New Belfast sites in Hotel Chocolat’s biggest-ever store opening programme
As part of its biggest-ever store opening programme, Hotel Chocolat will open new stores in a number of cities, including Belfast.
Amidst its further major investment, the premium chocolatier will launch 25 new stores across the UK next year and new locations will also include sites in Glasgow and market towns across the UK. This creation of Hotel Chocolat’s new high street homes will generate 200 new roles.
Hotel Chocolat is committed to the British manufacturing industry and has agreed to spend a further £10 million to expand its manufacturing plant at Royston, Hertfordshire, creating an additional 50 new jobs.
Commenting on the announcement, Hotel Chocolat CEO and Co-Founder Angus Thirlwell said: “The UK is the home of the Hotel Chocolat brand and we’re committed to investing in the UK high street and British manufacturing.
“Demand for our products is greater than ever and we’re opening stores across the UK allowing us to bring our “more cocoa, less sugar” products to those that love them and bringing our incredible brand experience to life.”
The new locations will open throughout 2025, including a new store in Manchester which will be Hotel Chocolat’s biggest-ever outlet, with over 9,000 square feet across three floors. This flagship store will welcome customers from next year.
Alongside growth in the UK, Hotel Chocolat continues to build its digital business in the US with the much-loved Velvetiser in-home drinking chocolate system now in more than 20,000 US homes.
Thirlwell added: “When we agreed to be majority-acquired by Mars, our cultural values were aligned. We stated that there would be an unwavering commitment to our home in the UK both on the high street and investing in a manufacturing excellence in Britain.”
Hotel Chocolat continues to invest in its ethical and sustainability agenda, driving a better way for cacao farming, one that is positive for nature and positive for farming families. Its Gentle Farming program (which is now in its third year), provides 2,500 farmers in Ghana with on farm support with pruning, provision of fast-growing shade tree saplings and fertiliser application alongside sharing knowledge to improve cacao yield whilst encouraging soil health and biodiversity on farms.
In addition to supporting sustainable farming methods that increase yield, Hotel Chocolat also pays a cash premium for the cacao, above the farmgate price, direct to the farmer. To encourage the next generation of cacao farmers, it also runs a young farmers’ programme supporting them with cacao seedlings, shade trees and under-planting food or cash crops as well as education on farming methods and on-farm advice and support.
