We love chocolate as a nation, so we thought it would be a great idea to put a website together that showcases the products from 2 of the UK's leading chocolate manufactures - Hotel Chocolat & Thorntons.

Thorntons have been manufacturing chocolate products for over 100 years and are a familiar brand to anyone who loves quality chocolate products. With over 400 stores, a mix of owned and franchise operations, you will never be too far away from a Thorntons outlet. In recent years, Thorntons have diversified their distribution channel to include web sales and offering their products in supermarkets, so it is fairly common to see Thorntons confectionary in Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Always popular as gifts at Birthday's, Valentines, Easter and Christmas, Thorntons have a huge selection to choose from at prices to suit all budgets.

Without any doubt, the most popular range from Thorntons is their Continental range of chocolates. They make great gifts for personal or corporate events and you can also buy trays of unbranded Continental chocolates that you use as favour boxes at family occasions or other events.

A couple of years ago, Thorntons decided to build their internet business, so that their products can be made available to the entire country without customers leaving their home to purchase the products. The website the have put together has all their current products and you also have the ability to get your chocolates sent direct to someone else and they won't include the invoice in the package - perfect for sending out gifts with a modest postal charge to people far away!

Hotel Chocolat was set up by Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris over 20 years ago and initially only sold their products on the internet. The first retail outlet for Hotel Chocolat opened in 2004. Providing products of a very high quality, Hotel Chocolat have been a real success story who has managed to grow their business during a recession!

Now operating 56 outlets in the UK, Hotel Chocolat can be found in most large cities. Hotel Chocolat products are also available in most large John Lewis stores, so that in itself is a testament to the quality of the brand! Along with the retail outlets the company operate 2 websites, www.hotelchocolat.co.uk for the British consumer and www.hotelchocolat.com for the North American market.

The shops are modern, spacious affairs and you have the feeling that your actually standing in a high end boutique instead of a chocolate shop!

If you love chocolate as much as we do, why not join the 'Tasting Club' that Hotel Chocolat operate? Every month they develop a new range of chocolate products all made with natural ingredients. Every monthly pack arrives at your door with full tasting notes and a scorecard that you can feedback your thoughts on the chocolates you have just devoured!