The Mars-owned chocolate retailer and café chain is set to re-enter the US with two stores in Chicago and has announced plans for 25 new UK outlets by the end of the year
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The interior of a Hotel Chocolat store in Chichester, UK | Photo credit: Hotel Chocolat
Premium chocolate and coffee retailer Hotel Chocolat is set to relaunch in the US and expand its UK footprint this year.
Hotel Chocolat, acquired by US confectionery giant Mars for £534m ($679m) in January 2024, has announced it will open two stores in Chicago in March 2025. The retailer previously operated five stores in New York but exited the US market in July 2022 to focus on its more profitable UK business.
The Hertfordshire-based business is also seeking to bolster its UK presence with 25 new stores in its home market across the next 12 months. Hotel Chocolat currently operates 147 UK locations, 68 of which include a Hotel Chocolat café.
Its in-store beverage menu includes a range of hot chocolates, coffee and chocolate shakes, with the sites also selling ice cream and cakes.
Hotel Chocolat’s expansion plans come after it posted a 10.4% year-on-year increase in group sales during the four weeks ended 29 December 2024 – an improvement the premium chocolate and coffee retailer attributed to a 33% year-on-year rise in café sales.
“This Christmas was our most successful to date and testament to the dedication of our manufacturing-distributing and retailing teams in particular. Despite consumers continuing to feel the pinch, they went for quality this Christmas and we posted strong sales across our accessible price points,” said Angus Thirlwell, Founder and CEO.
Hotel Chocolat also operates 11 stores in Japan, all of which operate in-store cafés, as part of a joint venture with Tokyo-based Eat Creator. Hotel Chocolat holds 20% equity in the venture.
The premium chocolate and coffee retailer’s announcements come just a week after UK competitor Knoops announced robust Christmas trading and confirmed plans for a US launch later this year. Led by CEO William Gordon-Harris, the chain currently operates 24 UK sites alongside a single international outlet in Dubai, UAE and plans to open 16 new stores in its home market before the end of 2025.