UK chocolatier Thorntons issued a profit warning today as it blamed the record temperatures in April for a meltdown in Easter sales.
The company said the hot weather put customers off buying chocolate and saw same-store sales plunge 23% over the crucial Easter week.
Thorntons said it now expects pre-tax profits to be between £3-4.5m sterling for the year to June 25, compared with £6.1m the previous year. City analysts previously expected earnings for this financial year to be around £6m.
The warning comes as supermarkets step up promotions and discounts on chocolate Easter eggs and as cocoa and sugar prices continue to soar, piling pressure on smaller stores.
