Kenton Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 This is some of the stuff currently working its way through my internal systemI feel an addiction developing ... theobromine high Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Thornton's own website confirms my own (often skatty) memory http://www.thorntons.co.uk/content.jsp?pageName=100_years_of_thorntons But I remember tm from the late 1950's note "into" rather than "in" implies a merger/takover or some other buy out. So perhaps they need to rework that page. Even if still independent they have long gone downhill as they tried to please a wider market of possibly less discerning taste. A business only does this by increasing production runs or making products that compete with the mass market Cadbury's/Nestle/Mars of the world. A potential lowering of ingredient quality, maybe as profit becomes the goal, but I'd rather suspect it is simply the move to a "sweetie" market taste and popular appeal. I actually believe that all chocolates have gone down this route as food in general has gone for the sweet tooth and sugar gets added in great excess to everything we eat to make it more appealing for the masses. It should read 'sold in' not 'into'; there's no mention in any reports I've seen of them being even partially taken over by Sainsbury's. Prior to selling in the big supermarkets, they had supplied M&S with selection boxes for some time, under M&S's own label. If you want to see a poorly-written (and presented) piece, this 'essay' on Thorntons merits a glance.:- http://dodohelp.com/index.php/financial-strategy-of-thorntons-plc Don't read whilst eating or drinking, as keyboards are difficult to clean.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 I feel an addiction developing ... I do hope it's a tax-efficient one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Thanks, Brian - at least that clears that one up. I was convinced that they had been taken over or helped out (perhaps that was in investor group buy in mentioned earlier) Still doesn't make me any happier, or convinced, what many of us here seem to believe about their product decline. If that reflects population at large or is just a biased model railway sample, it doesn't bode well for their future. Of course tastes do change, and perhaps they will move their marketing strategy back to being more exclusive and up-market taste? Or perhaps they will go down the same Nestle drain as Cadbury. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted June 2, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 2, 2015 Archer Road, Sheffield, tours round the factory, eat as much as you liked, take a big bag home as well, aaaah, jumpers for goalposts moment. Thanks Dave. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted June 4, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 4, 2015 Aft'noon all, Trying one or two very mediocre chocolates from a 'Thornton's Classic' box today after a number of years without eating them, I was reminded of the period when this brand was family owned and set a high standard. The small white box of 'Belgian' chocolates...some with fresh cream....from their range, being my favourite in the early 1990s. Has anyone else noticed how ordinary this brand has become? I did hear that they were bought out at some point. Dave Hmm, have they been taken over by Kraft as well then - sounds very much the style of that pack of brand ruiners. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71 Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 .....certainly appears that you can only please either those who enjoy the best chocolate experience, or the shareholders....but not both Mike. I won't be wasting any cash on Thorntons products. Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Saunders Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I tend to agree that they have just became another box on the shelves rather than when they had their own shops and it was a pick your own to fill the box size of your choice! Their was an excitement/enigma going into a proper Thorntons shop and seeing the range of Chocolates available, it was on a par with a shopping at Fenwicks in Newcastle! Or is it; old age is clouding our memory of what was good or have the others raised their game,(look at the current Bachmann and Hornby offering and compare with ten/fifteen years ago)! Mark Saunders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71 Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 ....not old age Mark....just another instance of beancounters wrecking brands for profit. However, there is decent chocolate to had elsewhere. Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted June 4, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 4, 2015 I quite like Hotel Chocolate, they seem to find a decent line between accessibility and quality and I like there macho milk bar which is a nice half way house between milk and dark chocolate, being stronger flavoured but not full on dark. I actually love the really strong dark chocolate like 80% and above but I do like good milk chocolate too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
runs as required Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Isn't Hotel posh? I'm addicted to Leedle and often Choceur dark choc with whole hazelnuts about £1 a pack. dhig Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted June 4, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 4, 2015 Hotel Chocolate is pretty pricey but for occasional treats they are nice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted June 4, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 4, 2015 Ahh I remember until three years ago having Chococo just out the back door in Swanage they're still there and fortunately we still pop down to friends frequently. Huge variety from basic moulded chocs to all sorts of handmade specials. Hidden away right in the middle of the one way system and about 200 yds from the station Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Hotel Chocolate is pretty pricey but for occasional treats they are nice. It's OK, but to please my ladies these days Heston's is the preferred choice. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
runs as required Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I was amused by the guy last week who faked a research 'study' about eating chocolate as a weight loss diet - and a whole lot of papers printed it without checking any of the'facts' dhig Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 ....a whole lot of papers printed it without checking any of the'facts'... Not exactly uncommon in today's journalism. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Not exactly uncommon in today's journalism. There was a similarily well researched report on statins in yesterday's 'Daily Neurotic'... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 There was a similarily well researched report on statins in yesterday's 'Daily Neurotic'... To be honest, with a hereditary heart problem in the family, there's a fairly good chance I won't be around in two years' time despite the statins. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kickstart Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Hi Thortons used to be great, but I am another where they just seem like another basic box of chocolates these days. If you have a local shop then some of the individual ones are still good. These days Hotel seem to be in the market that Thortons have moved down from. All the best K Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Looks like Thorntons may be passing into the hands of the Italian chocolate makers of Nutella and Ferrero Rocher; http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/06/22/uk-thorntons-m-a-idUKKBN0P20L220150622 At least there'll be a wider choice of chocolates at the next Ambassadors reception I attend. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 At least there'll be a wider choice of chocolates at the next Ambassadors reception I attend. But it will make a change from the Nutella spread on the cucumber sandwiches. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Looks like Thorntons may be passing into the hands of the Italian chocolate makers of Nutella and Ferrero Rocher; http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/06/22/uk-thorntons-m-a-idUKKBN0P20L220150622 At least there'll be a wider choice of chocolates at the next Ambassadors reception I attend. But it will make a change from the Nutella spread on the cucumber sandwiches. They're really spoiling themselves Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatofludham Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 For me the most exquisite chocolates are from Neuhaus of Belgium. I discovered them when I went to a conference in Brussels in the early 90s, and a couple of years later managed to get another year's supply whilst changing planes at Brussels airport. Nowadays they are available in the UK and online, still pricey but really good. In a way the internet has slightly robbed us of that sense of discovery and rarity when you couldn't get everything on-line so had to go somewhere to find new stuff. When you could only get Neuhaus in Belgium it was something special, involving travel and a sense of adventure. Nowadays, with mail order, they lose that special cachet. It's a bit like Uncle Joes Mintballs. When I first discovered them you couldn't get them loose over the counter much further south than Hanley Market. In fact you couldn't get the tins south of the Potteries apart from Harrods. Now, they are more widespread in tins and available on line. Still nice and possibly not that widely known outside the north-west but just that little bit less exclusive. Going completely off topic regarding regional culinary rarities, apparently that Black Country speciality the Battered "Orange" Chip has made it to Barmouth. Previously largely confined to the Walsall-Wolverhampton-Dudley triangle they are now being served in the former Arousal Café in Barmouth . Haven't tried them yet as they crucify me with raging heartburn but I might give them a try to see if they are proper orange. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 I wonder if the employees and, possibly more important, the franchisees are so keen as the shareholders on that offer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Unfortunately as a fat diabetic I can't eat (much) chocolate. I can understand people finding Lidl/Aldi choc good because when my Dad was working in Germany in the 60's and 70's he brought home bars of German choc and they were wonderful, especially the plain stuff. Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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