Gifts boost Hotel Chocolat

DEMAND for hampers as corporate gifts and a sell-out new range of children’s reindeer selfie slabs sweetened festive sales at Hotel Chocolat.

The premium chocolatier said more shoppers had visited its stores and bought more higher-priced gift items, helping to lift revenue by 16.2 per cent on the previous year in the 13 weeks to December 25. Hamper sales rose by 80 per cent, while high-cocoa vegan dark chocolate and super milk creamy chocolate were both up 30 per cent.

CEO Angus Thirlwell said: “Being a UK manufacturer gave us the flexibility to maintain good stock availability up to the end of the season.”