Knoops revenues jump 67% to £4.43m in FY23
The chocolate company will now press ahead with its 12 month pipeline of an additional 20 openings from April 2024
Knoops, the retailer of crafted chocolate drinks, has reported a revenue increase of 67% to £4.43m for the year ended on 30 September.
Operating EBITDA for the group was up 206% to £269k, compared with £87k in 2022.
Online sales were also up 48% on a like-for-like basis, with 63% generated from Knoops website. Knoops reported 39% LFL increase in cold drinks sales for the year, with a peak of 101% in July.
During FY23, the store estate expanded to nine, with three new store openings.
For the past six months of the year, revenue was up 90% to £3.3m, compared with £1.74m for the same period in 2022. Operating EBITDA was up 433% to £192k.
Current trading continues to be “strong”, with chocolate flake sales more than doubling up 139% YTD.
Looking ahead, Knoops is planning to more than double in size in 2024 following an £8.3m fundraising in November this year which leaves the business debt-free and positioned for higher profits in FY24.
The business will now press ahead with its 12 month pipeline of an additional 20 openings from April 2024, targeting major cities and university towns, with medium-term domestic ambitions for 200 stores across the UK.
The company has plans to expand internationally and believes it has the ability to pass 3,000 stores around the world by 2030.
William Gordon-Harris, executive chairman and CEO of Knoops, said: “These are hugely exciting times for Knoops, and our financial performance illustrates the outstanding growth that we are achieving as our stores continue to showcase the joy of drinking chocolate throughout the year with customers of all ages. In only four years we’ve gone from our original site in Rye to being selected as the brand partner of choice for Wonka, one of the biggest films of the year.
“We’re well placed for our best Christmas ever with record sales throughout November, continuing into December. Black Friday was our best online sales day ever, and sales of our hot chocolate selection box are significantly up on last year in recent weeks and likely to sell out.”
Gordon-Harris added: “Looking ahead, 2024 is already shaping up to be another exceptionally successful year for us. The whole team is fully engaged and ready for the challenge and it’s such an exciting place to be.”