Like-for-like own-store sales rose 3.2 per cent during the final four weeks of the first half, compared to a decline of 3.5 per cent in the first quarter.
Franchise sales mirrored own-store sales - a disappointing summer, but improvement later in the year - with eight new franchises in the six weeks to Christmas.
Commercial sales suffered from the impact of the voluntary delisting of one major high street account and its subsequent re-listing. Excluding this effect, sales rose 4 per cent, with a particularly strong performance in boxed chocolates.
Sales at Thorntons Direct increased 19.1 per cent, as a result of significant investment in the web site and increased marketing.
Thornton's chief executive Mike Davies said: 'On the whole, we have made steady progress following a difficult start to the year. The investment made across all the sales channels in the first half produced an improved second-quarter performance. This investment, together with new sales and cost initiatives, positions us to deliver overall sales growth in the second half.'
The retailer has embarked on a store modernisation programme, with 176 fascia upgrades and store refits completed in the first half.
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