A much-loved family-run chocolate factory has shut its doors after 105 years.
The business produced artisan chocolates from the same factory since 1920.
A long-standing chocolate factory has closed its doors after 105 years[/caption]
Beech’s based its operations in Preston[/caption]
Long-standing Beech’s, based in Preston, is closing its doors for good.
The firm’s chairman, Andrew Whiting, said the factory’s closure followed dramatic price rises, including the cost of cocoa.
He added: “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
The Whiting family owns Beech’s Confectionery Group, as well as funded the start-up and development of the brand.
A statement from Beech’s said: “A tanker last year cost £24,000 and now costs £78,000.”
The firm also highlighted a rise in energy costs, as well as the increase of National Insurance and minimum wage.
Meanwhile, Beech’s confirmed it had sought help from Preston Council and Lancashire County Council.
There was ultimately no scheme available to support an older business.
As well as this, Beech’s had also passed on a 20 per cent price rise to customers.
Although they found themselves unable to cover cost increase in the build-up to Christmas.
A 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.”
Earlier this year, a dessert firm selling products at M&S and Sainsbury’s closed a factory and received a £5million bail-out.
Little Moons was thrown a lifeline after breaching its loan terms following the shut down of its Kettering factory.
Documents showed that Little Moons defaulted on its loan terms last December, having confirmed the closure of its Kettering site the month before.
Following this, the ice cream ball firm agreed to secure a further £5million funding from its shareholders after resetting its agreements.
Little Moons are ice cream bites wrapped in mochi dough, which is a Japanese rice cake.
They rose in popularity about three years ago after going viral on social media.
Little Moons’s short-lived Kettering factory opened in early 2024 and aimed to be the company’s flagship manufacturing hub.
