Qualceram reports worsening position

QUALCREAM SHIRES, the bathroom suite manufacturer based in Athlone, has effectively topped up its downbeat trading statement from before Christmas, by adding yesterday that operating conditions have become even worse since the start of the new year.

The company warned, in November, that it was considering “all options” in terms of reducing costs as its financial performance was being hit by the deteriorating market conditions.

It added yesterday — ahead of the publication of its latest set of annual results at the end of this month — that “ongoing negative consumer sentiment and the lack of availability of mortgage finance continues to impact unfavourably on the group’s markets and financial performance.”