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Thorntons began in
Sheffield in 1911, the business being started by William Joseph Thornton (1870–1919), who co opened the company's first shop, at 159 Norfolk Street. William Norman Hinsby Thornton (1896–1984), his son, became the manager, at the age of just 15. Later in the company's history, Peter
329:
After rapid expansion, the results of 2009 showed turnover increasing to £214.8 million, but operating profit decreasing to £7.94 million. A perennial seasonality in sales disappointed strategists and employees. 35% of the sales were in the seven week period before
Christmas, and 10%,
401:
pandemic restrictions lifted. The pandemic restrictions had meant that all
Thorntons retail stores had closed for much of 2020, and the business was now going to restructure in order to move sales both online and to focus retailing on
449:, London, and was eaten, within the space of just three hours. The structure included ten chocolate bunnies, seventy two giant chocolate eggs, and 128 chocolate panels, each weighing 2 kg (4.4 lb).
389:
With
Ferrero investment into the business to try to increase revenue, through the financial year of 2017 to 2018 sales and production increased. Fewer new shops were opened with some existing locations
371:
The scale of impact of this, on manufacturing and service, are more pronounced than the average in the food sector, necessitating temporary staffing. Jonathon Hart joined the business, as
394:
into cafés, selling a range of both eat-in and take-away food and drinks alongside the traditional confectionary lines. In 2020, Thorntons won the
Lausanne Index Prize - Bronze Award.
280:
predecessor Kraft Foods, Thorntons had become the largest confectionery-only parent company in
Britain. The company was purchased by the Italian firm Ferrero in June 2015 for £112
1836:
406:
distribution channels. While announcing that the physical
Thorntons stores would close, the company stated that it had seen a 70% increase in sales through the business
445:, on 3 April 2007, which exceeded four metres length; 14.5 by 9.5 ft (4.4 by 2.9 m) and 390 kg (860 lb) – it was framed outside their shop in
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The promotion sought to regain custom lost to competition and a move away from deluxe chocolate gifts, as well as poor sales over the summer of 2006.
375:, in January 2011. Following another resultant strategic review, in June 2011, Thorntons announced it would close between 120 and 180, of its shops.
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a= active, d= defunct, e= e-commerce, f= financial services, h= high tech, n= nationalised, p= privatised, r= relocated, t/o= taken over
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Hollow and solid cats, rabbits and seasonal shapes by the company, often have fine white, or dark chocolate details. (2008)
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would buy
Thorntons, for £112 million. Thorntons Ltd are 75% owned by Ferholding UK Ltd, which, in turn, is controlled by
908:
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On 15 March 2021, it was announced that all 61 remaining
Thorntons retail stores were to close after UK government
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Thornton (grandson of the founder) served as chairman, but was dismissed from the role in June 1987.
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261:. It was established in 1911 by William Joseph Thornton and Joseph Thornton, his father, in
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A minority of sales is in novelties, decoration and café outlet remittances.
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765:"Thorntons: Chocolate maker to close all shops putting 600 jobs at risk"
552:"Thorntons: Chocolate maker to close all shops putting 600 jobs at risk"
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The
Strategy Report of Thorntons plc, Birmingham Business School, 2007
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Thorntons Ltd Annual Report 2018|Companies House. Retrieved 16 May 2020
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Until and during the Second World War, the company was an established
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This article is about the chocolate company. For other uses, see
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by Peter Thornton, Published by Tomahawk Press, October 2009
589:"Thorntons: why the chocolate-maker has gone into meltdown"
740:"Live as historic Thorntons is set to close all UK stores"
597:. The Guardian (theguardian.com). Retrieved 11 July 2015.
378:
It was announced in June 2015 that chocolate producer
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634:"Thorntons to slash number of company-owned stores"
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539:Full accounts made up to the 31st August 2018
299:ending, the group's primary focus shifted to
8:
1837:Food and drink companies established in 1911
931:Current and former companies connected with
608:"Thorntons – My Life in the Family Business"
121:0 (all closed after Covid lockdowns in 2021)
28:
462:List of bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturers
418:The current, main advertising slogans are:
49:Thorntons shop in Banbury, pictured in 2008
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866:Thorntons, My Life in the Family Business
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688:"Thorntons bought by Ferrero for £112m"
571:"Thorntons bought by Ferrero for £112m"
513:
493:
386:(who holds over 50% of voting rights).
