
Profit on ordinary                     1,097      926   2,823
activities before taxation
                                                             
                                                             
Taxation on profit on                  (360)    (317)   (901)
ordinary activities
                                     --------  ------- -------
                                                    -       -
Profit for the period                    737      609   1,922
                                                             
                                                             
Dividends                              (343)    (343) (1,377)
                                     --------  ------- -------
                                                    -       -
Retained profit for the                  394      266     545
period
                                     ========  ======= =======
                                                             
Earnings per share              4      7.09p    5.86p  18.50p
                                     ========  ======= =======
                                                   
Diluted earnings per share      4      7.09p    5.86p  18.49p
                                     ========  ======= =======
                                                   
Dividend per share              5      3.30p    3.30p  13.25p
                                     ========  ======= =======
                                                
                                                          
                                                             
See notes below                                         




CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET                       
(Unaudited)                                      
                                                    
                                As at    As at    As at
                              30.6.00  30.6.99 31.12.99
                               £000's   £000's   £000's
                                                       
Fixed assets                                           
Tangible assets                 9,243    9,253    9,441
Investments                     1,152    1,160    1,088
                             -------- -------- --------
                               10,395   10,413   10,529
                                                       
                                                       
Current assets                                         
Stocks                          6,837    5,505    6,176
Debtors                         5,891    5,725    4,443
Cash at bank and in hand        5,930    7,197    7,573
                             -------- -------- --------
                               18,658   18,427   18,192
                                                       
Creditors: amounts falling    (4,534)  (4,985)  (4,609)
due within one year
                                                       
Net current assets             14,124   13,442   13,583
                             -------- -------- --------
Net assets                     24,519   23,855   24,112
                             ======== ======== ========
                                                       
Capital and reserves                                   
Called up share capital           519      519      519
Share premium account           4,536    4,536    4,536
Profit and loss account        19,464   18,800   19,057
                             -------- -------- --------
Equity shareholders' funds     24,519   23,855   24,112
                             ======== ======== ========




CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
(Unaudited)                                       
                                                     
                                                        
                         Notes      Six      Six    
                                 Months   Months    Year
                                     to       to      to
                                30.6.00  30.6.99 31.12.99
                                                       
                                 £000's   £000's  £000's
                                                        
Cash flow from             8      (291)      407   2,435
operating activities
                                                        
Dividends received from               -        -     160
associates
                                                        
Returns on investments     9        181      192     327
and servicing of
finance
                                                        
Taxation                          (157)    (103)   (903)
                                                        
Capital expenditure and    9      (342)    (467) (1,271)
financial investment
                                                        
Equity dividends paid           (1,034)  (1,034) (1,377)
                                -------  ------- -------
Cash outflow before use         (1,643)  (1,005)   (629)
of liquid resources and
financing
                                                        
Management of liquid                 41      372 (4,513)
resources
                                -------  ------- -------
                                                        
                                                        
Decrease in cash in the         (1,602)    (633) (5,142)
period
                                =======  ======= =======
                                                        
                                                        
Reconciliation of net                                   
cash flow to movement
in net funds
                                                        
Decrease in cash in the         (1,602)    (633) (5,142)
period
                                                        
  Cash (inflow)/outflow            (41)    (372)   4,513
                   from
 (decrease)/increase in
       liquid resources
                                                        
Net funds at 1st                   7,573    8,202  8,202
January
                                -------  ------- -------
Net funds at period end    7      5,930    7,197   7,573
                                =======  ======= =======
                                                        
See notes below                                   




STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED 
GAINS AND LOSSES
RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS   
IN SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS
(Unaudited)                                    
                                               
                                               
STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED 
GAINS AND LOSSES
                                                 
                                                 
                                  Six     Six    
                               Months  Months    Year
                                   to      to      to
                              30.6.00 30.6.99 31.12.99
                               £000's  £000's  £000's
                                                     
Profit for the period             737     609   1,922
                                                     
Currency translation               13     134     112
differences
                              ------- ------- -------
Total recognised gains and        750     743   2,034
losses for the period
                              ======= ======= =======
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS   
IN SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS
                                                 
                                                     
                                  Six     Six    
                               Months  Months    Year
                                   to      to      to
                              30.6.00 30.6.99 31.12.99
                               £000's  £000's  £000's
                                                     
Profit for the period             737     609   1,922
                                                     
Dividends                       (343)   (343) (1,377)
                                                     
Currency translation               13     134     112
differences
                              ------- ------- -------
Net addition to shareholders'     407     400     657
funds
                                                     
Opening shareholders' funds    24,112  23,455  23,455
                              ------- ------- -------
Closing shareholders' funds    24,519  23,855  24,112
                              ======= ======= =======
 


NOTES
(Unaudited)

1.   The consolidated profit and loss accounts for the six
     months ended 30 June 2000 and 30 June 1999 and balance
     sheets at those dates have neither been reviewed by the
     auditors nor audited.

