[ad_1]
Chocolatier Godiva will close its 128 stores and cafes in North America at the end of March, the company said on Sunday, citing a decrease in demand for in-person shopping during the pandemic.
Godiva’s sweet treats will still be available online and at partner retail and grocery stores across the continent in the future, the company said. He will maintain store operations in Europe, the Middle East and greater China.
“We have always focused on what our consumers need and how they want to experience our brand, which is why we have made this decision,” Nurtac Afridi CEO said in a statement.
The Belgian chocolate maker has not disclosed the number of employees who will be affected by the North American decision.
“They lost between half of their business that is done because of tourists, the remaining 25% of the business that is done because of a special occasion, and an additional 25% that is made to drive,” Marshal Cohen, analyst chief retailer at market research firm NPD Group, told NBC News. “Where does the company come from? Everything went online with great ease. “
“If we don’t socialize as much as we did and don’t have special events and occasions, it will impact the business to some extent,” he said. .
Godiva is one of hundreds of thousands of store closures that have taken place amid a massive drop in in-person shopping during the pandemic.
Other retailers that have announced store closings since March include Macy’s, JCPenney, Bed Bath & Beyond, Victoria’s Secret, Francesca’s, Zara, Express and more.
Many retailers, including Godiva, have focused on leveraging their digital footprint in order to successfully reach customers.
“Online has jumped three years,” Cohen said. “Consumers have clearly educated themselves on how to buy virtually anything from anywhere, anytime, at any price.”
According to Adobe Analytics, online purchases reached nearly $ 200 billion in the holiday shopping season alone.
Chocolate sales have also increased since the start of the pandemic. In 2020, Americans spent nearly $ 15 billion on chocolate, a 5% increase from 2019, while Canadians spent just over $ 2 billion, a 7% increase.
[ad_2]
Source link