Pemberton’s chocolates wins a reprieve

By Anne Bruce

- Last updated on GMT

Two buyers have shown interest in acquiring Pemberton's
Two buyers have shown interest in acquiring Pemberton's

Related tags Chocolate

Welsh premium chocolate factory Pemberton’s has had a reprieve from closure, after two potential buyers have expressed interest in acquiring the business.

The tourist attraction and artisan chocolate producer had been set to close at the end of this month, after attempts to sell it as a going concern fell through.

But two potential options have now presented themselves, said a spokeswoman. The company will now continue trading until December 31 at least.

Confidential

She said: “This is in the hands of lawyers so we do not know how long it will take to resolve. We are very hopeful, but everything is confidential at the moment.”

The business, based in Llanboidy, Carmarthenshire, has been on sale for £1.2M for more than a year.

Its chocolate factory employs 12 people and has an annual turnover approaching £500,000.

Products on sale at the site and available wholesale and by mail order include dairy and gluten-free chocolate, seasonal ranges, chocolate figures and boxes of chocolates.

The business was put on the market as founder Elizabeth Jones wanted to retire following the death of her husband, the co-founder, from cancer in 2008.

Customers, which include delis and gift shops and the House of Fraser in Cardiff, had already been told of the planned closure at the end of September. Staff had been given redundancy notices.

Delicatessen

The hill farm site includes over 30 acres of land, a six-bedroom farmhouse, a range of farm buildings, a delicatessen, shop, cafe, gallery, cinema, museum and a factory, along with parking for 120 cars.

The farm, on which it is based, is an award-winning attraction bringing in up to 30,000 visitors a year.

Earlier this month, the spokeswoman confirmed that the business was profitable.

“We have had interest from potential buyers, but in the current economic climate none of them has been able to raise the money from the banks,”​ she said.

Related topics Confectionery

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