Chocolate retailer feels the heat

AUTUMN cannot come soon enough for Thorntons, which is still suffering the profit-melting effects of what it describes as 'the hottest summer since 1976'.

The chocolate retailer on Tuesday reported 'very disappointing' pre-tax profits for the year to 28 June, down 10% at £6.4m. It was scorched by remarkably warm weather over two key trading seasons - Easter and Father's Day.

Despite a big push into ice-cream, like-for-like sales fell almost 2% in July and August.

Chief executive Peter Burden is convinced the problems of 2003 will prove a 'temporary setback'. The interim dividend is pegged at 6.8p.