A well-known British luxury chocolate brand has entered administration after more than four decades in business. The move marks a major setback for a company that has long supplied high-end chocolates to top retailers and customers across the UK. The firm, Marasu’s Perit Fours, has been described as London’s largest producer of premium chocolates and has supplied stores such as Harrods and Fortnum & Mason.
Marasu’s Petit Fours was founded in 1986 by patissiers Rolf Kern and Gabi Kohler and has operated from a 25,000-square-foot factory in Park Royal, northwest London. Over the years, the brand built a reputation for handcrafted petit fours and luxury chocolate boxes, often used for gifts and corporate orders. The company later became part of the Prestat group, a historic chocolatier that itself has more than 120 years of history.
Administrators were formally appointed on February 6, 2026, with Alessandro Sidoli and Jessica Barker of Xeinadin Corporate Recovery Limited named as joint administrators. A notice published in The Gazette confirmed that Marasu’s Perit Fours Limited has entered administration, following financial difficulties and tough market conditions. The company had already closed its flagship Piccadilly store in central London shortly before the administration announcement.
The collapse comes amid rising costs, changing consumer habits, and intense competition in the luxury-food sector. Reports suggest that the business struggled with higher ingredient prices, energy bills, and weaker demand in some premium segments. The parent company, Prestat, is also part of a wider restructuring, with its brand being sold in a pre-pack administration deal to L’Artisan du Chocolat, a fellow luxury chocolatier owned by Polus Capital Management.
Under the pre-pack arrangement, Prestat is expected to continue operating as an online-only brand, preserving at least a digital presence of the historic name. However, the future of Marasu’s Petit Fours as a standalone manufacturer and retailer remains uncertain. Administrators are now assessing the company’s assets, contracts, and possible buyers, while staff and suppliers await further updates.
The news has shocked longtime customers and industry watchers, many of whom remember the brand for its elegant packaging and high-quality chocolates. Social media posts from fans described the closure as the end of an era for British luxury chocolate. The deal with L’Artisan du Chocolat offers a chance that some elements of the brand’s products and recipes may survive under new ownership.
In the coming weeks, administrators are expected to publish more detailed statements about job losses, supplier claims, and any potential rescue plans. For now, Marasu’s Petit Fours stands as another example of how even long-established luxury brands can fall victim to financial pressure and shifting markets.
