<!–
<!–
<!– <!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
French candy maker Laduree bakes more than 15,000 macarons every day, filling them with flavors like berry ganache and pomegranate-apricot.
But the latest accounts for the 162-year-old firm’s British business, which has outlets at Harrods, Heathrow Terminal 3 and Selfridges in Manchester, left a sour taste in its auditor’s mouth.
Mazars said he couldn’t give them a clean bill of health because of inadequate record-keeping while Laduree overhauled his accounting software systems.
“We have not been able to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to express an opinion on the financial statements,” Mazars said. No material errors, such as fraud, were identified in the accounts, he added in his “disclaimer of opinion.”
Sole director David Holder insisted the accounts were prepared on a “going concern” basis and that its Paris-based parent would continue to support it.
In bad taste: Auditor Mazars said he could not give Laduree a clean bill of health
The auditor’s warning came as the British company posted a loss of £647,000 in 2022, after making a profit of £180,000 the previous year. But sales, at £8.5m, were up from £5.17m the previous year.
It is unusual for auditors to qualify accounts in this way.
Investors and other interested parties rely on beancounters to check companies’ books and provide an independent view of financial statements.
Her work has come under close scrutiny following a series of recent audit scandals, including those at construction company Carillion and bakery Valerie.