Hotel Chocolat boosted as customers flock to buy treats online

UK shoppers flocked to buy Hotel Chocolat goods while the retailer’s branches closed for lockdown, helping it to boost sales.

The retailer and chocolate maker said total group revenue for the 13 weeks to December 27 increased 19%, and for the 26 weeks to the same date, revenue improved 11%.  

It saw growth in the UK, US and Japan.

Chief executive Angus Thirlwell said that online growth during the period had exceeded expectations. 

That helped offset some of the Covid-19 disruption,  including having to temporarily close shops for lockdowns, such as during the important festive season, with closures in November in line with government guidelines.

In London, stores that had reopened in early December had to shut again when Tier 4 rules came in.

Thirlwell told the Evening Standard: “We have definitely seen a lot of loyal brand followers [go online], and we’ve also been successful in recruiting new customers.”

He added gift giving was high during the period, and that many people were “looking for a little bit of happiness in a miserable time, and sending gifts”.

The retailer was able to cope with a surge in online orders after doubling the size of its warehouse last year.

It has 125 shops in the UK, 18 in Japan and 4 in the US.

Thirlwell said: “We accelerated several of our digital growth initiatives over the last year and can clearly see the huge potential ahead. Whilst there is still further near-term pandemic-related uncertainty, and ongoing increased costs in reacting to it, I am increasingly confident that in the medium-term we can deliver significant further growth in the UK, USA and Japan.”