Gruppo Illy buys British luxury chocolatier Prestat

 

Riccardo Illy, president of Gruppo Illy, the division of the Italian family company that already owns chocolatier Domori and Dammann Frères teas, said he had been wooing Prestat for two years. He said the attraction of Prestat, which is a supplier to the UK royal family, was its chocolate truffles in particular. “Where Domori goes from bean to chocolate, Prestat goes from chocolate to truffles. It is perfectly integrated,” Mr Illy said in an interview. “We have a similar approach philosophically. Both companies are looking at producing and selling super premium products,” he added. Domori made € 18.3 m last year in sales.