Tableware Traumas

Tableware sales at Germany's Villeroy & Boch group fell 6% in the first six months of 2003, and orders fell 1.2% as demand for consumer goods remained weak and the Euro remained strong. Hotels and caterers also reined back their investment in the face of falling travel spending in the face of SARS and the Iraq war. V&B introduced short-time working and cut capacity, but the firm is relying on good Christmas sales to change the pattern. (whole item)