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Godiva Throws In The Towel In North America
Granted it's a high-end niche thing they're selling and they'll keep going online, but they did hang on for nearly a year before bailing out. The Democrats destroy yet another business in the United States (and Canada!).
[Zero Hedge] - Godiva is riding its company horse out of North America and shutting down or selling all 128 of its brick-and-mortar locations in the U.S. and Canada by the end of March, the chocolatier announced on Sunday. And while the company’s stores in the Middle East, Europe, and China will remain open, Eater.com notes that that’s of little use to America’s last-minute gift-givers who previously could’ve counted on swinging by the mall post-work and treating their loved ones to a gilded box of truffles.
When the heart boxes from CVS just won't do...
...Godiva Goldmark Assorted Chocolate Creations: a box of eleven pieces for $9.99 at my grocery store. It was freshly made on the day they made it, but is no more than three years old now, and they have to compete with Lindt chocolates, which have the cachet of being Swiss. Buying on the internet takes more planning.
Godiva cited the drop in traffic during the pandemic and changing consumer buying behavior as reasons behind the decision. While people are no longer shopping in person at Godiva stores, the company has seen growth in online sales and purchases through its retail and grocery partners.

CEO Nurtac Afridi, who was appointed to the role last month by Govida’s Turkish parent company Yildiz Holding,
...they’re owned by the Turks? When did that happen?
said in a written statement that the company has "always been focused on what our consumers need and how they want to experience our brand, which is why we have made this decision."
Collateral damage will ensue, of course - half of those 'brick and mortar' former places of business won't be rented out again for years. Maybe my opinion changes by the summer but if Boston's Financial District / South Station area's any indication, it's gonna be a while, as there's been no noticeable uptick in train ridership, highway traffic, etc., around here since this shit started ten months ago with one serious snowstorm so far.
Posted by: Raj 2021-01-26
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=592429