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