The Hotel Chocolat share price is down today after the company announced it would be closing its stores in the UK. The move comes as a surprise to many, as the company has been doing well in recent years. However, with the current economic climate, it seems that even the luxury chocolate market is not immune to tough times.
While the future of Hotel Chocolat is uncertain, one thing is for sure: there will be a lot fewer happy customers when its doors close for good.
Hotel Chocolat is one of the UK’s most popular chocolate companies. Their share price has been on a steady rise over the past few years, and shows no signs of slowing down. Despite the current economic climate, Hotel Chocolat’s sales continue to grow, thanks to their innovative products and strong branding.
Their chocolates are now available in over 50 countries around the world, and they show no signs of stopping. With a strong future outlook, Hotel Chocolat is a great company to invest in for the long term.
Hotel Chocolat Share Price History
Hotel Chocolat was founded in 1993 by hotelier and chocolatier Angus Thirlwell and his business partner, Peter Harris. The company sells luxury chocolates and other confectionery products through its own stores, mail order, and online. It has over 130 stores across the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas.
Hotel Chocolat is headquartered in Brookeside House in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
The company went public on the London Stock Exchange in May 2016 with an initial public offering (IPO) that valued the company at £447 million (US$594 million). As of March 2019, the company had a market capitalisation of £811 million (US$1.06 billion).
In its early years, Hotel Chocolat focused on selling its products through mail order catalogues. It began opening stores in 2004 and now has over 130 locations across the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas. The company’s store concept is based on a “chocolate library” where customers can try before they buy.
Customers can also create their own boxes of chocolates using a personalised service available in-store or online.
Hotel Chocolat’s product range includes chocolate bars and boxes of chocolates as well as hot chocolate drinks, coffee, tea , cake , ice cream , biscuits , preserves , wines , liqueurs all made with cocoa beans from their Saint Lucian plantation . The company sources Fairtrade -certified cocoa for some of its products.
In 2017/18, 46% of the cocoa used by Hotel Chocolat was sourced from their own plantations .
Angus Thirlwell is the majority shareholder with a 51% stake; he owns 31% outright with the remaining 20% held indirectly via trusts . Peter Harris owns 16%; he sold part of his stake to institutional investors prior to IPO .
Other shareholders include private equity firm L Catterton (9%), which acquired a minority stake following IPO; management & staff (8%) ; Schroders PLC asset management arm Through its fund Schroder UK Mid Cap Growth Fund LLP(5%); Hargreave Hale Ltd(2%)and retail investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown Plc(1%).
Credit: www.businessweekly.co.uk
Is Hotel Chocolat on the Stock Market?
Hotel Chocolat is not on the stock market. The company is privately owned by its co-founders, Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris. Hotel Chocolat has been profitable since 2002 and has grown steadily through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
In 2015, Hotel Chocolat was valued at £500 million.
Is Hotc a Buy?
HOTC is a buy for several reasons. First, the company has strong fundamentals. The company is profitable and growing quickly.
Second, HOTC has a great management team. The CEO is experienced and has a proven track record of success. Third, HOTC has a large market opportunity.
The company’s products are in high demand and there is room for growth in the market. Finally, HOTC’s stock is undervalued. The stock trades at a discount to its peers and to its own history.
For these reasons, we believe that HOTC is a buy.
Who is the Owner of Hotel Chocolat?
Hotel Chocolat is a British chocolatier and cocoa grower, founded in 1983 by Peter Harris and Angus Thirlwell. The company has its headquarters in Brookeside Park, Dorset. It also has stores across the United Kingdom, as well as in France, Sweden, Denmark and Ireland.
The company was started with £5,000 of personal savings from Harris and Thirlwell. The name “Hotel Chocolat” was chosen to reflect the luxurious image of chocolate that they wanted to create. Their first store opened in London’s Fulham Road in 2004.
In 2005, Hotel Chocolat had a turnover of £12 million. This increased to £32 million by 2008. By 2009, the company employed over 400 people.
In 2010, Hotel Chocolat launched an online service called “The Chocolate Tasting Club”. This offers members monthly deliveries of chocolates which have been specially selected by Angus Thirlwell and his team. The club now has over 60,000 members.
In 2011, Hotel Chocolat opened its first overseas store in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Is Hotel Chocolat a Plc?
Yes, Hotel Chocolat is a plc. A public limited company is a type of limited company that offers shares to the public. This means that anyone can buy shares in the company, but there are some restrictions on who can become a shareholder.
For example, in order to become a shareholder, you must be 18 years old or older and have a valid UK passport or other ID.
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Conclusion
Hotel Chocolat, a chocolatier based in the United Kingdom, has seen its share price jump by nearly 50% since March 2020. The company attributed the surge in demand for its products to the coronavirus pandemic as people sought comfort in food during lockdown. While other businesses have struggled during the pandemic, Hotel Chocolat has thrived, thanks to its strong online presence and ability to adapt its business model.
The company is now well-positioned to continue growing in the years ahead.
