THORNTONS PLC

Challenges Faced by Human Resources at Thorntons PLC



Challenges Faced by Human Resources at Thorntons PLC

Introduction

Thorntons manufactures retails and distributes confectionery and other sweet foods. The company operates retail stores, franchise stores, and coffee shops under the brand name Cafe Thorntons in the UK and Ireland. The company operates through two business segments: sales and operations, and retail. Thorntons's sales and operations segment includes the company's commercial trading channel and manufacturing and distribution operations. Its retail segment operates through three channels including own stores, franchise and Thorntons Direct. The company's retail segment owns around 364 stores and cafes across the UK and Ireland. It operates around 230 franchise stores. The company, through Thorntons Direct, provides online corporate and consumer delivery services. The company's product offering comprises of hot chocolates, dark chocolates, milk chocolates, mint chocolates, white chocolates, chocolate truffles, fudges, toffees, sweets, organic chocolates and others. Thorntons's subsidiaries include Strand Court Properties, which is engaged in property investment activities; and Thorntons (Jersey), which is a retail trading company. In this paper, we will be focussing on the HR challenges and issues of the company.

Human Resource Challenges at Thorntons PLC

There are many challenges faced by the company that create many problems for it. Competition is very tough in the market, and because they have to compete with companies around the world, being the only market that defines the level of competitiveness of products produced by company. Due to globalisation social environment has changed. Human Resource management has challenges such as diversified culture in the organisation and communication gap.

Intercultural communication is a big challenge now a day, because this era is the era of globalisation. People work in the organisation having different background and culture so it is difficult to communicate sometimes. Communication is important for success of any organisation. There ...