Chocolatier Thorntons issued a profits warning today as it blamed the record temperatures in April for a meltdown in Easter sales.

The company said the hot weather put customers off buying chocolate and saw same-store sales plunge 23 per cent over the crucial Easter week.

Thorntons said it now expects pre-tax profits to be between £3 million and £4.5 million for the year to June 25th, compared with £6.1 million the previous year.

City analysts previously expected earnings for this financial year to be around £6 million.

The warning comes as supermarkets step up promotions and discounts on chocolate Easter eggs and as cocoa and sugar prices continue to soar, piling pressure on smaller stores.

Reuters