Introducing the classy paper plate

Portmeirion is a brand of crockery that is, if not actually shi-shi, solidly upper middle class. It certainly could not be called cheap.  So when it comes to the pictured product I have two questions:

1) Who the frelling frell thought paper plates were a good extension of the Portmeirion brand?

2) Who the frelling frelling frell is going to pay over $1.40 per individual paper plate?