Hotel Chocolat sees sales surge

Chocolatier and retail chain Hotel Chocolat has seen new store openings help drive a 15 per cent surge in revenue for the 13 weeks to 31 December.

The group said new shops contributed 6 per cent of the growth after it added another ten sites in the second half of last year to take the estate to 100. But it added that sales grew across stores, online and in its wholesale arm.