Shoppers choosing by cocoa percentage
If “dark” is too broad a description for your choice, a percentage on the exact bar lets you compare declared cocoa content. Lindt Shop UK lists EXCELLENCE bars at 70%, 78%, 85%, 90% and 99% minimum cocoa.
Who is this for?
Car boot sale refreshment sellers
Outdoor display calls for a shaded, dry place for packet goods and labels that customers can read. London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham’s event guidance also says not to place food for sale directly on the ground.
Customers checking allergens
Use the current wrapper for the exact bar. Lindt Shop UK lists precautionary allergen statements for its EXCELLENCE 90% and 99% bars, and the statements differ between those products.
What should you check?
Choose the cocoa level and bar size first, then check whether the pack and your display arrangements suit an outdoor sale.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa percentage | Read the declared minimum cocoa solids on the exact bar. Compare percentages without treating them as a measure of quality or allergy suitability. | I want customers to be able to pick a stated cocoa level, rather than guess from a “dark” label. |
| Bar format | Check the net weight as well as the percentage: Lindt Shop UK lists its EXCELLENCE 99% bar at 50g and its 90% bar at 100g. | A 50g and a 100g bar are different sale units, even when both appeal to customers seeking high cocoa content. |
| Outdoor storage | Follow the pack’s storage directions. Keep packet goods shaded, dry and off the ground, in line with London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham’s event guidance. | I need a display and stock area that protects the bars from direct sunlight and damp. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Keep each current wrapper available and check its ingredients and precautionary statements. Do not assume two cocoa percentages have identical allergen wording. | Customers need to read information for the bar they are actually buying, especially when checking allergens. |
| Preparing food for sale | Check whether you are operating a food business and whether anything you prepare and pack before sale falls under prepacked-for-direct-sale rules. | If I repackage bars or make chocolate refreshments, I need to establish the applicable registration and labelling duties before trading. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Assuming every dark bar states a high cocoa percentage
“Dark” alone does not tell a customer how much cocoa a bar declares. Cadbury UK identifies Bournville Classic Dark as a dark chocolate bar; a specific percentage should be established from the current pack before using it to describe that bar.
For a percentage-led display, check and show the declaration on each exact product rather than judging by brand or wrapper colour.
-
Assuming dark chocolate is free from milk, soya or nuts
Lindt Shop UK lists precautionary allergen statements for its EXCELLENCE 90% and 99% bars. A cocoa percentage does not establish whether a particular bar suits someone avoiding an allergen.
Keep the original labelled wrapper available and direct customers to the information for the exact bar; do not describe it as allergen-free without support from that product’s label.
-
Leaving bars in direct sunlight
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham’s event guidance says food displayed for sale should not be stored in direct sunlight or where it may get wet or damp.
Use shaded, dry storage off the ground and follow the storage instructions on each pack.
-
Repackaging food without checking the labelling rules
Food Standards Scotland says food prepacked for direct sale by a food business must carry its name and a full ingredients list. Repacking changes the information a customer can see on the original manufacturer’s wrapper.
Before preparing or prepacking refreshments, check how the applicable food-labelling requirements apply to your activity with the relevant food-safety authority.
Brand references
These product lines answer different questions; a familiar dark bar or a dairy-free range is not automatically a stated high-cocoa option.
Lindt
Lindt Shop UK lists EXCELLENCE dark bars with declared minimum cocoa levels of 70%, 78%, 85%, 90% and 99%.
- The stated percentages let customers choose a particular cocoa level.
- The EXCELLENCE 90% and 99% product pages carry product-specific precautionary allergen statements; check the current wrapper.
Cadbury
Cadbury UK identifies Bournville Classic Dark as a 100g dark chocolate bar and labels it vegetarian-friendly.
- Its named 100g format offers a straightforward dark-bar choice.
- Do not assign it a high-cocoa percentage without checking a declaration for the exact bar.
Galaxy
Galaxy says its Dairy Free range is registered with the Vegan Society and made in a dairy-free and gluten-free environment.
- The range gives customers seeking a vegan-labelled product a distinct option to check.
- A dairy-free range description does not establish a high cocoa percentage for an individual bar; check its current ingredients and allergen label.
Dark chocolate options on Joybuy
These bars offer stated 70%, 72% or 85% cocoa levels for a percentage-led refreshment selection. Before selling any of them, check the supplied unit’s wrapper, best-before date and packaging, as well as its storage directions.
No image available
Green & Black's Dark Chocolate 70% 90g
A 90g bar for customers choosing a stated 70% cocoa level. Its product description specifies a minimum of 70% cocoa solids and advises dry storage protected from heat. Check the current wrapper for allergens and the best-before date before sale.
No image available
Green & Black's Dark Chocolate 85% 90g
A 90g bar for a selection with a stated 85% cocoa level. Its product description specifies a minimum of 85% cocoa solids and advises keeping it dry and protected from heat. Check the current wrapper, packaging and best-before date before sale.
No image available
Morrisons The Best 85% Cocoa Ecuador Dark Chocolate 100g
A 100g bar identified with Ecuador and a stated minimum of 85% cocoa solids. Its product description calls for cool, dry storage away from direct sunlight. Use the supplied wrapper to check ingredients, allergens and the best-before date.
No image available
Morrisons The Best 72% Cocoa Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate 100g
A 100g bar identified with the Dominican Republic and a stated minimum of 72% cocoa solids. Its product description specifies cool, dry storage away from direct sunlight. Check the current pack for soya and other allergen information, packaging and the best-before date.
No image available
Lindt Excellence 85% Cocoa Dark 100g
A 100g bar with a stated minimum of 85% cocoa solids. Its product description calls for cool, dry storage; check the current pack for specific storage directions, allergens and the best-before date before displaying it outdoors.
Questions about selling dark chocolate
Which cocoa percentage should I choose for a car boot sale?
Choose a stated percentage that matches what your customers are looking for, rather than assuming one level suits everyone. Lindt Shop UK lists EXCELLENCE bars from 70% to 99% minimum cocoa; check bar weight too, since its 99% bar is 50g while its 90% bar is 100g. Percentage alone does not establish sweetness, quality or allergy suitability.
Does “dark chocolate” tell me the cocoa percentage?
No. If a particular cocoa level matters, check the declaration on the exact product and its current wrapper rather than inferring a percentage from the word “dark”.
Can sealed bars sit in direct sunlight during the sale?
Keep them out of direct sunlight. London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham’s outdoor-event guidance says food for sale should not be stored in direct sunlight or where it may get wet or damp; keep packet goods off the ground and follow their pack instructions.
Do I need to register to sell chocolate refreshments?
If you are operating a food business, check registration with your local authority before trading. GOV.UK states a requirement to register at least 28 days before trading in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Food Standards Scotland states that Scottish food businesses must register with their local authority at least 28 days before opening. Confirm how those rules apply to your proposed activity.
What changes if I pack refreshments myself before selling them?
Food you pack before offering it for direct sale may fall under prepacked-for-direct-sale labelling rules if you operate a food business. Food Standards Scotland states that such food must show its name and a full ingredients list. Check the applicable allergen-labelling requirements before preparing labels, rather than relying on information from an original wrapper you have removed.