June 28, 2011 4.03 pm This story is over 152 months old

Lincoln Thorntons faced with closure

Bitter-sweet: Seven jobs are at risk at the Lincoln Thorntons stores, as the company prepares to shut stores across the country.

Seven jobs are at risk at Thorntons stores in Lincoln, as the company announced 180 possible shop closures over the next three years.

Lincoln has two Thorntons stores that could face closure; the first of opened in 1997 on the High Street, with the second following in Cornhill.

Thorntons is set to close 120 stores UK-wide, with the possibility of another 60.

The chocolate-maker, which has been in operation for 100 years, directly owns 364 stores and is closing the stores in at attempt to rebalance the organisation.

The company is looking to expand its online sales and also said it wanted its sales to become less dependent on seasonal events such as Easter and Christmas.

Jonathan Hart, Thorntons’ Chief Executive, commented “Thorntons is a strong, trusted and highly valuable brand with excellent potential.

“Our goal is to refocus the business across all channels and seek to deliver industry competitive returns over the next three to five years.

“Although we see the prospect of weakness in High Street footfall and consumer sentiment continuing, I am confident that this strategy is right.

“We continue to adapt in order to meet the changing needs of our customers, while at the same time retaining our current presence on the High Street through our Own Stores and our Franchise business.”