UK chocolatier Thorntons today (13 January) attributed a 6.8% decline in second-quarter own-store sales to adverse weather conditions – but added the decline was largely offset by solid performances in its commercial and direct channels.

Sales in its own stores for the quarter ended 8 January reached GBP48.2m (US$76m), while like-for-likes were down 5.9%.

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However, total sales were up 3.9% to reach GBP83.7m, with commercial sales up 33.7% to GBP25.3m and Direct sales up 7.6% to GBP5.1m

Sales of Thorntons branded products increased by 4.1% to GBP83.3m.

Thorntons chairman John von Spreckelsen said: “We are pleased to report sales growth in the second quarter despite the impact of the adverse weather on own-store sales. This was offset by a solid performance in the commercial and Thorntons direct channels.”

He added that the “board is cautiously optimistic for the prospects for the current financial year”.

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Shares in the company were flat at 10:35 GMT this morning.

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