When people think about luxury chocolate in this country, Thorntons will be one of the first
chocolatiers to spring to mind. Thorntons is one of the best-loved confectionery producers in the
country and also a brand with a fascinating history to discover.
Chocolate History
In order to understand the legacy of Thorntons, you first need to go back around 4,000 years ago in the Americas. It was here that the cacao bean was first discovered and used by ancient tribes like the Aztecs and Mayans that would eat the bean to give them strength – the Aztecs also believed that the bean came from paradise and would give people wisdom. The Aztecs would turn the beans into a hot chocolate drink, and it would later be brought back to Europe by the Spanish conquistadors in the 1500’s.
European Developments
Chocolate soon became a thing of luxury in Europe after the Spanish tried replacing the chilli used by the Aztecs with cane sugar to improve the taste. This is how chocolate began to take the form that is known and loved today and would much later lead to the formation of Thornton’s in 1911. Travelling confectioner Joseph William Thornton decided to set up shop in Sheffield with this son, Norton, who he told to “make this the best sweet shop in town”.
The Best Sweet Shop in Town
Norton managed to do this, and the shop became so popular that he brought on his brother Stanley to help. Together, they developed a reputation for unique sweet treats like ‘Violet Cachous’ and ‘Phul-Nanas’ and in the 20s started to make gorgeous handmade truffles, crystallised fondants and the famous Thorntons toffee.
A Long Journey
It has been a whirlwind journey since these early days and Thorntons has risen to become a much- loved chocolatier all over the UK. While they have come a long way since a single humble shop in Sheffield, they have retained their core values throughout which are only using the finest cacao beans to make their products as well as having a love for chocolate and a passion for their craft. Sadly, the Thorntons family suffered a loss at the start of 2021 with Tony Thornton, the former chairman who helped set up the Derbyshire factory, passing away at the age of 91.
Thorntons is still going strong today thanks to their high-quality and varied products, including delicious Easter eggs which are always popular at this time of the year. It is hard to imagine what the UK would be like without a love of chocolate and Thorntons have certainly played a huge role in developing this over the years thanks to their passion and craft.