New Zealand chocolate maker Whittaker's is reviewing its relationship with Nigella Lawson, after the celebrity chef admitted in a London court to occasionally using cocaine and cannabis.
Nigella Lawson after her court appearance on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
Ms Lawson fronted television adverts for the company earlier this year. She made the admission at the London trial of former assistants Francesca and Elisabetta Grillos, who are accused of fraudulent spending on credit cards of Ms Lawson's recently divorced husband, Charles Saatchi.
The defence claims Ms Lawson allowed them spend on credit cards a total of £685,000 in return for covering up her drug use.
Whittaker's chief marketing officer Philip Poole says the company has had a successful year and Nigella Lawson has been a key part of the creative strategy.
However, while Mr Poole does not think the drugs admission has hurt the Whittaker's brand, it is looking at what it will do next year.
"In all the dealings that we have with Nigella she was very professional and very pleasant to deal with. We have a very positive relationship with her."
