Hotel Chocolat's push to increase online gift-giving is paying off, according to boss, Angus Thirlwell. The firm's website sales rose 20% in the year to the end of June. he expects more people to switch from giving more extravagant presents to his firm's products. Sales in stores grew as well as on the website. The company's annual profits before tax were sharply higher, rising from £2.9m to £8.2m.