Climate Crisis and Cocoa Shortages Force Historic London Chocolatier Into Administration
Marasus Petit Fours, a prestigious London-based chocolate manufacturer supplying Britain's most exclusive retailers, has collapsed into administration after four decades of trading. The company, which produced over 300 tonnes of premium chocolates annually from its Park Royal facilities, filed a notice to appoint administrators on 6th February 2026, with Alessandro Sidoli and Jessica Barker of Xeinadin Corporate Recovery Limited named as joint administrators. Founded in 1987 by patissiers Rolf Kern and Gabi Kohler, the brand built its reputation supplying Harrods, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, and Pret a Manger before being acquired by the Prestat Group in 2006.
The collapse represents a significant blow to Britain's luxury food sector, with the company describing itself as London's largest producer of premium chocolates. Parent company Prestat, which held two Royal Warrants and counted Princess Diana among its famous customers, will be sold to L'Artisan du Chocolat under a pre-pack administration deal. The agreement, reached before administrators were formally appointed, will see Prestat continue as an online-only brand under ownership by Polus Capital Management. The iconic Piccadilly store, which inspired Roald Dahl's references to Prestat's truffles in his novel My Uncle Oswald and reportedly influenced Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, closed its doors last week.
Record Cocoa Prices Devastate British Chocolate Manufacturers
The administration comes amid an unprecedented surge in chocolate prices across Britain, with costs rising 18.4 per cent year-on-year in November 2025, according to market research firm Worldpanel. Global cocoa prices reached record highs in 2024, driven by consecutive poor harvests in Ghana and Ivory Coast, which together account for approximately 60 per cent of the world's cocoa production. These key growing regions have experienced three consecutive years of crop failures, creating supply chain pressures that have rippled through the entire chocolate manufacturing industry.
Swiss chocolate giant Lindt Sprüngli announced last year it would raise prices again in 2026 to offset rising cocoa costs, highlighting the industry-wide challenge facing chocolate manufacturers globally. The price increases have particularly impacted premium chocolate makers like Marasus, which rely on high-quality cocoa varieties and operate on tighter profit margins than mass-market producers. The company reportedly faced additional difficulties after attempting to expand its market using premium cocoa varieties such as Criollo, leaving it vulnerable to competition from cheaper alternatives during a period of unprecedented raw material cost inflation.
Extreme Weather and Climate Change Threaten Global Cocoa Production
Christian Aid attributes the cocoa crisis to extreme temperatures and unusual rainfall patterns driven by climate change, which have devastated crops across West Africa's cocoa belt. Extreme rainfall spoiled crops during the 2023 dry season, whilst severe drought struck in 2024, creating a perfect storm of agricultural disruption. Osai Ojigho, director of Christian Aid's policy and public campaigns, warned that "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."
The climate crisis has also enabled the spread of crop diseases, with cocoa plants weakened by stress becoming more susceptible to infections that further reduce yields. Narcisa Pricope, a professor at Mississippi State University, warned that the crop faced an existential threat from increasingly dry conditions. "Collective action against aridity isn't just about saving chocolate," she stated. "It's about preserving the planet's capacity to sustain life." The convergence of climate-driven weather extremes, disease pressure, and changing rainfall patterns suggests the cocoa crisis may represent a long-term structural challenge rather than a temporary supply disruption.
Pre-Pack Administration Deal Secures Prestat Brand's Future
The pre-pack administration agreement will see L'Artisan du Chocolat acquire Prestat for a nominal sum, with the brand expected to continue trading exclusively online. This arrangement, finalised before administrators were formally appointed, aims to preserve the Prestat name and customer base whilst eliminating the overhead costs associated with physical retail operations. The deal represents a growing trend in British retail, where heritage brands transition from traditional high street presence to digital-first business models in response to changing consumer behaviour and economic pressures.
The closure of Prestat's Piccadilly location marks the end of an era for one of London's most historic chocolate shops, which was recognised as one of the top three chocolate shops in the world. The store was one of the few remaining retailers to continue manufacturing its own chocolates on-site, offering customers a glimpse into traditional chocolate-making techniques. Whilst the administration of Marasus Petit Fours will likely result in job losses at the Park Royal production facility, the acquisition by L'Artisan du Chocolat may preserve some aspects of the business and maintain supply relationships with existing retail partners.
Luxury Food Sector Faces Mounting Pressures From Multiple Directions
The collapse of Marasus Petit Fours reflects broader challenges facing Britain's luxury food manufacturing sector, which must navigate rising raw material costs, changing consumer spending patterns, and increased competition from international producers. Premium chocolate makers face particular vulnerability during periods of cocoa price volatility, as their business models depend on maintaining quality standards that prevent them from switching to cheaper ingredients or reducing cocoa content. The company's 40-year trading history demonstrates that even well-established brands with prestigious client lists cannot withstand the combined pressures of supply chain disruption and climate-driven commodity price inflation.
The administration also highlights the vulnerability of businesses attempting to compete in the ultra-premium segment using rare cocoa varieties during periods of supply constraint. Whilst premium positioning can command higher prices during stable market conditions, it may become a liability when raw material costs surge and consumers become more price-sensitive. The chocolate industry's struggles serve as a warning for other food manufacturers dependent on climate-vulnerable agricultural commodities, suggesting that supply chain resilience and ingredient flexibility may become increasingly critical competitive advantages in an era of climate instability and extreme weather events.