Marasu's Petit Fours, a prestigious UK chocolate maker founded in 1986, has announced it is going into administration after 40 years in business. The London-based company, known for supplying high-end retailers including Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, and Harrods, appointed administrators on February 6, with the news made public on February 17.
History and operations
Founded by patissiers Rolf Kern and Gabi Kohler, Marasu's Petit Fours was established to create premium chocolates for London's top establishments. The company was acquired by the Prestat Group in 2006 and has since become London's largest producer of premium chocolates, with an annual production of over 300 tonnes from its 25,000 square foot facility in Park Royal.
Reasons for collapse
The exact reason for Marasu's collapse is not yet known, but it follows Prestat's own entry into administration. Prestat, a luxury chocolatier founded in 1902, shut its historic Piccadilly shop after mounting financial pressure from poor sales and soaring cocoa prices. The chocolate industry has faced global cocoa prices surging to record highs in 2024, with crops affected by disease and extreme weather, including flooding and droughts in key producing countries like Ghana and the Ivory Coast, which together account for about 60% of world production.
The company also reportedly encountered difficulties after attempting to expand its market using premium cocoa varieties such as Criollo, leaving it vulnerable to cheaper competitors.
Prepack administration deal
The closure is part of a prepack administration deal that will see the brand taken over by chocolate maker L'Artisan du Chocolat, owned by Polus Capital Management. The agreement, reached before administrators were formally appointed, involves the sale of Prestat for a nominal sum to L'Artisan du Chocolat. Under the deal, Prestat is expected to continue as an online-only brand.
Historical significance
Prestat held two Royal Warrants and counted the Royal Family, including Princess Diana, among its most famous customers. In 2003, The Economist magazine named it one of the top three chocolate shops in the world. The Piccadilly shop inspired Roald Dahl, who referenced Prestat's truffles in his novel My Uncle Oswald. The store, one of the few to continue making its own chocolates, is also said to have inspired the fantastical sweet shop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
