London's biggest premium chocolatier collapses into administration after nearly 40 years

Marasu's Petit Fours supplied luxury chocolates to Fortnum & Mason, Harrods and Selfridges before entering administration

London's largest producer of premium chocolates has fallen into administration after almost 40 years of trading.

Marasu's Petit Fours was founded in 1986 by patissiers Rolf Kern and Gabi Kohler with the aim of supplying luxury chocolates to some of the capital's best-known retailers.

The business was acquired by the Prestat Group in 2006 and went on to supply chocolates to Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, Harrods and the Prestat brand.

Operating from a 25,000 sq ft facility in Park Royal, the company produced more than 300 tonnes of chocolate each year.

Administrators were appointed on February 6, although the appointment was not made public until February 17.

The reasons behind the company's financial difficulties have not been confirmed.

Under a pre-pack administration deal completed before administrators were formally appointed, the Marasu's brand was acquired by rival chocolatier L'Artisan du Chocolat, which is backed by Polus Capital Management.

As part of the same transaction, the Prestat brand was also transferred to L'Artisan du Chocolat for a nominal fee.

Prestat is expected to continue trading through its online business.

The agreement also brought an end to the company's physical retail presence, with its Piccadilly store closing permanently.

The shop was one of the few remaining chocolate retailers in London that still made its own chocolates on site.

Roald Dahl referenced Prestat's truffles in his novel My Uncle Oswald and the store is widely believed to have inspired the sweet shop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The wider chocolate industry has faced soaring cocoa prices after harvests in Ghana and Ivory Coast, which together produce around 60 per cent of the world's cocoa, were affected by disease, flooding and drought.

Prestat also faced weaker sales and rising raw material costs.

The business had attempted to expand by using premium cocoa varieties, including Criollo, but the strategy left it exposed to competition from lower-cost rivals.

The combination of rising costs and increased competition placed further pressure on the business.

Members of the Royal Family, including Princess Diana, were among its customers, and The Economist named Prestat one of the world's three finest chocolate houses in 2003.