After four decades of crafting luxury confections for some of London’s most prestigious establishments, Marasu’s Petit Fours, a major UK chocolate maker, has entered administration, sending ripples through the industry and raising concerns about the future of premium British chocolate. The announcement, made on February 17, 2026, follows the company’s formal appointment of administrators on February 6, marking a dramatic turn for a business that once stood at the heart of London’s chocolate scene.
Founded in either 1986 or 1987—sources differ slightly—by patissiers Rolf Kern and Gabi Kohler, Marasu’s Petit Fours quickly established itself as a leading supplier of high-end chocolates to renowned retailers such as Selfridges, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, and Pret a Manger. The company’s Park Royal facilities in London churned out over 300 tonnes of premium chocolates annually, making it the city’s largest producer in its category, according to The Sun and Express.
The luxury chocolatier’s journey took a pivotal turn in 2006 when it was acquired by the Prestat Group, itself a storied name in British confectionery. Prestat, founded in 1902, boasted two Royal Warrants and counted members of the Royal Family, including Princess Diana, among its clientele. The company’s historic Piccadilly shop was more than just a retail destination—it became a cultural icon, inspiring Roald Dahl’s references to Prestat’s truffles in his novel My Uncle Oswald and believed to have influenced the magical sweet shop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
But beneath the glossy veneer, financial pressures were mounting. The collapse of Marasu’s Petit Fours closely followed Prestat’s own entry into administration and the closure of its iconic Piccadilly store in early February 2026. The decision to shutter the shop, described by The Sun as a landmark on London’s confectionery map, came after escalating financial strain from weak sales and the relentless rise of cocoa prices.
Alessandro Sidoli and Jessica Barker of Xeinadin Corporate Recovery Limited were named as joint administrators for Marasu’s Petit Fours. The move forms part of a pre-pack administration deal, finalized before the formal appointment of administrators, which will see parent company Prestat sold to L’Artisan du Chocolat, a fellow luxury chocolate maker owned by Polus Capital Management. As part of the arrangement, Prestat is expected to continue operating as a web-only brand, preserving at least a digital legacy of its storied past.
While the specific reasons behind Marasu’s downfall remain officially unconfirmed, the broader context paints a picture of an industry under siege. The global chocolate sector has been battered by record-high cocoa prices, which soared by 18.4% year-on-year in Great Britain as of November 2025, according to market research firm Worldpanel. These surges have been driven by a combination of poor harvests, crop diseases, and severe weather in West Africa—particularly Ghana and Ivory Coast, which together account for around 60% of the world’s cocoa production.
Christian Aid, a UK-based charity, highlighted the dramatic changes in West African growing conditions, citing extreme rainfall and spoiled crops during the 2023 dry season, followed by a debilitating drought in 2024. "Growing cocoa is a vital livelihood for many of the poorest people around the world and human-caused climate change is putting that under serious threat," said Osai Ojigho, director of Christian Aid’s policy and public campaigns, as reported by The Guardian.
Professor Narcisa Pricope of Mississippi State University offered a stark warning, describing the cocoa crop as facing an "existential threat" due to increasingly dry conditions in cacao-producing regions. "Collective action against aridity isn’t just about saving chocolate – it’s about preserving the planet’s capacity to sustain life," she told The Guardian. The message is clear: the fate of luxury chocolate is inextricably linked to broader environmental challenges.
These global pressures have had very real local consequences. Marasu’s Petit Fours, despite its reputation and scale, struggled to adapt. The company reportedly faced difficulties after attempting to expand its market using premium cocoa varieties such as Criollo, a move that left it vulnerable to cheaper competitors at a time when consumers were feeling the pinch from rising prices. The shift toward high-end ingredients, while enhancing the brand’s prestige, may have inadvertently exposed it to greater risk as economic headwinds gathered strength.
The woes of Marasu’s and Prestat are not isolated. Swiss chocolate giant Lindt & Sprüngli, for example, announced it would raise prices again in 2026 to offset soaring cocoa costs, highlighting a trend that has affected chocolatiers large and small. The sector’s troubles have been compounded by the climate crisis, with extreme temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns wreaking havoc on cocoa yields. As reported by Christian Aid, the 2023 dry season’s extreme rainfall spoiled crops, while the following year’s drought further reduced output, creating a perfect storm for chocolate makers reliant on stable supplies.
For Marasu’s Petit Fours, the end of an era comes with a bittersweet twist. The company’s legacy—built on supplying London’s elite and inspiring literary legends—will now continue under new ownership. The pre-pack administration deal ensures that the brand, along with Prestat, will survive in some form, albeit with a reduced physical presence. L’Artisan du Chocolat, itself a respected name in gourmet chocolate, will take the helm, guided by Polus Capital Management.
As for the broader industry, the collapse of such a prominent player is a sobering reminder of the fragility of even the most established businesses in the face of global economic and environmental pressures. The story of Marasu’s Petit Fours is one of tradition, innovation, and ultimately, vulnerability—a narrative that resonates far beyond the world of confectionery.
With cocoa prices showing no sign of abating and climate-related disruptions expected to persist, the challenges facing chocolate makers are unlikely to ease soon. For now, the fate of London’s luxury chocolate scene hangs in the balance, shaped by forces as unpredictable as the weather itself.