Hotel Chocolat FY revenues up 12%; New year starts in line

(ShareCast News) - Posh sweet outfit Hotel Chocolat said full year revenues were up 12% to £92.6m, slightly ahead of expectations.In a trading statement, it added that revenues from its "digital retail channel" were up 20% and trading since the end of the full year continued to be in line with management's expectations."Since the Company's admission to trading on AIM in May 2016, the new store opening programme has continued to progress well, with one new store opened in Sheffield on 9 May, with a further four new stores expected to open later this year. Of note during the period since IPO, the Group's new Father's Day campaign 'Better than Socks' performed particularly well," the company said."Capital projects, notably the increase in manufacturing capacity at the Group's facility near Cambridge, are on schedule and within budget. The Board maintains focus on its operating margins and tight cost control across all aspects of the business."Angus Thirlwell, co-Founder and chief executive said: "Hotel Chocolat has had a good start as a listed company, with pleasing growth slightly above expectations. We remain confident in our strategy. Our plans to invest further in our British chocolate manufacturing operations, in new stores, and in our digital offering are all progressing well."