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.

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).