Warm summer weather and lower demand for corporate and retail courtesy gifts have hit Thorntons , the high-street confectioner, in its final quarter, although the company said profits would beat expectations. Sales fell 2.7 per cent to £27.9m in the 10 weeks to June 27, with own-store sales falling 1.6 per cent on a like-for-like basis.

The company said this year’s hotter weather had lowered demand for its chocolates. A slower fourth quarter, which accounts for 13 per cent of total annual sales, did not prevent it from boosting full-year sales by 3.2 per cent.