Hotel Chocolat to open 25 stores this year amid record Xmas sales
The positive UK trading figures also come as the business prepares to open its first stores in Chicago
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Hotel Chocolat posted record UK Christmas sales for the 4 weeks to 29 December and has revealed it is set to open 25 new stores in the UK this year.
The premium chocolatier saw sales rise 10.4% year-on-year, with 21 and 23 December being the busiest shopping days online and in-store, with the Velvetiser in-store cafes growing 33% year-on-year.
Among the 25 new stores will be the company’s most expansive outlet ever, set to open in Manchester this spring, with approximately 6,000 square feet across two floors. The new stores will generate circa 200 new roles across the year.
The positive UK trading figures also come as the business prepares to open its first stores in Chicago. The chocolatier will open an initial two stores this spring, coinciding with the busy Easter period. Its US digital business continues to grow at pace, with the Velvetiser in-home drinking chocolate system now in more than 100,000 US homes.
Hotel Chocolat founder and Global CEO Angus Thirlwell, said: “This Christmas was our most successful to date and testament to the dedication of our manufacturing-distributing and retailing teams in particular. Despite consumers continuing to feel the pinch, they went for quality this Christmas and we posted strong sales across our accessible price points from the £5.95 Chocolate-filled Table Cracker right up to our £200 Velvetiser Experience Hamper.
“We are excited to be opening right in the heart of Chicago and bringing the Hotel Chocolat experience to the city. These initial stores are being fitted out as we speak. Our US store opening plan will combine with our existing digital channel to tell our brand story and underpin what makes us different.”
He added: “It’s fascinating to see what our US Velvetiser-owning families went for compared to the UK families: in the US Mint 70% Dark and Maple Pecan hot chocolates were top performers, whereas for the UK Mince Pie and Salted Caramel and Clementine over-indexed!”
