Marasu’s Petit Fours was founded back in 1986 by “master-patissiers” Rolf Kern and Gabi Kohler.

The aim of the business was to supply “London’s top hotels, restaurants and clubs with premium chocolates and petits fours”.

The company grew to become London’s largest producer of premium chocolates, with annual production of over 300 tonnes from its 25,000 sq foot facilities in Park Royal, according to business experts Odoo.

Marasu’s, which was acquired by Prestat Group Ltd in 2006, has provided chocolates to some big-name brands, including:

• Selfridges
• Harrods
• Fortnum & Mason
• Pret a Manger

Marasu’s Petit Fours at risk of closing as it enters administration

After 40 years, Marasu’s Petit Fours is now at risk of closing.

The premium chocolate company entered administration last month, according to Companies House, along with its parent company Prestat Ltd.

Alessandro Sidoli and Jessica Barker of Xeinadin Corporate Recovery Limited have been appointed joint administrators.

Marasu’s collapse follows a tough few years for chocolate manufacturers.

The Grocery Gazette explains: “Global cocoa prices surged to record highs in 2024 after disease and extreme weather hit crops in Ghana and Ivory Coast, which together account for around 60 per cent of global cocoa production.

“For premium chocolate manufacturers, sharply rising ingredient costs, combined with higher energy and operating expenses, have significantly squeezed margins even for established heritage brands.”

What happens when a company goes into administration?

Put simply, when a company enters administration, it means that it is unable to pay expenses, debts, or other liabilities, according to SquareUp.com.

Companies House adds: “When a company goes into administration, they have entered a legal process (under the Insolvency Act 1986) with the aim of achieving one of the statutory objectives of an administration. This may be to rescue a viable business that is insolvent due to cashflow problems.

“An appointment of an administrator (a licensed insolvency practitioner) will be made by directors, a creditor or the court to fulfil the administration process.”

A statutory moratorium is put in place once a company enters administration, giving it “breathing space” to allow for financial restructuring plans to be drawn up free from creditor enforcement actions.

A company can continue to trade while in administration, but daily management and control is handed over to the administrators.

Companies House continues: “Within 8 weeks it is the administrators’ role to formulate administration proposals.

“Creditors are then asked to vote by a decision procedure to approve the administrators’ proposals.

“If the administration involves a sale of all or part of the company’s business, the proceeds (after the costs of the procedure) will be distributed to creditors in a statutory order of priority.”

Administration will end automatically after 12 months unless the administrator asks the court or creditors for an extension.

Through administration, a company can be:

• Rescued and passed back to the directors
• Enter liquidation
• Be dissolved

Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026 (so far)

It has been a rough start to 2026 for the UK high street, with several retailers entering administration and others announcing widespread store closures.

Major high street retailers, including River Island, Primark, and Poundland, have already been forced to close stores in 2026, while Revolution and BrewDog have shut the doors to 21 and 38 pubs, respectively.

Several other retailers have fallen into administration recently, including:

Meanwhile, four UK travel companies have closed in the opening weeks of 2026:

EcoJet Airlines, billed as “the world’s first Electric Airline”, has also entered liquidation after just three years, resulting in the cancellation of all planned flights.

What has a nose, wings and runs off of hydrogen? Ecojet 😎 pic.twitter.com/y8QGiBdFe2

— ecotricity (@ecotricity) July 17, 2023

UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out over the coming months after being acquired by InPost.

Tesco also recently revealed plans to cut 380 jobs in stores across the UK, while it’s been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

It’s not been all bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Have you tried Marasu’s Petit Fours chocolates before? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.