What is "thorntons"

Thorntons is a British chocolate company established by Joseph William Thornton in 1911 and owned by Ferrero SpA since 2015. Turnover in its annual report of 2013 was reported at £221 million with 249 shops and 186 franchises together with internet, mail order and commercial services. When Cadburys became part of a non-confectionery specific group, Thorntons became the largest confectionery-only parent corporation in the United Kingdom; while it retains a minority of sales of its established toffee and fudge, the group shifted its specialism, after post-war rationing ended, into chocolate and developed wide Continental, Swiss and Belgian chocolate ranges which (alongside novelties and decoration) form the bulk its sales. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE Fledgling Index. While cutting back on its high street presence, sales and production have increased and a small minority of its shops have started afresh or diversified to become cafés. In June 2015 Thorntons was bought by Ferrero SpA for £112m.