Hotel Chocolat posts half year sales and profit uplift
Hotel Chocolat has posted an increase in half year sales and profit following success in growing its active customer base.
In the six months 26 December, group revenue increased by 40% year-on-year to £142.9 million following strong multichannel growth in the UK, US and Japan.
Meanwhile, pre-tax profit climbed by 56% to £24.1 million and underlying EBITDA rose by 35% to £33.8 million.
Angus Thirlwell, co-founder and chief executive of Hotel Chocolat, said: “I am delighted that we have achieved a great set of results both in terms of sales and profits, indicating the global strength of the Hotel Chocolat brand and our direct-to-consumer business model. These results enable continued new job creation based in our British manufacturing operations, as well as roles in technology and multichannel retailing.”
During the period, the company increased its UK active customer base by 38% to 2.3 million. Hotel Chocolat said this was achieved through its ability to see the behaviours of a wide church of customers across multiple different cohorts and to adapt its conversations accordingly.
Hotel Chocolat said trading since the period end has been in line with expectations.
Looking ahead, Thirlwell added: “A focus on bringing happiness through chocolate in every aspect of our business model will further strengthen and nurture the appeal of our brand, helping us achieve our goal of becoming the leading global direct-to-consumer premium chocolate brand.”
