Free chocolate draws crowds at Lindt store opening in Clarks Village

A queue of around 50 people gathered outside the store’s new premises at 10am to get their hands on a goody bag of free Lindt chocolate, handed to the first 100 customers.

The new store is larger than the previous premises and located next to Haribo and opposite Caffè Nero within Clarks Village, Street. It boasts an ice cream and hot chocolate bar serving the newly released Lindt Crema Gelata and the crowd-pleasing pick’N’mix selection.

Inside the new Clarks Village Lindt store (Image: NQ)

Tracey Thomas, 54, the Lindt Store Manager, said: “I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved and my team they have been absolutely amazing. This is all new to us, the drinks and ice cream, so it’s just getting the practice in. 

“I’m looking forward to introducing it to our locals, regulars, and people who come far to see us. We get people from Exeter coming up just for us. Our pick’N’mix is our unique selling point, so many flavours that you don’t see out and about.”

“My favourite part of the new store is the ice cream, it’s going to bring the drama that we need. It’s going to be mad. Our busiest times are 11am until 4pm most days.”

Personalised ribbon, available for £2 per item. (Image: NQ)

David Haddon, 49, from Street, was in the queue awaiting the store’s opening. He said: “My 20-year-old daughter Georgina works in the store and we’re really looking forward to seeing the new store.

“I like Lindt chocolate because I’m lactose intolerant, but it doesn’t affect me as badly as other chocolate.”

Alvaro Moniz-Spark, Lindt’s retail marketing manager, said: “This is our new store concept which is easier to shop, our main core product is our pick’N’mix which is world famous. We have 20+ flavours available. At the moment we’ve got Cheesecake, coconut, cappuccino, and strawberry.”

The store also has a new “personalisation hub” where customers can have a ribbon printed with a message to tie up a box of hand-picked chocolates.