Wedgwood has been the dog of the Waterford Wedgwood luxury giftware group over recent years. However, even dogs have their day, and the ceramics division produced heartening results in the first half of 2000, with an 18 per cent rise in sales matching the group's more favoured crystal operations.

Reporting the results, Wedgwood chief executive Brian Patterson said he was confident sales would grow on the back of both the existing range and new products.

The Margin was interested to see the spotlight put on one of those new products - a very ordinary looking dog's bowl retailing at an anything-but-ordinary £90. Now Waterford Wedgwood really is ready for battle in the dog-eat-dog business for luxury goods.