Hotel Chocolat Group PLC’s (LON:HOTC) Velvetiser hot chocolate maker kept sales bounding ahead in its latest six months.
The posh chocolatier has been selling the ‘Velvetiser’ as a loss-leader but expects a long-term return as customers come back for the refills.
Sales of the drinks maker climbed 200% and a range of new flavours have been introduced including Tasmanian Mint, Habanero Chilli, and Maple & Pecan
Revenue overall rose 14% to £91mln in the six months to December with profit before tax up 7% to £15mln while there was a boost from soaring membership of its VIP scheme, which now tops 1.1mln members.
READ: Hotel Chocolat to boost international expansion in 2020
The AIM-listed group continued to expand both in the UK and internationally in the half-year, with nine new locations at home, two in the US and three in Japan.
Management said the performance of the recent additions is “encouraging” and there is a “future pipeline” of similar potential locations.
Cash in the bank was 9% higher at £24mln but the interim dividend was held flat at 0.6p per share.
Shares jumped 9% to 420.5p on Tuesday at the opening bell.