Amid ongoing industry pressures, a well-established UK chocolate manufacturer has entered administration, marking another challenging moment for the premium confectionery sector.
Marasu’s Petit Fours, founded in 1987 by patissiers Rolf Kern and Gabi Kohler, officially appointed administrators on February 6th with confirmation issued on February 17th and the website going dark. The move follows the recent closure of its parent company’s flagship Piccadilly store.
Acquired by Prestat Group in 2006, itself in business since 1902, Marasu’s grew to become one of London’s largest producers of premium chocolates. It was the inspiration for Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and supplied a number of high-profile retail and hospitality customers, including Selfridges, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and Pret A Manger, establishing a strong reputation within the luxury gifting and speciality food market.
Alessandro Sidoli and Jessica Barker of Xeinadin Corporate Recovery Limited have been appointed as joint administrators. A pre-pack administration agreement has been secured, under which parent company Prestat will be sold to L’Artisan du Chocolat, owned by Polus Capital Management. The transaction was arranged prior to the formal appointment of administrators and is expected to see Prestat continue operating as an online-only brand.
The development comes against a backdrop of significant volatility within the global chocolate market. Cocoa prices reached record highs in 2024 following widespread crop disease and extreme weather conditions in key producing regions, placing sustained pressure on manufacturers already navigating rising energy, labour and logistics costs.
For premium and artisanal brands in particular, the combination of elevated raw material prices and shifting retail dynamics continues to test resilience across the sector.
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