Organizational Culture and Leadership - Essay Example

So, this paper will analyze how the organization of Thorntons implemented all these above-mentioned aspects or strategies from its origin to the year 2000 and from 2000 to the present day Thorntons, the largest manufacturer and retailer of specialist chocolates in the United Kingdom, was founded by Joseph Thornton in 1911. His two sons, Norman Thornton and Stanley Thornton started working in the shop and aided him in retailing, devising recipes, and in the manufacturing process. The combined work of the family members provided their business a good impetus.

A good flow of customers increased their profits and also their visibility, so they named their business after their family name. To increase their range of chocolate products, Stanley and Norman Thornton visited Switzerland in 1953. There they intend to find a good chocolate maker, who could make original and tasty chocolates. They visited Basle School for Swiss Chocolatiers and there they found Walter Willen, a capable student who only created some of the original recipes for Thorntons’ Continental chocolates.

Continental chocolate is the product range that was to become the largest-selling specialist assortment of chocolates in the UK. After functioning for more than half a century at Sheffield, Thorntons moved to a purpose-built modern food and chocolate production facility at Alfreton, Derbyshire in the 1980s, where they are still functioning. So, from humble beginnings in 1911, Thorntons has become a £180m turnover chocolate company with nearly 400 shops and cafes and around 200 franchises together with internet, mail order services, thereby becoming the largest manufacturer and retailer of specialist chocolates in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is one of the highest chocolate-consuming countries. That is, the UK’s per capita consumption of confectionery is one of the highest in the world. All over the world, chocolates are one of the favorite eatables, consumed by people of all ages. Apart from being a normal snacking item, chocolates are also considered as a gift item, given for many occasions ranging from birthday celebrations to anniversaries. Within the UK market also, chocolate is viewed as an affordable treat, as part of snacking or a gift. So, because of high consumption and multi-purpose use, the chocolate market has been a thriving one. To match the thriving market, many chocolate manufacturing companies have been functioning for a long time, and also new companies are also being set up.