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Brothers in Arms: The Story of Thorntons – A Study into the Relationships between Brothers Working in Senior Management in a Large UK Chocolate Manufacturer

In: The Modern Family Business

Author

Listed:
  • Louise Grisoni
  • Lorna Collins
  • Peter Thornton

Abstract

The case study chosen for this chapter is a well-known UK family business – Thorntons Plc., a chocolate manufacturer and retailer founded in 1921. Thorntons is the largest independent chocolate and confectionery company in the UK and operates in a challenging retail environment selling a ‘luxury good’. This means it is very vulnerable to economic circumstances and the ‘feel good’ factor among customers. An analysis of the financial foundations on which the company is built shows sound business practice (David, 2010). Behind this business success is a story of three generations of male family members who established and grew the family business from 1911 to 1987. The aim of this chapter is to explore male sibling relationships between brothers and cousins by drawing on a systemic analysis of this family business. We build on existing literature that examines how family relationships have impacted on the success of a family business (Yarborough and Lowe, 2007; Ainsworth and Wolfram-Cox, 2003; Gersick, Davis, Hampton and Lansburg, 1997).

Suggested Citation

  • Louise Grisoni & Lorna Collins & Peter Thornton, 2012. "Brothers in Arms: The Story of Thorntons – A Study into the Relationships between Brothers Working in Senior Management in a Large UK Chocolate Manufacturer," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: The Modern Family Business, chapter 3, pages 83-106, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-137-00133-7_3
    DOI: 10.1057/9781137001337_3
    as

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