Buyers working to a Fairtrade policy
You need evidence for the certification specified by your event policy. A general responsible-sourcing statement or a different cocoa certification does not establish a FAIRTRADE Mark.
Who is buying for the event?
Conference refreshment organisers
You need a format that works for hand-outs or a shared table, with ingredient and allergen information available for the cakes attendees are offered.
What should you check before ordering?
Set the event’s certification requirement first, then choose a serving format and check the information that will accompany the cakes.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Certification claim | Check the exact product’s mark and what it certifies. The Fairtrade Foundation says its white Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Mark identifies a Fairtrade-sourced ingredient; an Asda or Waitrose Rainforest Alliance cocoa claim is a different claim. | If I must provide Fairtrade-certified Jaffa Cakes, I need confirmation for the variant being supplied before describing it as Fairtrade. |
| Serving format | Compare cakes per pack with portions per pack. McVitie’s specifies six snack packs of three cakes; Sainsbury’s lists a 24-cake pack, while Waitrose states five servings for its 125g mini-cake pack. | For hand-outs, separate snack packs would simplify portioning. For a shared table, I need to plan quantities using the actual cake count or stated serving size. |
| Allergen information | Check the delivered variant’s ingredients and precautionary advice. Keep its identity and allergen information available if cakes are taken out of their packaging. | Attendees need to be able to identify the cakes being served and read the relevant allergy information, even when I set them out on a shared table. |
Common catering mistakes
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Calling any responsibly sourced cocoa Fairtrade
A Rainforest Alliance cocoa claim or a retailer’s sourcing statement does not, by itself, establish a FAIRTRADE Mark.
Use the certification name shown for the exact variant, and make a Fairtrade claim only when its mark supports that wording.
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Separating cakes from their allergen information
Ingredient lists and precautionary advice differ between the listed products, so information for one pack should not be used to identify another.
Check the delivered labels and keep each product’s identity and allergen information available alongside the cakes you serve.
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Planning solely from a pack count
A count of cakes, a count of separate snack packs and a serving stated by weight answer different catering questions.
Plan using the format you will actually serve, then confirm the quantity you can order for the event.
Brand and retailer references
These product-line examples help distinguish pack formats and cocoa claims; inclusion does not establish Fairtrade certification.
McVitie’s
Its Jaffa Cakes range includes a snack-pack format for separate hand-outs.
- McVitie’s specifies six packs containing three cakes each.
- Check the exact pack for any certification required by the event and for its ingredient information.
Tesco
Tesco’s Jaffa Cakes range lists an own-label orange twin pack alongside branded formats.
- The listed own-label twin pack is 2 × 150g.
- Check the particular pack’s certification and allergens rather than relying on the range listing.
Sainsbury’s
Its own-label 24-cake pack provides a stated count for planning a shared table.
- The product listing states 24 cakes.
- Sainsbury’s includes a milk-allergy warning related to manufacturing methods; check the delivered pack and confirm orderability.
Asda
Asda lists a 150g own-label Jaffa Cakes pack with a Rainforest Alliance cocoa claim.
- The named cocoa claim gives buyers a specific scheme to compare with their event policy.
- That claim is not Fairtrade certification. Asda lists wheat, soya and egg among the declared allergens.
M&S
An Ocado listing describes M&S dark-chocolate orange Jaffa Cakes and includes M&S’s own responsible-cocoa-sourcing statement.
- The listing identifies a dark-chocolate orange variant.
- The sourcing statement does not establish Fairtrade certification; the listing also gives nut and peanut precautionary advice.
Waitrose
Waitrose lists 125g mini Jaffa Cakes with a Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa claim.
- The listing states five 25g servings, a useful basis for portion planning.
- The cocoa claim is not Fairtrade certification, and the listing says the product may contain milk.
Joybuy Jaffa Cakes for conference catering
These McVitie’s formats offer choices for a shared table, separate hand-outs or a smaller multipack order. If your conference requires a FAIRTRADE Mark, confirm it for the exact product before ordering.
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McVitie’s 80 Jaffa Cakes 1.07kg
The stated 80-cake format gives a cake count for planning a shared conference table. Check the delivered pack’s allergens and certification before serving or making a Fairtrade claim.
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McVitie’s The Original Jaffa Cakes Snack Pack 6 × 3pk 198g
Six separate three-cake packs provide a stated portion format for conference hand-outs. Check the delivered wrappers for allergens and any certification your event requires.
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McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Original Triple Pack 330g
The 330g triple pack is a multipack option when you plan to set cakes out for attendees. Confirm the delivered pack’s allergen information and any required FAIRTRADE Mark; a general cocoa-sourcing statement is not that mark.
Questions about sourcing and serving
Does a Rainforest Alliance cocoa claim make Jaffa Cakes Fairtrade?
No. Asda and Waitrose state Rainforest Alliance cocoa claims for their listed products, while the Fairtrade Foundation describes its own distinct marks. If Fairtrade certification is required, check the mark for the exact Jaffa Cakes supplied.
Does a Fairtrade mark mean the cocoa in every cake was kept separate?
Not necessarily. The Fairtrade Foundation explains that certified commodities may mix with non-Fairtrade ingredients. Check what the particular mark says it certifies rather than assuming physical separation in an individual cake.
What if cakes are removed from their wrappers for a shared table?
Keep the exact product’s identity and allergen information available to attendees. The Food Standards Agency says retail and catering food businesses must provide allergen information; who is responsible for the service depends on the event arrangements.
Can I plan a future event using a product listing’s cake count?
Use a stated cake count to estimate the format you need, then confirm the quantity you can order. Sainsbury’s lists 24 cakes for its own-label pack, but that listing was marked out of stock when checked.