Grief, £1 a year ago (Dec 2010, and that was a discount!) _DYOR - and now a shadow of that.

- perhaps they should introduce the Exploding chocco - these contain a small amount of TNT and although it's only a small amount, it can practically blow your head off, so you are left speechless, at least until the sinues manage to flip your skull back and normality is restored.

Not sure that a Yield of 6% will last much longer . . . . is there oodles of debt?

News of inferior profits sent stock down 38% - give me some of those new sweetmeats.
EDIT (23Jan2012)...jump up 38% today....MM's playing Buys/Sells about evens.

May be worth a punt in January going by last three years above. Xmas sales, Valentines Day. Results if same as last year end of March and Easter 5th April. You would like to think they should be selling chocolate over these periods. GF maybe got his timing a bit early (wrong) :0)

Profit warning

Thorntons sees FY earnings lower year-on-year

StockMarketWire.com

Thorntons expects a case of more bitter than sweet as its board anticipates FY earnings to be below those achieved for the last financial year.

It said its UK Commercial channel within its FMCG division has faced challenges which have adversely affected its sales performance in the run up to Christmas. However, the Retail division was experiencing like-for-like sales growth.

"Against a strong comparative period last year, the Board now anticipates a decline in sales in the UK Commercial channel for the second quarter of the current financial year," it said.

During the first half there have been two principal challenges. We have recently experienced a significant reduction in previously indicated orders from the major grocers who also took in stock later than anticipated.

"While there has been an overall decline, the performance in the grocers has been mixed with good growth in several of our major partners yet significant volume decline in some others where prior year sales of high-volume lines have not been repeated. We have also seen good growth in the convenience and high street sectors," the company said in a statement.

"Secondly, despite extensive prior testing, we encountered significant short-term difficulties with our new centralised warehouse which resulted in disruption for all our customers. In particular in our UK Commercial channel we experienced lost and late sales with consequent missed promotional slots and reorders.

"Our warehousing and distribution facility is now working normally. The move to a centralised warehouse was essential to meet current and future business patterns and growth. This will result in improved capacity and quality of service for our customers in the future."

Timely management action has resulted in good control of costs and stocks. Christmas seasonal specialities have sold well and no significant excess seasonal stock is anticipated.

The Board remains confident in its strategy, multi-channel approach and ongoing transformation. A further trading update will be issued on 19 January 2015.

what i have posted earlier seems to have been borne out

Yep hit taken, got out quick but a dent in the xmas pile I have made. Not to worry should have made it back by lunch time.

Forget and move on to the next thing.

Unlucky gf on my watch list for the New Year.

as always, impossible to get out (or in) before sp had been marked down heftily

Trading Statement

Thorntons today reports its second quarter trading update, including a strong Retail performance which is in contrast to disappointing UK Commercial sales within our FMCG division. As announced on 23 December 2014, these were a consequence of challenges experienced in a couple of major grocers combined with short-term difficulties at our new centralised warehouse.

The Retail division experienced strong like-for-like sales growth of 5.0% for the quarter as shopper demand for Thorntons' inlaid boxes, seasonal specialities and advent calendars all contributed to an encouraging season culminating in an outstanding 7.8% increase in like-for-like sales during December (1st - 24th), highlighting the strength of our brand and product offering.

FMCG Division
Divisional sales decreased by 10.3% to £41.9 million.
§ UK Commercial sales declined by 10.5%. Overall market share of Christmas* declined to 7.3% from 8.4%, the majority of which was driven by the challenges outlined above.
§ International sales increased by 19.0%.

Retail Division
Divisional sales declined by 2.4% to £44.9 million.
§ Four stores were closed and two relocated as we right size our retail estate to focus on long-term sustainable locations. This resulted in 247 Own Stores at the end of the quarter.
§ Like-for-like sales increased by 5.0%.
§ Consumer Direct sales increased by 13.0%.
§ Franchise sales declined by 6.4%.

Investec Buy 80.75 79.00 168.00 94.00 Reiterates

Half Yearly Report

Financial Highlights

· Revenues £128.2 million (2014: £139.7 million)
· Profit before tax and exceptional items £6.5 million (2014: £7.2 million)
· EBIT margin 6.4% (2014: 6.2%)
· Basic EPS 7.2 pence (2014: 7.8 pence)
· Cash generated from operations £10.7 million (2014: £13.0 million)
· Exceptional items before tax £nil (2014: £1.0 million)

Operational Highlights

· FMCG division sales declined 11.2% to £62.7 million (2014: £70.6 million)
o UK Commercial sales declined 12.4% to £54.7 million (2014: £62.4 million):
- Good growth in many grocery, convenience and high street accounts offset by underperformance in two key accounts
- Grew market share in Seasonal Specialities to 7.3% (2014: 6.4%)
o International sales grew 19.9% to £5.4 million (2014: £4.5 million)

· Retail division reported 2.2% continued like-for-like growth (2014: 2.1%)
o Outstanding Christmas with December like for like sales growth of 7.8%
o On track to close around 20 stores during the financial year, towards creating a sustainable store portfolio of between 180 and 200 stores
o Consumer Direct sales increased 11.4% to £4.5 million (2014: £4.1 million)
o Franchise sales decreased 12.0% to £4.5 million (2014: £5.1 million).

StockMarketWire.com
Thorntons said a 145p a share cash offer by Ferrero International has been recommended by both companies' boards. The deal values Thorntons at about £111.9 million. The offer would be made by Ferholding UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Ferrero.

Ferholding has today acquired the entire holding of Crystal Amber, the entire holdings of John von Spreckelsen (and his wife) and part of the holding of Hotchkis & Wiley in Thorntons at the Offer Price.

These holdings together total 18,707,841 Thorntons Shares, representing approximately 27.14 per cent. of the issued share capital of Thorntons as at the date of this announcement.

Ferholding has also today acquired the entire holdings of certain of the Thorntons Directors who hold Thorntons Shares (being Paul Wilkinson and Jonathan Hart) and the majority of the holding of Michael Killick, another Thorntons Director, at the Offer Price.

Ferholding has also acquired the Shares held by Jonathan Hart's wife and children. These holdings together total 1,901,800 Thorntons Shares, representing approximately 2.76 per cent. of the issued share capital of Thorntons as at the date of this announcement.

Ferholding therefore owns 29.90 per cent. of the total issued share capital of Thorntons as at the date of this announcement.

In addition, Ferholding has received irrecovable undertakings to accept or procure the acceptance of the Offer from Hotchkis & Wiley in respect of its remaining 2,921,411 Thorntons Shares, representing approximately 4.24 per cent. of the issued share capital of Thorntons as at the date of this announcement.

Ferholding has also received irrevocable undertakings to accept or procure the acceptance of the Offer at the Offer Price in respect of the holdings of certain other of the Thorntons Directors (being Diana Houghton, Barry Bloomer and Martin George) who hold Thorntons Shares.

These holdings together total 155,084 Thorntons Shares, representing approximately 0.22 per cent. of the issued share capital of Thorntons as at the date of this announcement.

In aggregate, therefore, Ferholding holds or has received irrevocable undertakings to accept or procure the acceptance of the Offer in respect of 23,686,136 Thorntons Shares, representing approximately 34.36 per cent. of the issued share capital of Thorntons as at the date of this announcement, including those holdings of the Thorntons Directors (and/or those of their close family as relevant).