Hotel Chocolat revenues jump 14%

Chocolate retailer Hotel Chocolat Group has reported a 14% increase in revenue to £132m for the year ending 30 June 2019.

The retailer opened 16 new stores in the year contributing 5% to group sales year-on-year. Two of the new openings were in the USA, and the group also entered into a joint venture in Japan which saw the opening of two stores in Tokyo.

Hotel Chocolat’s management said it expects profit before tax for FY19 will be “in line” with market expectations, and added that trading since FY19 “continues to be in line with management’s expectations”.

Angus Thirlwell, co-founder and CEO of Hotel Chocolat, said: “I’m really pleased with our performance this year, delivering strong growth across all parts of the Hotel Chocolat multi-channel, direct-to-consumer model.

“New activities in the year included openings in the US and Japan; the launch of the Velvetiser – our in-home drinking chocolate system; and the introduction of our VIP ME rewards card scheme, all of which present substantial future growth opportunities.”