Chocolate Chain Thorntons to Close UK Stores, 600 Jobs at Risk

Chocolate Chain Thorntons to Close UK Stores, 600 Jobs at Risk
Customers shop at Thorntons chocolate shop on Oxford Street in London, on Jan. 11, 2012. Luke MacGregor/Reuters
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LONDON—Thorntons, the 110-year-old British chocolatier and retailer, said on Monday it would permanently close all 61 UK stores, putting 603 jobs at risk, blaming the impact of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

Multiple lockdowns in Britain have heaped pressure on store-based retailers already struggling with tight margins and intense competition from purely online players.