Chocolate maker Thornton's to close all its shops...
Discussion
This has to be the worst news for chocolate lovers....! 
Although other brands are available....!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56407155
Although other brands are available....!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56407155
The usual story, Joe Public 'thinks' British when they go into Thornton's when in truth they have been entering an Italian shop for the last 5 yrs.
Ferrero bought Thornton's out in 2015.
Now it's the end. Its chocolate was never cheap, but there is so many alternatives out there today competing is hard.
Like lots of 'old' British brands that are not.
Ferrero bought Thornton's out in 2015.
Now it's the end. Its chocolate was never cheap, but there is so many alternatives out there today competing is hard.
Like lots of 'old' British brands that are not.
As I said in the other thread, I worked in a Thorntons for six months when I was twenty. That's nearly 14 years ago now but the writing was on the wall even then that the business was going in the wrong direction.
The store I worked in was a small franchised store with a mixed offering of cards and small gifts from a Clintons subsidiary. It was pretty poorly run by the manager/franchise owner, who was always concerned about falling sales but unable to put it right. Training was fairly lacklustre, all I got for material was a box of cards with a little bit of info about the various products we offered. The other staff at the store, all women, were lazy and took a lend of the manager.
The real failing was that the core products were sold elsewhere. We had a Morrisons directly opposite JB the same precinct. They were selling things like the Continental box cheaper than we did. People would buy Thorntons eggs in Morrisons and ask to ice them. At the same time, as Thorntons seemed to be going down market, new competition like Hotel Chocolat had swanky new stores. Thorntons brought out a range of 'high end' chocolates, packed in matte finished cardboard squares. They were quite nice (the single origin Ecudorian bar was really good) but they were never big sellers. Thorntons HQ obviously set sales targets to franchise owners as my boss used to worry about failing to meet them and losing the franchise. At the same time, she ordered stuff we couldn't sell and we used to have to box stuff up to send it back to HQ, where it was apparently sold off to discounters.
I had the feeling then that Thorntons felt quite old fashioned and low rent. They were trying various things without success trying to right themselves (those horrible birthday cakes, yuck). There seemed to be a prevailing change in taste where younger customers wanted less sweet, sugary chocolate, exactly the sort of thing that Thorntons didn't sell. A lot of their retail outlets looked and felt tired and dated. They had really sleepwalked into a situation where an upmarket competitor could take their market share.
This story hit home to me as I haven't eaten a Thorntons product in years. I suddenly remembered then that I had bought some Thorntons fudge just before I finished work on Sunday morning, at 5AM at a petrol station. Just about sums it up. I'm surprised they lasted as long as they did.
The store I worked in was a small franchised store with a mixed offering of cards and small gifts from a Clintons subsidiary. It was pretty poorly run by the manager/franchise owner, who was always concerned about falling sales but unable to put it right. Training was fairly lacklustre, all I got for material was a box of cards with a little bit of info about the various products we offered. The other staff at the store, all women, were lazy and took a lend of the manager.
The real failing was that the core products were sold elsewhere. We had a Morrisons directly opposite JB the same precinct. They were selling things like the Continental box cheaper than we did. People would buy Thorntons eggs in Morrisons and ask to ice them. At the same time, as Thorntons seemed to be going down market, new competition like Hotel Chocolat had swanky new stores. Thorntons brought out a range of 'high end' chocolates, packed in matte finished cardboard squares. They were quite nice (the single origin Ecudorian bar was really good) but they were never big sellers. Thorntons HQ obviously set sales targets to franchise owners as my boss used to worry about failing to meet them and losing the franchise. At the same time, she ordered stuff we couldn't sell and we used to have to box stuff up to send it back to HQ, where it was apparently sold off to discounters.
I had the feeling then that Thorntons felt quite old fashioned and low rent. They were trying various things without success trying to right themselves (those horrible birthday cakes, yuck). There seemed to be a prevailing change in taste where younger customers wanted less sweet, sugary chocolate, exactly the sort of thing that Thorntons didn't sell. A lot of their retail outlets looked and felt tired and dated. They had really sleepwalked into a situation where an upmarket competitor could take their market share.
This story hit home to me as I haven't eaten a Thorntons product in years. I suddenly remembered then that I had bought some Thorntons fudge just before I finished work on Sunday morning, at 5AM at a petrol station. Just about sums it up. I'm surprised they lasted as long as they did.
AmitG said:
It is sad
They did really nice ice cream in the summer months.
Yes, it was one of the high points;of a trip to the library (it's in our local shopping centre, with a Thornton's one level down) for the children.They did really nice ice cream in the summer months.
When I was really broke, I could make a Saturday morning sitting on the floor cushions reading, followed by a single scoop cone each, seem a perfect day out. Quite sad at the news!
One less thing for people to go while shopping. Pretty soon it will be almost pointless leaving your designated cubicle.
Was always a great place to get the seasonal gifts when you cant decide. Nobody complains when they get chocolate.
The same thing on the shelf in tescos sort of looks less. Presentation seems to be everything.
Was always a great place to get the seasonal gifts when you cant decide. Nobody complains when they get chocolate.
The same thing on the shelf in tescos sort of looks less. Presentation seems to be everything.
Must admit, apart from their average chocolates being available in supermarkets (I assumed under some kind of licence), I thought they'd gone years ago.
There was just something about Thorntons which just screamed average, middle of the road, safe, meh!
My wife is a chocolate fan, getting Thorntons chocolates for her just wouldn't have entered into my head.
There was just something about Thorntons which just screamed average, middle of the road, safe, meh!
My wife is a chocolate fan, getting Thorntons chocolates for her just wouldn't have entered into my head.
t anyway” ?Interesting Twitter thread comparing search traffic and SM presence:
https://twitter.com/danbarker/status/1371519423547...
https://twitter.com/danbarker/status/1371519423547...
Not that surprised really. Did anybody actually like their chocolate? I don't think I've ever known or heard of anyone buying Thorntons for themselves.
It's like we've all been part of some national delusion where we all considered it a good present to give despite nobody wanting to receive them.
It's like we've all been part of some national delusion where we all considered it a good present to give despite nobody wanting to receive them.
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