LONDON: British chocolate maker Thorntons Plc said its profit fell 10 percent in the first half due to an unexpected cut in orders from two of its grocery partners and warehousing problems at its UK commercial business. Revenue dropped 8.2 percent to 128.2 million pounds
Shares in the Derbyshire-based company fell as much as 8 percent and were among the top percentage losers on the London Stock Exchange on Monday.
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This year they will probably make a small loss in the second half given the disruption they have experienced with those two customers,” analyst Matthew McEachran of N+1 Singer told Reuters.
The company, which had in December warned of a decline in full-year earnings, did not name the two grocery partners or specify the extent of the cut in orders.
Thorntons makes most of its profit in the first half and the key is to make some in the second half, McEachran said.
British grocers have been suffering due to price deflation, stagnant wage growth and increased competition.
Cash-strapped consumers have been shopping around to save money, shying away from big weekly shops and buying little and often in local convenience stores or online.
Thorntons’ profit before tax and exceptional items fell to 6.5 million pounds in the 28 weeks ended Jan. 10 from 7.2 million pounds a year earlier.
