Thorntons - food industry company news 
UK: Thorntons sales propelled by share gains
24 April 2013
UK chocolate manufacturer and retailer Thorntons has seen a jump in third-quarter sales, boosted by market share gains.
UK: Thorntons sees "satisfactory" Easter
3 April 2013
UK chocolate maker Thorntons has said its Easter sales were "satisfactory", meaning that pre-exceptional profit before tax is on-track to beat current market expectations.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
4 March 2013
The fall-out from the horsemeat contamination continued last week, with Tesco outlining plans to shake up its supply chain and source meat from the UK. Elsewhere, UK free-from firm Genius Foods bought out venture partner Finsbury Food Group and, in the US, more buyers were found for Hostess Brands' assets. Click on the headlines for more.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
4 March 2013
UK retailer Tesco grabbed the headlines last week as the horsemeat saga rumbled on. CEO Philip Clarke announced a raft of changes to its supply chain, including a promise to source all fresh chicken from within the UK. Elsewhere, just-food spoke with Genius CEO Roz Cuschieri about its plans for the Finsbury free-from brand it is set to acquire, and the CEO of Hostess Brands announced the successful sales of the majority of its bread units to Flowers Foods.
On the money: Thorntons sees strategy bearing fruit
25 February 2013
Thorntons' improved first-half performance demonstrates that its strategy to shift towards sales through its commercial arm while working to revitalise the brand is starting to pay off, the group insisted this morning (25 February).
UK: Thorntons H1 profits, sales rise
25 February 2013
Thorntons has booked higher first-half earnings, which were boosted by lower costs and a rise in sales.
Best bits: Horse meat saga continues, confectioners hit sweet spot
21 January 2013
Retailers in the UK and Ireland faced some difficult questions last week, when it emerged that horse and pig DNA had been discovered in beefburgers and "beef" ready meals.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
21 January 2013
News that Flowers Food has emerged as the "stalking horse" bidder for various Hostess Brands bread brands in the US caught our attention last week. Meanwhile, an entirely different kind of horse got tongues wagging on this side of the pond when food safety officials found horse meat had been used in the production of burgers in the UK and Ireland. There has also been a flurry of news from the confectionery sector, with Barry Callebaut, Lindt and Thorntons hitting the headlines. We can expect more from this category in the coming weeks as the industry gears up for ISM, one of the calendar's biggest trade shows. just-food will be reporting live (and possibly even indulging our sweet tooth).
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
21 January 2013
Horse meat is the topic that kept the just-food newsroom busy last week after food safety officials found horse meat had been used in the production of burgers in the UK and Ireland. Tesco was the first to announce the recall of some ranges of burgers, with other retailers quick to follow suit. Elsewhere, Flowers Food emerged as the "stalking horse" bidder for various Hostess Brands bread brands in the US, and in the UK just-food spoke with Thorntons CEO Jonathan Hart on the firm's second-quarter results and his plans for the confectionery firm going forward.
The just-food interview - Jonathan Hart, Thorntons
17 January 2013
UK confectioner Thorntons is undergoing something of a transformation. The chocolate and toffee producer, which has been hit hard by the consumer downturn, is midway through a strategic shift to close the bulk of its store network and focus on commercial sales. Since taking the helm in May 2011, Jonathan Hart has had a mountain to climb: rebalancing the portfolio while tackling weak consumer demand. Nonetheless, the chief executive tells Michelle Russell that the firm is now on the right road for its strategy re-think to deliver improved results.
just-food's research round-up: The Russian chocolate market, snack bars in China
17 January 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes the chocolate market in Russia, snack bars in China and a European dairy industry outlook.
On the money: Thorntons commercial sales good news for turnaround strategy - analysts
16 January 2013
The continued outperformance of Thorntons' commercial division proves the UK confectioner's strategy to rebalance its business model is paying off, analysts have suggested.
