Shareholders at Waterford Wedgwood's AGM in Dublin today heard that the table top group had its best September in three years last month.
Group CEO Peter Cameron said that its operating loss was reduced 'substantially' in the six months to the end of September with a steady improvement in margins.
He said that costs were lower and the sales decline of recent years was halted for the first time since 2001 so that sales were in line with the same time last year.
'We were particularly encouraged by September which was a strong month, especially at Waterford Crystal, where sales were up 22% year on year in the US, our biggest market,' Mr Cameron said.
'As a result, last month was Waterford Wedgwood's best September for three years. We remain optimistic that the improvement will continue in October,' he added.
'As we have previously predicted, we have the people, we have the product and we have the cost structure to return Waterford Wedgwood to profitability in 2007,' the CEO said.
Today's AGM in Dublin also heard that the company has signed a deal with Ballymore Properties with a view to possible redeveloping a portion of the main Waterford Crystal site at Kilbarry in Waterford.
In recent months, the company has stopped referring to itself as a 'luxury goods' company and instead as a 'table top' or household goods and textiles group.
Shares in the company closed up nearly 20% to five cent in Dublin.
