Thorntons will still be available in Andover despite the chocolate company closing 61 stores across the county.

As a franchise, the company’s outlet in Tip Top Balloons, located on Union Street, is not affected by these closures.

Dave Stanbridge, the owner of the store, told the Advertiser that his franchise is safe “but changes will be made” in future. He doesn’t yet know what this might entail.

Thorntons was founded in Sheffield in 1911, and was a staple of many high streets across the country. In 2015, it was bought by the chocolate company Ferrero for £112 million.

The company was in the midst of a £45 million investment programme, which saw new-format stores and cafes open, when the pandemic struck, which threw it off course.

While the Andover branch will remain open, stores across the country owned by Thorntons will close under yesterday’s announcement. 61 will close, with 603 jobs at risk.

The company will now focus on online sales, and supplying its products to other stores. There will also be a focus on overseas expansion.

Adam Goddard, retail director at Thorntons, said: “Changing dynamics of the high street, shifting customer behaviour to online, the ongoing impact of Covid-19 and the numerous lockdown restrictions over the last year – especially during our key trading periods at Easter and Christmas – has meant we have been trading in the most challenging circumstances.

“Unfortunately, like many others, the obstacles we have faced and will continue to face on the high street are too severe and despite our best efforts we have taken the difficult decision to permanently close our retail store estate.

“We will now go into full consultation with our colleagues.

“We understand that this will be an uncertain and concerning time for our colleagues and we will actively support them during this period of consultation.”