UK: Thorntons sounds cautious note despite Q2 sales rise
16 January 2013
UK confectioner Thorntons sounded a cautious note on the year ahead despite booking an increase in second-quarter sales.
UK: Finsbury sells shares to fuel cake investment
14 November 2012
Finsbury Food Group, the UK baker, has sold shares in the company to raise funds to invest in its cake business.
UK: Thorntons sounds cautious note, Q1 sales slide
10 October 2012
UK confectioner Thorntons has sounded a cautious note ahead of the Christmas period as it booked a drop in first-quarter sales.
UK: Record sales boost profits at cake firm Finsbury
24 September 2012
UK cake manufacturer Finsbury Food Group today (24 September) reported an increase in full-year profits after seeing sales exceed GBP200m (US$324.3m) for the first time.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
17 September 2012
This week, Thorntons' CEO Jonathan Hart sounded a cautious note on the economic landscape as the firm recorded a fall in full-year profits. Elsewhere, PepsiCo president John Compton announced his departure from the snack giant as he looks make a move back to Tennessee.
On the money: Thorntons eyes "slow" margin, profit recovery
12 September 2012
Thorntons said it expects to see a "slow" recovery in profitability over the next two years after reporting a fall in annual earnings and as it battles a tough UK market.
UPDATE: UK: Chocolate firm Thorntons eyes North America
12 September 2012
UK confectioner Thorntons has included North America in its target markets overseas after reviewing international opportunities for the business.
UK: Thorntons shares up despite FY profit fall
12 September 2012
Thorntons saw its share price rise this morning (12 September) despite lower full-year profits as an improved second-half performance led to better-than-expected pre-tax earnings.
S AFRICA: Thorntons signs Massmart supply deal
10 September 2012
UK confectioner Thorntons has signed a deal to supply its products to South African retailer Massmart.
Promo Tracker: Gu, Ben & Jerry's up discounts
14 August 2012
Dessert brand Gü and Ben & Jerry's ice cream ramped up the discounts they offered to UK consumers in July, according to the latest data from the just-food Promo Tracker.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
16 July 2012
The price of milk dominated headlines in the UK this week, with farmers gathering at a summit to air their views on the implications of the cuts and discuss what can be done. Elsewhere, French retailer Carrefour sounded an upbeat note on the performance of its domestic hypermarket business, while PepsiCo and Müller at last showed their hand as they joined the fray to win over US consumers in the Greek yoghurt market.
On the money: Thorntons insists focus on NPD driving gains
11 July 2012
UK confectioner Thorntons today (11 July) insisted its focus on innovation and product development has driven gains both through its namesake stores and its commercial arm.
UK: Thorntons "cautious" despite improved Q4 sales
11 July 2012
UK confectioner Thorntons has maintained a cautious outlook, despite seeing some improvement in sales trends during the fourth quarter.
UK: Store closures hit Thorntons sales
3 May 2012
Thorntons has booked a drop in third-quarter sales as store closures and a difficult trading environment dented the chocolate group's result.
On the money: Thorntons upbeat despite profit plunge
15 February 2012
Thorntons management today (15 February) said that the UK chocolate group is on the right track to reverse declining profits, despite the company booking a 92% fall in first-half pre-tax earnings.
UK: Thorntons suspends dividend as H1 profits drop
15 February 2012
UK chocolate maker and retailer Thorntons has scrapped its half-year dividend after poor Christmas trading and charges related to loss-making stores hit first-half profits.
Comment: Values not just value must underpin Tesco revival
13 January 2012
Tesco's continuing difficulties in the UK forced the retailer to stun the City with something of a profit warning. As Chris Brook-Carter writes, the company needs to look beyond price to regain the ground lost to the likes of Sainsbury's.
UK: Thorntons shares spiral after weak Q3 sales
12 January 2012
Chocolatier and retailer Thorntons today (12 January) saw its share value plunge to its lowest-ever level after announcing quarterly sales below expectations.
