Satisfactory Easter for Thorntons, to top full year forecasts

Chocolate retailer Thorntons said that its key Easter trading period has been satisfactory and now expects full year pre-tax profit to be ahead of current market expectations.

"When combined with similarly satisfactory results from both Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, the board now anticipates that the pre-exceptional profit before tax for the 52 weeks to June 2013 29th will be ahead of the current market expectation of £3.1m," it said in a company update.

"However, we remain cautious of the prevailing economy and its continuing impact on consumer expenditure," it added.

Thorntons, which will provide a further update on trading at the end of April, has managed to turnaround melting profits by moving away from its high street focus and turning its attention to its commercial arm, which supplies supermarkets.

CJ