Start with the Fairtrade claim on the exact bar: the Fairtrade Foundation says the classic Fairtrade Mark covers every ingredient that can be Fairtrade-certified, while an ingredient-specific claim needs checking for what it names. For car boot sale refreshments, choose a pack format that suits the number of people you expect, then check cocoa percentage, the current allergen wording and storage instructions before sharing or selling it.
If several people will take a bar, compare the count and weight of individually packaged portions with the number you expect. Divine, for example, lists a pack of 30 separate 35 g dark chocolate bars made with Fairtrade cocoa and sugar; check its current allergen wording before offering them.
The Fairtrade Foundation says the classic Fairtrade Mark covers all ingredients that can be Fairtrade-certified. If a product instead names a particular Fairtrade ingredient, check exactly which ingredient its claim covers.
Read the current wrapper for ingredients, allergy exclusions and precautionary warnings. The reviewed dark chocolate products carry differing statements about milk, gluten, nuts, peanuts, soya and sesame; a dark or vegan description alone does not settle suitability.
Decide what the Fairtrade claim must cover, then choose the portion format and cocoa level for your recipients. Check the current pack before sharing it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade scope | Look for the mark or product-specific wording. The Fairtrade Foundation says the classic Fairtrade Mark covers all ingredients that can be Fairtrade-certified; for an ingredient-specific claim, identify the ingredient named. | I want to know whether the claim covers the certifiable ingredients in the recipe or specifically names cocoa or other ingredients. |
| Cocoa level | Read the stated cocoa percentage and any flavour additions. The reviewed products include 70%, 75%, 85% and 100% cocoa options; percentage does not establish Fairtrade status. | For a mixed group, I would choose a cocoa level and flavour the recipients are likely to want, rather than assuming a higher percentage suits everyone. |
| Allergens | Check the current ingredients, allergy exclusions and ‘may contain’ wording on each pack. Product statements differ for milk, gluten, nuts, peanuts, soya and sesame. | If someone has an allergy, I need the wrapper information available so they can assess that particular product; ‘dark’ or ‘vegan’ is not enough. |
| Portions and storage | Compare bar count, individual packaging, weight and the pack’s storage instructions. Divine lists 30 separate 35 g bars; a single 90 g or 180 g bar is a different serving format. | I want enough clearly identifiable portions for the people expected and a way to keep the chocolate according to its storage instructions at an outdoor event. |
A brand’s sourcing programme does not, by itself, establish what Fairtrade claim applies to a particular bar. The Fairtrade Foundation specifies that the classic Fairtrade Mark covers all ingredients that can be Fairtrade-certified.
If Fairtrade is essential to your choice, inspect the exact product’s mark or ingredient-specific Fairtrade statement and note what it covers.
The reviewed bars range from 70% to 100% cocoa, but that figure does not identify their Fairtrade scope or whether recipients want that flavour.
Choose for the people you expect to serve. If their preferences differ, consider clearly labelled options at different cocoa levels.
Reviewed dark chocolate products carry different precautionary warnings and allergy exclusions. A vegan description does not remove a ‘may contain’ warning.
Keep the current labelled packaging available and check it before offering chocolate to anyone with an allergy.
For someone starting or taking over a food business, the Food Standards Agency says registration with the local authority is required at least 28 days before trading or food operations start. Whether a particular car boot sale activity is a food business depends on what the seller is doing.
If you plan to sell rather than personally share refreshments, confirm how your activity is treated with the relevant local authority and check the organiser’s conditions before trading.
Compare claims on the particular product, not the brand name alone: cocoa percentage, Fairtrade wording and allergen statements vary by bar.
Divine’s reviewed 70% dark bars name Fairtrade ingredients, and its 30-pack provides separate 35 g bars for a multi-person supply.
The reviewed 75% and 85% dark chocolate product pages make specific Fairtrade cocoa statements.
Its reviewed FitzRoy bar states 74% cocoa and is described as organic dark chocolate.
The reviewed Lindt EXCELLENCE bar is a 50 g option stating 100% cocoa and no added sugar.
Its dark chocolate range includes different formats and cocoa percentages, including 70%, 80% and 85% products.
These bars have product-specific Fairtrade ingredient wording and come as single 90 g or 180 g bars. If you need separate portions or a particular certification scope, check the packaging before choosing.
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A single larger bar to consider if a shared format suits your refreshments. The product description states at least 70% cocoa and names Fairtrade cocoa, sugar and cocoa butter. It lists soya and precautionary warnings for gluten-containing cereals, eggs, milk, nuts and peanuts; check the current wrapper, its Fairtrade claim and whether its format suits the way you plan to serve it.
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A single-bar option for recipients who want an 85% cocoa chocolate. The description names Fairtrade cocoa, sugar and vanilla, while noting that these may be mixed with non-certified ingredients on a mass-balance basis. Check the exact wrapper for the Fairtrade mark and for its warnings about almonds, hazelnuts, milk and nuts.
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A single fruit-flavoured bar to consider for a small refreshment supply. Its description states at least 70% cocoa, 3% freeze-dried raspberry pieces and Fairtrade cocoa and sugar. Check the current wrapper for the Fairtrade claim and for milk, gluten and nut information before offering it to anyone with an allergy.
The Fairtrade Foundation says the classic Fairtrade Mark indicates that every ingredient which can be Fairtrade-certified is certified. If a bar instead makes an ingredient-specific claim, check which ingredient it names rather than assuming the same scope.
No. Cocoa percentage describes the bar’s cocoa content, not the scope of a Fairtrade claim. Check the mark or product-specific Fairtrade ingredient wording separately.
Do not assume so. Reviewed dark chocolate products carry ‘may contain’ warnings for milk or nuts, including products described as vegan. Use the current wrapper’s ingredients and allergen statement to assess the particular bar against that person’s requirements.
If you are starting or taking over a food business, the Food Standards Agency says you must register with the local authority at least 28 days before trading or food operations start. Whether your planned car boot sale activity counts as a food business depends on the circumstances; confirm this with the relevant local authority and check the organiser’s conditions before trading.