Spode is proclaiming its English roots in its new backstamp, featured on a Blue Italian mug.
STOKE-ON-TRENT, England – Spode has created new branding that highlights its centuries-old heritage, its craftsmanship and its decision to bring a “significant” portion of its ceramic production back to the U.K. over the next two years.
Spode’s refreshed logo includes a silhouette of the original Spode factory gate, and its new backstamp says “Made in Stoke-in-Trent,” which is the heart of British pottery making dating back centuries. Spode was founded by Josiah Spode in 1770.
“Spode is building on its existing U.K. production to return a significant proportion of our manufacturing back to Stoke-on-Trent over the next 24 months, Mike Raybould, CEO of parent company Portmeirion, said in a press release. The company did not elaborate on how much of its production would move, or exactly when. Approximately 26 percent of Portmerion Group’s branded tableware products are made in its Stoke-on-Trent factory, the company said in its 2024 earnings results announced in March.
“We are continuously exploring innovative ways to refine our product range and production methods, ensuring they remain as efficient and cost-effective as possible while growing our U.K. footprint,” Raybould said.
“‘Made in Stoke-on-Trent’ is the foundation of our 255-year-old brand DNA, and it is what our customers expect from Spode,” he added. “Despite being an internationally recognized brand, we have always championed British manufacturing, and this pledge markets our latest step in cementing Stoke-on-Trent at the heart of everything we do and honoring our deep-seated heritage.”
It was Josiah I who perfected a commercially successful method of manufacturing blue and white ceramics, according to Spode, and it was his son, Josiah II, who discovered the correct formula for bone china. These breakthroughs redefined the British pottery industry and secured Britain’s competitive edge in the luxury ceramics market to successfully challenge imports from China and Europe.
Blue Italian has not been out of production since 1816. It features a romanticized Italian landscape of classic ruins, rolling hills and figures in pastoral settings. The design is printed in its distinctive cobalt blue using its pioneering transfer printing method.
Spode is emphasizing its commitment to its English roots with a limited-edition run on that archival classic — the Blue Italian pattern, a best-seller, on the Camilla shape. The run of 1,770 piece reflects Spode’s birthdate, and all of it will be made in Stoke-on-Trent.
The mug is the first piece in the collection to bear the new backstamp. It has been available since mid-June exclusively through Spode’s e-commerce channels.
