Family-run chocolate factory shuts after 105 years

The factory closed its doors on Thursday due to cashflow issues

A family-run manufacturer of fine chocolates has closed its doors after more than a century in business due to a "unsustainable" rise in the price of cocoa.

Beech's Fine Chocolates has been making artisan chocolates including truffles, fondants and luxury chocolate bars from the same factory on Fletcher Road, Preston, since 1920.

Andrew Whiting, chairman of the firm, said the closure on Thursday followed dramatic price rises for the business, including the cost of cocoa.

A statement from Beech's said: "A tanker last year cost £24,000 and now costs £78,000."

Chairman Andrew Whiting says it is sad the firm has had to shut due to a "cashflow issue"

The firm said this was compounded by the increase of National Insurance and minimum wage, as well as a sharp rise in energy costs.

Beech's passed on a 20% price rise to customers, but could not cover the increase in cost in the run-up to Christmas.

In a statement, it said: "Trump would say that was equivalent to a 300% tariff. It was sudden and worldwide."

The Whiting family, which owns Beech's Confectionery Group, funded the original set up and development of the brand.

Chairman Andrew Whiting said: "There will be a lot of people in Preston with fond memories of relatives having worked at Beech's or themselves in more recent times and we all said a fond 'au revoir' to each other on the day we closed."

Beech's launched the Gureje IV brand with an African king and queen

Dozens of people worked at the factory, which produced artisan chocolates, including a special range in collaboration with African royalty.

Beeches produced chocolate using cocoa beans from Eti-Oni province in Nigeria.

His Royal Majesty Oba Dokun Thompson Gureje IV and Queen Angelique-Monet visited Preston to launch the bars in 2024.

Money made from the bars goes back into the Eti-Oni province, which is home to Nigeria's oldest cocoa plantation.

Beech's said they asked for financial help from Lancashire County Council, but there was no scheme available to support an older business.

Lancashire County Council spokeswoman said: "An offer was made to help source funding via Rosebud Business Growth, however the business did not provide further information in order to progress this."