Thorntons will permanently close all of its UK stores after more than a century of trading, the company has announced.
The chocolate retailer will shut 61 stores, impacting 603 jobs, in the latest round of cuts to the high street amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
After 110 years of creating chocolate, Thorntons said the ‘obstacles’ Covid-19 has brought on the high street are ‘too severe’ to survive.
However, the retailer said it has seen sales surge online and will now invest in its grocery supply business as part of the company-wide shake-up.
Retail director, Adam Goddard, said in a statement: ‘Changing dynamics of the high street, shifting customer behaviour to online, the ongoing impact of Covid-19 and the numerous lockdown restrictions over the last year – especially during our key trading periods at Easter and Christmas – has meant we have been trading in the most challenging circumstances.
‘Unfortunately like many others, the obstacles we have faced and will continue to face on the high street are too severe and despite our best efforts we have taken the difficult decision to permanently close our retail store estate.
‘We will now go into full consultation with our colleagues.’
The company was founded in 1911 when travelling confectioner, Joseph William Thornton, opened up a sweet shop in Sheffield.
It was bought by Italian food giant Ferrero for £112 million in 2015.
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