Beech’s Fine Chocolates, one of the UK’s oldest chocolate makers posted a £100,000 profit thanks to a deal with high street chain Marks & Spencer.

M&S chose to stock Beech’s speciality Violet Creams, Chocolate Brazils and After Dinner Mints as part of their nationwide confectionery range. Some of the range can be seen by the side of the checkouts in store.

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Thanks to the retailer the firm said sales reached £4.5 million after it sold 2.2 million boxes of M&S confectionery plus 1.6 million boxes of its brands.

It was only five years ago that Preston based Beech’s Fine Chocolates faced closure. Opened in 1920 the company had been making a loss for years due to cheap imports and the bleak economic outlook.

New owners Andrew Whiting and Robert White turned the business around when they managed to secure a contract with Marks & Spencer.

Edward Collinson founded Beech’s in Preston because it of the busy port and ideal road and rail links. At first the chocolates sold at fairgrounds but later made their way into the top end of the market with retailers and department stores picking up the product.

Beech’s remained with the Collinson’s until sold to Yorkshire wool merchants, who in turn offloaded the business to Swiss manufactures, after which Andrew and Robert picked it up.

Beech’s announced recently a revamped customer website making navigation and ordering much easier. Existing customer will receive 15% discount on their first new order on re-registration. The new website also has lots of new special offers.

As a special Valentine’s treat Beech’s are offering a 10% discount on all orders placed on their website until Valentines Day. Just enter the code ‘BFC21J1410’ on checkout to receive this special offer.