A major UK chocolate maker has entered chocolate administration after nearly 40 years in business, putting future production and stock supply at risk.
Marasu’s Petit Fours, a luxury chocolatier based in London, filed a notice to appoint administrators earlier this month, marking a serious blow to the high-end confectionery sector.
The company has long supplied luxury chocolate products to well-known UK retailers, including Selfridges, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, and Pret a Manger.
However, rising costs and pressure on the chocolate industry have now pushed the firm into formal insolvency proceedings.
What happened to Marasu’s Petit Fours?
Marasu’s Petit Fours, founded in 1987, has officially moved into administration after operating for four decades as a specialist manufacturer of luxury petits fours and chocolates.
The economy is imploding downwards
A prestigious UK chocolate maker has announced it is going into administration after 40 years in business. Marasu’s Petit Fours was founded in 1986 by patissiers Rolf Kern and Gabi Kohler, who wanted to make premium chocolates for London’s top… pic.twitter.com/KCgN4tGPM7
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The business became part of the Prestat Group in 2006, after being acquired from its original founders, patissiers Rolf Kern and Gabi Kohler.
Since then, it has played a key role in producing premium chocolates distributed across high-end UK retail and hospitality channels.
The company recently filed paperwork to appoint administrators, confirming that it could no longer continue trading under its existing structure.
Who has been appointed as administrators?
The firm has appointed Alessandro Sidoli and Jessica Barker as joint administrators, operating through Xeinadin Corporate Recovery Limited.
Administrators typically step in when a company cannot pay its debts and needs urgent restructuring, rescue, or sale.
Their role includes reviewing assets, protecting creditors, and deciding whether parts of the business can continue operating.
Why has the chocolate brand gone into administration?
Industry pressure has intensified across the UK confectionery market, largely due to the sharp rise in cocoa prices over the last few years.
Chocolate manufacturers rely heavily on cocoa imported from West Africa, particularly Ghana and the Ivory Coast, where poor harvests and unpredictable weather have damaged supply.
Analysts have also highlighted that UK chocolate prices have risen sharply. In November, market data showed chocolate prices in Great Britain increased by 18.4% compared to the previous year, adding further strain to consumer demand and profit margins.
These rising ingredient costs hit smaller and mid-sized chocolate makers hardest, as they often struggle to pass higher costs onto retailers and customers without losing sales.
How has climate disruption affected cocoa production?
The cocoa supply crisis has not happened overnight.
Over the past three years, major cocoa-growing regions have suffered from:
- extreme heat
- unusual rainfall
- drought conditions
- crop disease and reduced yield
Charities and climate analysts have warned that climate-driven disruption has started changing traditional farming cycles, making cocoa farming less reliable and more expensive.
Christian Aid has also pointed to extreme rainfall damaging crops during dry seasons, followed by drought conditions impacting production in later periods.
One senior Christian Aid representative warned that cocoa farming, a key income source for some of the world’s poorest communities, is increasingly threatened by human-driven climate change.
Will Prestat still operate after this chocolate administration?
Yes, but under new ownership. Prestat, the parent company behind Marasu’s Petit Fours, is set to be sold to L’Artisan du Chocolat, which is owned by Polus Capital Management.
This sale suggests parts of the wider business may survive, even if Marasu’s manufacturing operations face uncertainty.
However, it remains unclear how much of Marasu’s production will continue, whether staff will be retained, or whether luxury stock lines will return to shelves in the same form.
What does “chocolate administration” actually mean?
The term chocolate administration refers to a chocolate business entering formal administration, a legal insolvency process in the UK.
In simple terms:
- The company cannot meet its financial obligations
- Licensed insolvency professionals take control
- They assess whether the business can be rescued, sold, or shut down
Administration does not automatically mean a company is closing permanently, but it often signals major restructuring and potential job losses.
Could customers see shortages in luxury chocolate stock?
There is a strong possibility of supply disruption.
Because Marasu’s Petit Fours supplied multiple premium retail brands, any pause or closure in production could affect:
- seasonal luxury gift stock
- branded chocolate ranges
- boutique retailer supply chains
High-end retailers may need to secure replacement suppliers quickly, especially ahead of key sales periods such as Easter, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day.
How does this compare to other chocolate companies raising prices?
The wider chocolate market has already seen big global brands increasing prices due to cocoa costs.
Last year, Swiss chocolate maker Lindt confirmed further price rises, blaming increased cocoa costs and supply chain strain.
Experts have also warned that cocoa faces long-term threats due to drying conditions and soil degradation, with some academics describing the situation as an “existential threat” to cacao farming in some regions.
