Who is each format for?

People sharing sealed refreshments

A Fairtrade-labelled chocolate can be offered in its original packaging, with the ingredients and allergen information kept where visitors can inspect them.

Shoppers looking specifically for toffee

Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Milk Pretzel Toffee bar names pretzel and toffee in the product description, so it addresses a toffee-led brief more directly than a general chocolate assortment.

Small groups sharing individual pieces

Tony’s Tiny Mix contains individually wrapped chocolates, including a Pretzel Toffee variety. It suits a plan that allows several flavours rather than requiring every piece to contain toffee.

What should you check before choosing?

Decide whether toffee flavour or individually wrapped portions matter more, then check the precise Fairtrade claim, allergen information and how the food will be offered.

Priority What to check Your needs
Fairtrade claim Read the current pack’s mark and accompanying wording. The Fairtrade Foundation distinguishes the classic Fairtrade Mark, covering ingredients that can be certified, from the Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Mark, which identifies a named Fairtrade-sourced ingredient. I want to know exactly which Fairtrade claim applies to the chocolate I put out, rather than relying on a general ethical-brand description.
Flavour and format Compare Tony’s Dark Milk Pretzel Toffee 180g bar with Tony’s Tiny Mix 180g. The manufacturer describes pretzel and toffee pieces in the bar; Waitrose lists the mix as individually wrapped chocolates that include a Pretzel Toffee variety. If every choice needs to be toffee-led, I would choose the dedicated bar. For separate pieces and a range of flavours, the mixed assortment fits my plan better.
Ingredients and allergens Keep the current outer pack available and check each product’s ingredient and allergen statements. Tony’s lists milk, wheat and soya in the Dark Milk Pretzel Toffee bar, with egg and nuts as possible allergens; the Waitrose Tiny Mix listing identifies milk, gluten, egg, peanuts and nuts as allergens or possible allergens. Visitors need to be able to check what is in the chocolate, even when individual pieces are wrapped.
Serving or selling Decide whether you will offer intact prepacked products or divide and package portions for sale. Food Standards Agency guidance sets ingredient and allergen-labelling requirements for prepacked and prepacked-for-direct-sale food; ask the local authority which duties apply to your activity. I want a serving plan that keeps food information accessible and accounts for any rules that apply if I sell or regularly supply refreshments.

What can catch you out?

  • Assuming every ethical cocoa claim means the same thing as Fairtrade certification

    The Fairtrade Foundation says its classic Fairtrade Mark and Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Mark have different scopes. A brand-wide message does not establish the claim on an individual chocolate pack.

    Check the mark on the current product and read which ingredients its accompanying wording covers.

  • Expecting every mini chocolate to taste of toffee

    Waitrose lists Pretzel Toffee as one variety in Tony’s Tiny Mix, alongside other chocolates. The assortment therefore does not meet a plan in which every portion must be toffee-flavoured.

    Choose the dedicated Tony’s Dark Milk Pretzel Toffee bar for an explicitly toffee-led product, or the mix when individually wrapped variety is the priority.

  • Putting out wrapped chocolates without the ingredient information

    Wrapping does not remove allergen considerations. The Tony’s bar and the Tiny Mix have different ingredient and possible-allergen statements, which visitors may need to inspect.

    Keep the current original packaging accessible and check its allergen wording rather than relying on a flavour name or memory.

  • Assuming a car boot sale is exempt from food rules

    Food Standards Agency guidance says that whether activity needs food-business registration depends on what is done and how often; a local authority may decide registration is unnecessary for very limited, infrequent activity.

    Before selling refreshments, ask the local authority about the duties that apply to your activity and check the event organiser’s stall rules.

Relevant brand references

These references help distinguish the toffee-led product, a retailer’s Fairtrade information and a chocolate alternative; they do not mean every product from each brand has the same certification or flavour.

Tony’s Chocolonely

Makes the Dark Milk Pretzel Toffee bar and the assorted Tiny Mix discussed here.

  • Tony’s describes its Dark Milk Pretzel Toffee bar as Fairtrade certified and made with pretzel and toffee pieces.
  • The bar contains milk, wheat and soya and may contain egg and nuts; Tiny Mix is not exclusively toffee-flavoured.

Waitrose

Provides a listing for the individually wrapped Tony’s Tiny Mix and information about its own-label Fairtrade ingredients.

  • Waitrose states that the cocoa used in its own-label confectionery has been 100% Fairtrade since 2020.
  • That own-label cocoa statement does not establish the Fairtrade status of every toffee or chocolate product the retailer lists. Check each product and pack.

Divine Chocolate

A Fairtrade chocolate alternative if a toffee flavour is not essential.

  • Divine says Kuapa Kokoo cocoa farmers co-own the company. Its listed 30-pack contains 35g dark-chocolate bars made with Fairtrade cocoa and sugar.
  • The referenced 30-pack is dark chocolate, not a toffee-flavoured substitute for the Tony’s bar.

Joybuy product options

This Joybuy option is a toffee-named chocolate bar for a refreshment plan centred on toffee flavour. Check the current pack’s Fairtrade wording and ingredients before presenting it as such at an event.

Tony's Chocolonely Milk Chocolate, Pretzel & Toffee 180g

Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Chocolate, Pretzel & Toffee 180g

This 180g bar names pretzel and toffee for a toffee-led refreshment choice. Keep its current ingredient and allergen information available, and check the pack’s exact Fairtrade wording; if dividing the bar for sale, establish the applicable labelling duties first.

View on Joybuy

Questions about serving and selling

Does Fairtrade mean every ingredient in the chocolate is certified?

Not necessarily. The Fairtrade Foundation says the classic Fairtrade Mark covers ingredients that can be Fairtrade certified, while the Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Mark identifies one named Fairtrade-sourced ingredient. Read the mark and its wording on the particular pack.

Can I offer sealed chocolate at a car boot sale?

You can plan to offer sealed products while keeping their original ingredient information accessible, but check the rules that apply to your activity before selling or regularly supplying food. Food Standards Agency guidance says registration depends on the nature and frequency of the activity; the local authority can advise on your circumstances.

What if I divide a large bar into portions to sell?

Check the applicable labelling duties before packaging portions for sale. Food Standards Agency guidance says prepacked and prepacked-for-direct-sale foods require a food name and a full ingredients list with mandated allergens emphasised; ask the local authority how the rules apply to your proposed portions.

Which allergens need checking in the Tony’s options?

Tony’s Dark Milk Pretzel Toffee bar lists milk, wheat and soya and says it may contain egg and nuts. Waitrose identifies milk, gluten, egg, peanuts and nuts as allergens or possible allergens for Tiny Mix. Check the current physical pack for the product you actually offer.

How should I keep the chocolate before the sale?

The Tony’s product information advises a cool, dark, dry place rather than refrigeration. Keep the packs sealed until use and check the best-before information on their current packaging.