2 March 2021 | 09:49am
StockMarketWire.com - Chocolatier group Hotel Chocolat reported a rise in first-half profit on strong sales growth, with online sales helping to offset the closure of its retail stores following government imposed Covid-19 restrictions.
For the 26 weeks ended 27 December 2020, pre-tax profit was up 3% to £15.5 million year-on-year as revenue was up 11% to £101.9 million.
UK sales grew by 12% driven with online growth more than offsetting reduction in physical retail sales caused by closures during lockdown and tier 4 restrictions, the company said.
Japanese joint-venture s sales to consumers grew 228%.
Overheads reduced as a percentage of sales fell 160 basis points, mitigating the additional variable costs from increased digital and wholesale channel mix.
19 January 2021 | 08:56am
StockMarketWire.com - Chocolatier Hotel Chocolat reported a rise in revenue in the 13 weeks through December as online growth more than offset the impact of shuttered stores owing to Covid restrictions.
For the 13-week and 26-week periods ended 27 December 2020, revenue increased 19% and 11% year-on-year respectively.
In the UK, online growth more than offset the impact of the temporary closures of physical retail due to COVID restrictions, the company said. The growth momentum stepped up in Japan and the USA, it added.
In Japan, a further 12 outlets were opened during the half year, and the joint venture was now operating from 18 locations, with a substantially increased e-commerce database.