Thorntons Chocolate to close its York city centre outlet

Thorntons Chocolate has announced it is closing its outlet in York City centre from tomorrow (4 January 2020), but the company said it will continue to trade from another outlet at the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet on the outskirts of the city.

The 100-year-old brand that is now owned by Ferrero recorded a deficit of £38.3m ($50.05m) last year​ and warned of more store closures.

When contacted by ConfectioneryNews, the company refused to say whether York was a one-off or if more store closures in other parts of the country would follow in 2020.

A spokesperson for Thorntons said: “Like many other high-street brands, we are continuously reviewing our store estate to ensure we are in the locations that meet our customer needs. As a result of this review, we have decided to close our York Parliament Street store on the fourth of January. ​

“Thorntons has been delighted to serve our many local customers in this store and we would encourage them to shop for their favourite Thorntons products at our York Café store ​or online at www.thorntons.co.uk​ in the future."​

The York Press reported the store was last refitted in 2010 when planners at the City of York Council gave Thorntons permission to fit a new shopfront and signs to the Grade II-listed building, giving the premises ‘a much-needed new lease of life’.