Valentines may never be the same again as chocolatier Godiva has just announced it will CLOSE all of its specialty stores in the US by March.

Godiva's namesake translates literally to "Gift of God," and if you are a chocolate lover, you might likely understand how their affordable luxury chocolates taste a lot like a present from the heavens! Sadly, Godiva, a name that is now synonymous with fine chocolate announced it will be closing all of its North American stores in March due to dwindling foot traffic sales. After March 2021, you will only be able to purchase Godiva chocolates online and through major wholesalers.

Founded in 1926, Turkish owned Blegiu Godiva chocolatier, owned and operated more than 600 shops in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia but was also available with over 10,000 specialty retailers as well. In 2016, Godiva celebrated its 90th anniversary and opened its 100th store in China.

This week Godiva, based in New York, with one of its two factories in Pennsylvania has announced that it will be closing all 128 of its brick-and-mortar locations in the United States. All 128 stores. It's estimated that Godiva employs about 2,000 employees throughout the US, with sales reaching $710 million dollars.

You read it right, $710 million.

In fact, the global chocolate market is valued at 130.56 billion. 

CHOCOLATE IS BIG BUSINESS! 

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