Clouds starting to lift for Thorntons

AFTER spending years getting itself into sticky situations, things are beginning to look sweeter for chocolate retailer Thorntons.

Chief executive Peter Burdon today said the group, embarrassed in recent years by stock problems and hot weather, should hit profit goals in September's annual results.

Grey skies are helping. Like-for-like sales in Thorntons stores in the second half to 26 June were up 2.9%, while including chocolate the group sells in stores such as Tesco, total sales rose 6.9% over the full year.

Burdon said Thorntons' 380 shops were 'cleaned out' over Easter. 'This is testament to the things we have been putting in over the last few years such as improving the range and the people we have,' he said.

Burdon joined four years ago and immediately had to try to clear £1.4m worth of unsold Easter eggs. He then unveiled a 40% fall in profits.

Thorntons now has more modern products, such as the Eden range for women, and is cutting costs. Profits this year should be £7.3m, up 14%. Thorntons' shares rose 2p to 167 1/2p.