Prime Minister Julia Gillard hopes a buyer can be found quickly for iconic Australian chocolate retailer Darrell Lea, which has gone into voluntary administration.
The retailer announced on Tuesday that it has appointed PPB Advisory as voluntary administrator of the business, which has 700 staff and 1800 shops in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
"I certainly hope that we can see someone step forward and take this business over and keep that very famous Darrell Lea brand going for us," Ms Gillard told reporters in Ipswich, Queensland.
She said it was sad news for the company.
"We all know Darrell Lea and its products, we have all been into its shops," she said.
