Draft:Beech's Fine Chocolates
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
|  |
| Type | Brand |
|---|---|
| Industry | Confectionery |
| Founded | 1920 in Preston, England |
| Founder | Collinson family |
| Defunct | 2025 (original company) |
| Fate | Insolvency; brand acquired by Bulk Gourmet Emporium |
| Headquarters | Preston, Lancashire , England |
| Products | Chocolates, fondant creams, truffles, Easter eggs |
Beech's Fine Chocolates is a British chocolate brand founded in 1920 in Preston, England. For over a century, the company produced artisan chocolates — including fondant creams, truffles and Easter eggs — at a factory on Fletcher Road in the Deepdale area of the city, using traditional methods such as starch-mould production for its fondant centres.[1][2] After entering insolvency in September 2025, the brand was acquired by Bulk Gourmet Emporium, which revived it as an online business.[3][4]
History
Founding and early years
Beech's was founded in 1920 by the Collinson family, who already operated a tea and coffee importing business in Preston and added chocolate to their product range.[1] Chocolates were initially sold at fairgrounds, with the company moving into the luxury market by 1946.[5]
Changes of ownership
The company remained in Collinson family hands until it was sold in 1966 to a family of Yorkshire wool merchants. It later became a supplier to the Supercook brand, which acquired the company in 1984. In 2000, Beech's was acquired by the RenshawScott Group, before a management buy-in returned it to private ownership in late 2002.[5]
Whiting ownership and repositioning
In 2017, Andrew Whiting took over as chairman, with his son Peter Whiting serving as managing director.[1] Under the Whitings, the company moved to Fairtrade-certified cocoa and reformulated its products to be palm-oil free and gluten free, with the dark chocolate range certified vegan.[1] The brand adopted the marketing slogan "We will never compromise on our ingredients", which appeared on its packaging and promotional materials alongside references to these sourcing commitments.[6] The company also began replacing plastic with combustible packaging and invested in expanding export sales ahead of Brexit, with products shipped to markets including the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and parts of the Middle East; in the United States, Beech's products were sold via the QVC home-shopping network, including televised product segments on QVC USA.[1][7][8][9]
Centenary and operations
Beech's marked its 100th anniversary in 2020, still operating from the same Fletcher Road site where it had begun in 1920.[1][2] By this time the company employed around 50 people, with some recipes — including the Fondant Creams — reportedly unchanged for decades.[1]
Products were stocked by retailers including Booths, Waitrose, Fortnum & Mason and Lakeland.[1][7] Although the company historically produced its own chocolate, it later sourced couverture from Barry Callebaut following a downsizing of the factory.[7]
Closure and acquisition
In September 2025, Beech's Fine Chocolates Ltd was declared insolvent, and around 40 staff were made redundant. Chairman Andrew Whiting attributed the closure to a sharp rise in cocoa prices, which he said had risen roughly threefold over the preceding year, combined with increases in energy costs, National Insurance and the minimum wage. Former managing director Peter Whiting told local press that the company had been unwilling to reduce the quality of its ingredients in response to the cocoa price rise.[4][10]
In late 2025, Peter Whiting confirmed that the Beech's brand, recipes and website had been sold to Bulk Gourmet Emporium, an online food retailer, which relaunched the brand as an online-only business.[3]
Products
Beech's product range has included fondant creams, chocolate-covered ginger, chocolate Brazils, truffles and seasonal Easter eggs. The company produced Easter eggs from its early years, reaching around 120,000 eggs in 1933 before scaling back production; Easter egg production was reintroduced ahead of the centenary.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Titley, Megan (26 February 2020). "Preston chocolatier Beech's Fine Chocolates is celebrating one hundred years in the business". Lancashire Evening Post. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ a b "Beech's Fine Chocolates celebrate centenary year in the same factory where it all began". Blog Preston. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ a b "Beech's chocolate brand set to be revived with online sales". Blog Preston. 5 December 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ a b "Why Preston's family-run chocolate factory Beech's has suddenly shut after 105 years". Lancashire Evening Post. 30 September 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ a b "Beech's Chocolate". Made in Preston. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ "About Us". Beech's Fine Chocolates. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Beech's Fine Chocolates in Preston is making Easter eggs after three decades". Lancashire Evening Post. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ "Beech's Fine Chocolates". QVC.com. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ Beech's Fine Chocolates (6) 3.2oz Boxes Chocolate Fondants on QVC (Video). QVC. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ "Preston's Beech's Fine Chocolates closes after a century of trading". Blog Preston. 27 September 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
Category:Food and drink companies established in 1920 Category:British brands Category:1920 establishments in England Category:Food and drink companies disestablished in 2025
References
Content Disclaimer
Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.
- The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
- There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
- It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
- Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
- Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.
- provide significant coverage: discuss the subject in detail, excluding routine coverage like product launches, staff appointments, or financial reports and listings in databases or listicles;
- are reliable: from reputable outlets with editorial oversight;
- are independent: not connected to the subject, such as press releases, the subject's own website, or sponsored content.
Please add references that meet all three of these criteria. If none exist, the subject is not yet suitable for Wikipedia.