Iconic Sheffield brand Thorntons has decided to shut all 60 of its retail stores. However, a local independently owned ‘Thorntons’ has announced that they won’t shut up shop.
Cardzone Thorntons in Doncaster confirmed it would be staying open after the shocking closure of the high street brand to the pleasure of the locals.
The store will continue to stay open because it has been an independently run family business for several years now, despite stocking Thorntons chocolates and sharing their name.
The owner of the store said: “Thorntons have announced sadly that they are closing all of their retail stores with immediate effect due to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on their business.
“We would like to take this opportunity to reassure all of our valued and loyal customers that we are not owned by Thorntons and that we are a family run, independent business so this will not affect us we will not be closing our store.
“We will also continue to stock Thorntons chocolates. We look forward to seeing customers old and new in a Covid safe environment when we reopen.”
Thorntons, which was founded in Sheffield in 1912, will begin focusing on the online side of its business after its closure putting 603 jobs at risk.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the business said: “Like many companies, we have been operating for a long time in a tough and challenging retail environment.
We have been committed to transforming and growing a successful Thorntons retail estate; this has included significant investments to open new format stores and cafes and ensuring we had stores in the right location.
Despite our best efforts, we have taken the difficult decision to go into full consultation to start the permanent closure of our retail store estate”