Prestat, Historic Chocolatier, Closes Doors and Sells to L'Artisan du Chocolat
Royal Warrant holder faces significant challenges, shifts to online-only model under new ownership.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Callum Smith
Prestat, the historic chocolatier known for its Royal Warrants and literary inspirations, has closed its physical operations and been sold in a prepack administration deal to L'Artisan du Chocolat, owned by Polus Capital Management.
The broader chocolate sector faces considerable challenges; global cocoa prices are soaring, and adverse weather conditions severely impact harvests in major producing nations like Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
Marasu's Petit Fours, a company established in 1986, became part of the Prestat Group in 2006, adding a crucial layer to the group's operational structure.
Administrators were appointed for Marasu's on February 6; the public announcement followed on February 17, though the precise cause of Marasu's downfall remains unconfirmed.
Marasu's reportedly encountered difficulties after attempting to expand its market share, utilizing premium cocoa varieties, including Criollo, in this strategic push.
This high-end strategy left Marasu's exposed to more affordable rivals at a critical juncture, exacerbating existing financial pressures.