Thorntons sales melt away
Thorntons’ shares tumbled nearly 15 per cent yesterday after a strong Easter failed to offset an overall decline in third quarter sales. The chocolatier said sales in the three months to 26 April fell 7.6 per cent, hit by early spring deliveries in the second quarter and weaker than expected Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day performance. Its commercial business, which sells chocolate boxes to other retailers, declined by 8.6 per cent.