Sales looking sweet as choc chain cheers makeovers

0 Sales were up 12% to £104 million on a comparable 52-week basis for the year to 25 June Hotel Chocolat served up a sweetened sales performance yesterday as it said a new cafe format and overhauled website helped boost trade.

The luxury chocolate chain posted a 12 per cent jump in sales to £104 million on a comparable 52-week basis for the year to 25 June, which it said was slightly ahead of City expectations.

It cheered a boost from 12 store openings over the year, which contributed 5 per cent sales growth, with eight of the new sites featuring a cafe.

Hotel Chocolat, which floated on London’s junior Aim stock market last year, said the new shop and cafe format was “working well”.

It is also adding a cafe to its Milton Keynes shop, which will open before the end of the month, in a move that will test the impact on an existing store.

The firm added that customers were benefiting from an improved website for smartphone and tablet orders. It also hailed “encouraging” results for new summer ranges.