713:"2020 L.I.P. Bronze Award - Thorntons"
1832:British companies established in 1911
7:
1786:
1594:Farley's & Sathers Candy Company
523:Thorntons plc. Retrieved 16 May 2020
441:Thorntons set up a very rare edible
325:2009–present – trading difficulties
834:"Shoppers eat chocolate billboard"
813:"Bringing sweet news to Thorntons"
500:(all retail stores closed in 2021)
364:A Thorntons shop in London in 2015
253:manufacturer owned by the Italian
14:
738:Wilson, Charlie (15 March 2021).
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661:"Thorntons PLC: Strategy Review"
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410:compared to the previous year.
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1817:1911 establishments in England
1165:Newton, Chambers & Company
949:List of companies in Sheffield
686:Farrell, Sean (22 June 2015).
436:It's The Thorntons That Counts
348:Former branch in a decorative
1:
1842:Companies based in Derbyshire
791:"Chocolate Heaven Since 1911"
632:Danaher, Tim (28 June 2011).
569:Sarah Butler (22 June 2015).
16:British confectionery company
1847:Companies based in Sheffield
1315:Jessop Saville & Company
587:Clark, Andrew (7 May 2011).
70:; 113 years ago
1827:British chocolate companies
1325:Samuel Osborn & Company
1085:Sheffield Hallam University
431:Chocolate Heaven Since 1911
1868:
307:-style chocolate in sets.
18:
1771:
1490:
1472:
1363:
1305:English Steel Corporation
1257:Sheffield based companies
1140:English Steel Corporation
1120:British Steel Corporation
939:
42:
33:
21:Thornton (disambiguation)
1421:Burton's Biscuit Company
1355:Yorkshire Engine Company
1090:University of Sheffield
373:chief executive officer
91:William Joseph Thornton
1345:United Steel Companies
1340:Steel, Peech and Tozer
1330:Sheffield Coal Company
1320:Samuel Fox and Company
1255:miscellaneous formerly
1170:Sheffield Forgemasters
1032:Sheffield Forgemasters
521:Official Store Locator
426:
278:Mondelez International
1534:Ferrara Candy Company
1436:Ferrara Candy Company
1289:Trebor Bassett Sweets
1001:Kelham Island Brewery
876:www.tomahawkpress.com
424:
352:shelter in Portsmouth
1723:Blue Bunny Ice Cream
1284:Thorntons Chocolates
1269:Richardson Sheffield
1183:surgical instruments
1058:and service industry
944:Economy of Sheffield
472:J. S. Fry & Sons
1241:Spear & Jackson
1125:Brown Bayley Steels
316:The Thornton family
276:became part of the
207:Number of employees
201:22.9 million (2018)
180:38.3 million (2018)
112:Number of locations
30:
1763:Pietro Ferrero Jr.
1693:Kinder Happy Hippo
1555:Boston Baked Beans
1451:Michel et Augustin
1145:Firth Brown Steels
991:Henderson's Relish
793:. 2 September 2011
719:on 14 January 2021
427:
297:post war rationing
159:135 million (2018)
1852:Yorkshire cuisine
1799:
1798:
1740:
1739:
1732:Halo Top Creamery
1717:Wells Enterprises
1466:Wells Enterprises
1373:
1372:
1310:Hadfields Limited
1198:Mappin & Webb
1104:traditional heavy
1042:Tata Steel Europe
874:978-0-9557670-3-6
612:tomahawkpress.com
247:Thorntons Limited
244:
243:
1859:
1789:
1788:
1779:
1778:
1758:Giovanni Ferrero
1688:Kinder Chocolate
1495:Ferrero-Küsschen
1488:
1478:
1446:Mother's Cookies
1400:
1393:
1386:
1377:
1274:SH Wards Brewery
1108:and engineering)
1065:Atkinsons Stores
986:Fletchers Bakery
962:and distribution
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715:. Archived from
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558:. 15 March 2021.
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384:Giovanni Ferrero
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1708:Kinder Surprise
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1546:Atomic Fireball
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1231:Footprint Tools
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1106:industry (steel
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771:. 15 March 2021
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59:Limited company
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1822:British brands
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1752:Pietro Ferrero
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840:. 3 April 2007
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667:. 28 June 2011
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1219:manufacturers
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1181:silversmiths,
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