Low-sugar milk chocolate success

HEALTH-CONSCIOUS chocoholics are devouring a luxury low-sugar alternative produced by Hotel Chocolat to cure their sweet tooth.

The Supermilk Pure chocolate, which uses more cocoa and less sugar, has been extremely popular since it launched in October.

The bar is 80pc cocoa, compared to 20-25pc found in many other milk chocolate products. There is no added sugar in the bar, with its only sugars being those found in the organic milk to sweeten it.

Hotel Chocolat co-founder and chief executive Angus Thirlwell said its popularity delivered a 15pc boost to sales over Christmas.

Thirwell added that the firm sold hundreds of its luxury £500 hampers and sold out of chocolate advent calendars over the festive period, while customers also snapped up chocolate Santa sculptures, at £10.

The retailer’s new beauty range also proved a hit, which includes argan body butter with almond and cacao and chocolate peach lip balm.

Hotel Chocolat said its ten new store openings accounted for 6pc of sales growth in the 13 weeks to December 31, with 100 stores now open in the UK.