Hotel Chocolat CEO Counting on U.K. Cafe Culture to Spur Growth
- Company will open more cafes as Brits spend on experiences
- Shares rise after company reports annual sales growth of 12%
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Hotel Chocolat Group Ltd., the British luxury chocolate retailer, wants to expand its line of cafes to serve up indulgent treats to a broader audience of U.K. shoppers.
Chief Executive Officer Angus Thirlwell plans to devote more of the company’s resources to developing the Hotel Chocolat brand and consumer experiences, such as cafes, rather than into the chain’s retail stores. The company currently operates seven cafes, with two more scheduled to open next week, and so far their performance has surpassed expectations.