Marasu's Petit Fours placed under administration as cocoa price surge forces sale

Rising global cocoa prices and increasing production costs have pushed the 40‑year‑old UK premium chocolate maker Marasu's Petit Fours into administration. The company, which supplied luxury retailers such as Harrods, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason, had a caretaker appointed on 6 February, with the move disclosed publicly on 17 February.

As part of the restructuring, Marasu's brand was sold to rival chocolatier L’Artisan du Chocolat, backed by Polus Capital Management. The historic Prestat brand, founded in 1902 and a former Royal Warrant holder for the British Royal Family (including Princess Diana), was also transferred to L’Artisan du Chocolat for a symbolic sum. Prestat will continue to sell online, but its iconic Piccadilly shop has been shut permanently.

Both brands were celebrated for cultural connections – Roald Dahl referenced Prestat in his writings and the Piccadilly shop inspired the confectionery shop in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". The administration highlights the vulnerability of luxury food producers to commodity price shocks.