The historic chocolatier that inspired Roald Dahl and held two Royal Warrants closed its doors after facing significant challenges.
One of Britain’s most famous chocolate institutions is in administration following 40 years in business. The closure of Prestat’s historic Piccadilly shop marks the end of an era for a brand that once won over royalty, inspired a beloved children’s author, and was hailed as one of the finest chocolate shops in the world.
The shutters came down after Marasu’s Petit Fours appointed administrators on February 6 — with the announcement made public on February 17.
Founded in 1986 by patissiers Rolf Kern and Gabi Kohler, Marasu’s Petit Fours had grown to become London’s largest producer of premium chocolates, turning out over 300 tonnes per year from its 25,000 sq ft Park Royal facilities.
Why did Prestat’s close down?
The chocolate industry has been battered in recent years by rising costs. Global cocoa prices surged to record highs in 2024, driven by crops devastated by disease and extreme weather, including flooding and droughts in key producing nations.
Ghana and the Ivory Coast together account for approximately 60% of the world’s cocoa production, and their struggles had a domino effect across the sector.
Marasu’s reportedly compounded its difficulties by pushing into premium cocoa varieties such as Criollo in a bid to expand its market, leaving the company exposed to cheaper rivals at a time when it could least afford it.
The closure formed part of a prepack administration deal in which the Prestat brand has been sold for a nominal sum to L’Artisan du Chocolat, owned by Polus Capital Management.
The agreement was struck before administrators were formally appointed, and Prestat is expected to continue trading as an online-only brand.
Prestat held two Royal Warrants and counted the Royal Family — including Princess Diana — among its most famous customers. In 2003, The Economist named it one of the top three chocolate shops in the world.
Most famously, the Piccadilly shop captured the imagination of Roald Dahl, who referenced Prestat’s truffles in his novel My Uncle Oswald, and is widely said to have inspired the fantastical sweet shop at the heart of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The store was also one of the few remaining chocolatiers to craft its own chocolates on the premises — a tradition that will now come to an end.
Can you still buy Prestat’s chocolates?
Even though the iconic store has closed down, you can still shop online for Prestat chocolate. The Prestat website itself is still active, and certain products are also stocked on the likes of Ocado and Selfridges too.
Prestat also regularly shares updates on Instagram, featuring news of new releases, gifts and more.
