The company, founded in 1986, built a reputation as a supplier to prestigious department stores and specialist retailers. Its administration comes at a time when cocoa prices and supply challenges have placed increasing strain on chocolate manufacturers operating in the luxury market.
The development also forms part of a pre-pack administration agreement that will see the Prestat brand transferred to another chocolatier, allowing it to continue trading in a different format.
Marasu’s Enters Administration After Supplying Leading Luxury Retailers
Marasu’s Petit Fours was established in 1986 by patissiers Rolf Kern and Gabi Kohler, who set out to produce premium chocolates for London’s high-end establishments. The company was acquired by the Prestat Group in 2006 and went on to supply retailers including Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges and Harrods, alongside the Prestat brand.
Operating from a 25,000-square-foot production facility in Park Royal, west London, the manufacturer became London’s largest producer of premium chocolates, with annual production exceeding 300 tonnes, according to the Express.
Marasu’s appointed administrators on 6 February, with the appointment announced on 17 February. The reason for the company’s collapse has not been disclosed. The administration follows that of Prestat, the luxury chocolatier founded in 1902, which had already come under financial pressure from weak sales and rising cocoa costs.
According to the same source, Prestat subsequently closed its historic Piccadilly shop in central London after entering administration. The retailer had long been associated with luxury chocolate and held two Royal Warrants, while members of the Royal Family, including Diana, Princess of Wales, were among its well-known customers.
Rising Cocoa Prices and Industry Pressures Reshape the Luxury Chocolate Market
The wider chocolate industry has experienced significant challenges in recent years as global cocoa prices reached record highs during 2024. According to the Express, cocoa harvests have been affected by disease alongside extreme weather events, including flooding and drought, in Ghana and Ivory Coast, which together account for around 60% of global cocoa production.
The report also states that Marasu’s encountered difficulties after attempting to expand its market through the use of premium cocoa varieties such as Criollo, a strategy that reportedly left the business exposed to competition from lower-priced rivals.
The administration forms part of a pre-pack deal involving Prestat. According to the Express, the agreement was arranged before administrators were formally appointed and provides for the sale of the brand to L’Artisan du Chocolat, a chocolate manufacturer owned by Polus Capital Management, for a nominal sum. Under the terms of the agreement, Prestat is expected to continue operating as an online-only brand.
The company’s history remains closely linked with British chocolate-making. Prestat’s Piccadilly shop was said to have inspired Roald Dahl, who referenced the company’s truffles in My Uncle Oswald. The store, recognised as one of the few still producing its own chocolates on site, has also been cited as an inspiration for the sweet shop featured in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
