Thorntons, the UK's biggest chain of chocolate shops said online sales jumped by almost a quarter as customers arrived on its web site to buy more personalised gifts.
The retailer said sales from its Consumer Direct business increased 23.4 per cent to £4.1 million in the first-half of its financial year as sales of higher-priced personalised gifts and hampers ordered from the internet increased.
Thorntons said the channel was still a relatively small part of its sales but added that it was 'confident in the potential'.
Thornton's is closing stores and plans to have 180-200 in the medium terms as it increases sales from other channels. It currently has around 280 expects to close 25 in the remainder of the current financial year.
It said profit before tax and exceptional items in the 28 weeks to January 11 increased 47.3 per cent to £7.2 million. Pretax profit was £6.2 million from £4.2 million a year earlier.
Sales dropped 4 per cent to 69.1 million as stores closed and like-for-like sales climbed 2.1 per cent.
It plans to double spending on manufacturing over the next three years to around £10 million a year as it concentrates on producing more specialised moulds and Easter Eggs.
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