For a work meeting with a Fairtrade purchasing requirement, check the mark on the exact chocolate pack rather than relying on its brand name or a cocoa-farmer programme. Choose the FAIRTRADE Mark when the brief calls for a Fairtrade-labelled product; if Fairtrade-sourced cocoa is sufficient, check that a Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient mark names cocoa. Then match the bar format to how people will serve themselves and keep the current ingredient and allergen label accessible.
If the refreshments must meet a Fairtrade requirement, check the mark on the particular pack. The Fairtrade Foundation distinguishes a product bearing the FAIRTRADE Mark from one bearing a Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient mark for a named ingredient; a brand partnership alone does not identify which mark a bar carries.
Keep the current ingredients and allergen information available so attendees can check a bar before taking it. This matters especially when bars are removed from an outer multipack or a larger bar is divided for sharing.
An individually portioned multipack lets people take unopened bars. A larger bar calls for a serving plan and a way to keep its original label alongside the portions.
Set the mark requirement first, then choose a serving format that keeps the current label available to attendees.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade mark | Inspect the exact pack for the FAIRTRADE Mark. If the brief permits Fairtrade-sourced cocoa instead, check that the Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient mark names cocoa. The Fairtrade Foundation distinguishes these two marks by what they cover. | I need the chocolate itself to meet the meeting brief, rather than relying on a brand-wide sourcing statement. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the delivered pack, not just an earlier listing. Keep its ingredients list accessible when setting out the bars; Tesco warns that formulations and allergen information can change. | Attendees need to be able to check the current label for themselves before choosing a refreshment. |
| Serving format | Check the number and size of individually portioned bars, or plan how a larger bar will be divided. Keep the original packaging with shared portions. | For self-service, I want people to pick up an unopened bar. For a small hosted group, sharing may work if the label stays available. |
The Fairtrade Foundation documents a cocoa-farmer partnership with Mars, but that does not establish that a particular Mars-owned chocolate pack carries a Fairtrade mark.
Check the exact size and flavour being ordered for the FAIRTRADE Mark or, if the brief allows it, a Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient mark naming cocoa.
Dividing a larger bar takes preparation and can separate the portions from their ingredient and allergen information.
Choose sealed individual bars when attendees will serve themselves. If sharing a bar, keep its original packaging beside the portions.
Tesco warns that food formulations, ingredients and allergen information can change, so an earlier online listing may not describe the delivered pack.
Read the current pack before serving and let attendees check its label against their own requirements.
These examples help narrow the pack checks; a statement about one listing or brand does not establish the labelling of every bar it sells.
Tesco lists a Nestlé Kit Kat Fair Trade 4 Finger multipack in an 8 × 45g format, an example of individually portioned meeting refreshments.
Divine describes itself as Fairtrade and co-owned by Kuapa Kokoo cocoa farmers. Its shop lists 90g dark bars, a format to consider when a small group can share a bar.
The Fairtrade Foundation documents a Mars partnership focused on cocoa farmers. That partnership is distinct from product-level Fairtrade labelling.
This 90g Divine bar is a share-bar option for a small meeting where portions can be planned and the original label kept available. Check the exact pack’s Fairtrade mark if the purchasing brief requires one.
Image unavailable
The 90g bar is an option for a small hosted meeting if sharing is practical. Keep its original packaging available for ingredient and allergen checks, and confirm the relevant Fairtrade mark on the exact pack before relying on it for a certification requirement.
Check the exact pack for the FAIRTRADE Mark. The Fairtrade Foundation says this mark covers all ingredients in the marked product that can be Fairtrade-certified. If the brief specifically accepts Fairtrade-sourced cocoa, a Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient mark naming cocoa may meet that narrower requirement.
No. The Fairtrade Foundation’s documented partnership with Mars does not confirm a Fairtrade mark on an individual Mars-owned bar. Check the exact product, size and flavour against the meeting brief.
Use a listing to identify a possible product, but read the delivered pack before serving. Tesco warns that food products may be reformulated and that ingredients and allergen information can change.
Keep the current prepacked chocolate label accessible so attendees can read its ingredients and highlighted allergens. Food Standards Scotland states that prepacked food must have a full ingredients list with any of the 14 specified allergens present emphasised; Food Standards Agency guidance addresses allergen labelling in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. If you divide a bar or remove outer packaging, keep the original label with the refreshments.