UK chocolatier Thorntons traded strongly throughout its first quarter, growing sales by 2.3 per cent to £46.8 million.
Thorntons' own store sales increased by 1.9 per cent to £27.1 million with like for like sales growth of 1.3 per cent.
Despite the growth in own store sales, franchise sales declined by 15.2 per cent as a result of Birthday, which operated 94 franchises, going into administration in May 2009.
Thorntons Direct sales increased by 2.4 per cent to £1.1 million. Sales growth is expected to increase when the company's the new website goes live this week.
Thorntons' CEO Mike Davies, said the results were satisfactory, given the comparative period included both Woolworths and Birthdays as customers.
"We are in the process of adding several products to our offering and have just launched the new Christmas range in our stores. We continue to innovate and improve our performance which puts us in a good position ahead of our key Christmas trading period," Davis said.