Hot weather hits Thornton sales

The company said the hot weather put customers off buying chocolate and saw same-store sales plunge 23 per cent over the crucial Easter week.

Thorntons said it now expects pre-tax profits to be between £3m and £4.5m for the year to June 25, compared with £6.1m the previous year.

City analysts previously expected earnings for this financial year to be around £6 million.

The warning comes as supermarkets step up promotions and discounts on chocolate Easter eggs and as cocoa and sugar prices continue to soar, piling pressure on smaller stores.