Chairman John von Spreckelsen has spent almost £23,000 on shares in Thorntons a week after the chocolate seller said sales rose 6.4% in the 14 weeks to 4 October.
New store openings and rising telephone and internet orders rose 7.6%, but corporate business declined. The firm reported total sales of to £45.7m and an increase in like for like sales of 0.9%.
Former chairman of supermarket chain Somerfield and boss of Budgens, von Spreckelsen bought 20,000 shares at 113.8p each, taking his stake in Thorntons to 750,000, or 1.1% of the company.
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The shares, which have almost halved in the past 12 months, bucked up at the end of last month following a 19.6% increase in full year profit despite tougher market conditions.
In the 52 weeks ended 28 June 2008 profit before tax rose to £8.5m from £7.1m the year before. Revenue rose 11.9% to £208.1m after the retailer improved product lines and increased prices.
Analysts had expected the specialist chocolate and toffee maker to report profits of around £8.23m. Sales were in line with forecasts.
Top Director Buys
Trading Emissions (TRE)
Director name: Mr Malcom Gillies
Amount purchased: 45,000 @ 110.80p
Value: £49,860
IDOX (IDOX)
Director name: Mr Martin Brooks
Amount purchased: 300,000 @ 10.00p
Value: £30,000
Ceramic Fuel Cells (CFU)
Director name: Mr Jeff Harding
Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 10.34p
Value: £10,340
Thorntons (THT)
Director name: Mr John Von Spreckelsen
Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 113.80p
Value: £22,760
Uruguay Mineral Exploration (UGY)
Director name: Mr Tony Shearer
Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 29.69p
Value: £5,938
Rusina Mining NL (RMLA)
Director name: Mr Robert Gordon Mathews Gregory
Amount purchased: 182,765 @ 2.54p
Value: £4,642
Top Director Sells
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH)
Director name: Mr Ian Page
Amount sold: 14,337 @ 400.00p
Value: £57,348
Xchanging (XCH)
Director name: Mr Gary Whitaker
Amount sold: 20,000 @ 248.00p
Value: £49,600
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH)
Director name: Mr E T W Torr
Amount sold: 9,421 @ 400.00p
Value: £37,684
Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH)
Director name: Mr M Annice
Amount sold: 7,578 @ 400.00p
Value: £30,312
Arawak Energy (AAK)
Director name: Mr Michael Volcko
Amount sold: 40,000 @ 29.03p
Value: £11,612
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