Barclays Corporate has lent Thorntons PLC, the UK's largest independent chocolatier, £12.5m in debt.

The funding is part of a wider refinancing of the company totalling £57.5m with two other lenders.  Based in Derbyshire, Thorntons employs over 4,000 people across its 600 sites around the country, and is this year celebrating its hundredth anniversary. 

Jim Quantrill, Relationship Director at Barclays Corporate, said: "Barclays Corporate has a high regard for the Thorntons brand, the business and its management team and are pleased to be supporting the company for the future. This facility demonstrates Barclays Corporate's continued support for the UK retail sector."

Mark Robson, Finance Director, Thorntons, said: "Thorntons is delighted to be working with Barclays Corporate as a long term funding partner. They have an excellent understanding of the sector and have continued to provide helpful support and proactivity to the Thorntons business. The re-financing process was executed very well by the Barclays team, within tight deadlines."