Hotel Chocolat has recorded its “most successful Christmas to date”, as it prepares to expand in the UK and the US this year.

For the four weeks to 29 December, the premium chocolatier saw sales rise 10.4% year-on-year, bolstered by its busiest shopping days online and in-store on 21 and 23 December.

Hotel Chocolat founder and global CEO Angus Thirlwell said: “Despite consumers continuing to feel the pinch, they went for quality this Christmas and we posted strong sales across our accessible price points from the £5.95 Chocolate-filled Table Cracker right up to our £200 Velvetiser Experience Hamper.”

Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free

Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning

The positive trading coincides with Hotel Chocolat’s UK expansion, launching 25 new stores this year, including its most expansive outlet in Manchester this spring, with approximately 6,000 square feet across two floors. The new stores will generate around 200 new roles across the year.

It also comes as the business prepares to open its first two stores in Chicago this spring, as its US digital business continues to grow at pace.

Thirlwell added: “These initial stores are being fitted out as we speak. Our US store opening plan will combine with our existing digital channel to tell our brand story and underpin what makes us different.

“It’s fascinating to see what our US Velvetiser-owning families went for compared to the UK families: in the US Mint 70% Dark and Maple Pecan hot chocolates were top performers, whereas for the UK Mince Pie and Salted Caramel & Clementine over-indexed”.