Thorntons chocolate and confectionery

Thorntons is a prominent British chocolate brand with a heritage dating back to 1911 when Joseph William Thornton opened his first shop in Sheffield. The brand became famous for its Continental selection and Special Toffee, establishing itself as a staple of the British high street for over a century.

In 2015, the brand was acquired by the Italian confectionery giant Ferrero, signaling a new chapter for the company. While the brand closed its physical retail stores in the UK in 2021 to focus on online and supermarket distribution, its primary manufacturing facility remains in Alfreton, Derbyshire. Today, Thorntons operates as a key part of Ferrero's global portfolio, maintaining its British identity while benefiting from the scale of its Italian parent company.