2.   The comparative figures for the financial year ended 31
     December 1999 are not the Group's statutory accounts for
     that year. Those accounts have been reported on by the
     Group's auditors and delivered to the Registrar of
     Companies. The report of the auditors was unqualified and
     did not contain a statement under Section 237(2) or (3)
     of the Companies Act 1985.

3.   This Interim Statement has been prepared in accordance
     with the accounting policies set out in the Group's 1999
     Report and Accounts.

4.   The earnings per share are calculated on earnings of
     £737,000 (1999 - £609,000) and the weighted average
     number of Ordinary shares of 10,389,230 (1999 -
     10,389,230) in issue during the period. The options in
     existence during the six months ended 30 June 2000 and
     1999 do not have a dilutive effect as defined by FRS 14
     and therefore the diluted earnings per share under FRS 14
     are the same as the basic earnings per share.

5.   A dividend of 3.3p (1999 - 3.3p) per Ordinary share will
     be paid on 2 October 2000 to shareholders on the register on
     15 September 2000.

6.   Turnover by destination                      
                                     Six     Six    
                                  Months  Months    Year
                                      to      to      to
                                 30.6.00 30.6.99 31.12.99
                                  £000's  £000's  £000's
                                                        
     United Kingdom                5,751   4,687  10,419
     North America                 6,688   5,897  12,023
     European Union                1,496   1,265   2,557
     Far East                        546     675   1,473
     Rest of the World               417     600     997
                                 ------- ------- -------
                                  14,898  13,124  27,469
                                 ======= ======= =======

7.   Analysis of net funds                               
                                   As at   As at    As at
                                 30.6.00 30.6.99 31.12.99
                                  £000's  £000's   £000's
                                                   
     Cash in hand, at bank         1,086   7,197    2,688
     Short term money market       4,844       -    4,885
     deposits
                                 ------- -------  -------
     Total                         5,930   7,197    7,573
                                 ======= =======  =======

                                                  
                                                     
  8.  Reconciliation of operating profit to operating
                                           cash flows
                                                     
                                  Six     Six    
                               Months  Months     Year
                                   to      to       to
                              30.6.00 30.6.99 31.12.99
                               £000's  £000's   £000's
                                                     
Operating profit                  850     673    2,359
Depreciation                      601     580    1,182
Exchange (loss)/gain              (4)      93       75
(Profit)/loss on sale of         (61)      25       39
tangible fixed assets
Increase in stocks              (661)   (201)     (872)
Increase in debtors           (1,444) (1,276)     (213)
Increase/(decrease) in            428     513     (135)
creditors
                              ------- ------- -------
Net cash (outflow)/inflow       (291)     407   2,435
from operating activities
                              ======= ======= =======
                                                     
All of the above relate to continuing operations.
                                                     


9.  Analysis of cash flows for headings netted in the
cash flow statement
                                                     
                                  Six       Six      
                               Months  Months      Year
                                   to      to        to
                               £000's  £000's    £000's
                                                     
Returns on investments and 
servicing of finance
Interest received                 181     193       328
Interest paid                       -     (1)       (1)
                              ------- -------   -------
Net cash inflow for returns                          
on investments
   and servicing of finance       181     192       327
                              ======= =======   =======
                                                     
Capital expenditure and                              
financial investment
Purchase of tangible fixed      (446)   (585)   (1,450)
assets
Sale of tangible fixed assets     104     118       179
                              ------- -------   -------
Net cash outflow for capital                         
expenditure
   and financial investments    (342)   (467)   (1,271)
                              ======= =======   =======



Note:
Copies of this statement will be posted to shareholders and
will be available from the Company Registered Office, London
Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire  ST4 7QQ.




17 August 2000