The confectioner's total sales for the six months to 10 January were up 1.3%, but heavy discounting and several three-for-two offers contributed to an overall drop of 39% in pre-tax profits.
Thorntons' chief executive Mike Davies, who was brought in from Mars two years ago to help revitalise the company, has defended its strategy. He said that as demand dropped last year, discounting was necessary to drive people into the shops.
The company will continue to invest in product innovation, but has decided not to introduce the store format it trialled last year, which featured brighter colours and chocolatiers working at the front of the shops.
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