Who is this choice relevant to?

DIY fillers who care about Fairtrade

You’re making your own advent calendar and want to check for a specific Fairtrade claim on the chocolate packaging, rather than relying on a general sustainability claim.

Fans of dark chocolate flakes who avoid milk

You’re looking for a vegan-labelled option, while also bearing in mind the warning that it may contain milk and lactose.

Anyone preparing individual treats

You’re comparing loose flakes with a bar you can break up yourself or a complete calendar with pre-filled compartments.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether you want actual flakes or simply need individual advent treats. The product format determines how much portioning and packaging you’ll need to do yourself.

What to consider What to check before buying Who should consider this?
Fairtrade claim Check the certification or the Fairtrade Cocoa claim on the packaging you choose. Read any accompanying explanation of the certification too. If I’m choosing the chocolate for an advent calendar myself, I want to know exactly which Fairtrade claim appears on that particular product. For around 36% of consumers, checking the certification is their main concern.
Filling each compartment Compare the size of the compartments with loose flakes, pieces of a bar you break up yourself or a complete calendar. Anyone who wants to prepare a separate treat for each day needs to decide how much portioning and packaging they’re happy to do at home. For around 29% of consumers, convenience comes first.
Ingredients and flavour Read the ingredients and allergen information; distinguish between ‘contains milk’ and ‘may contain milk’. Then choose between dark and milk chocolate. I want the type of chocolate to suit the recipient, and I take a milk warning seriously, even when a product is labelled vegan. For around 21% of consumers, getting this right is their top priority.
Quantity Work out how many compartments you need to fill and whether you’ll use the rest of the pack. PLUS lists both flake varieties as 300 g. When making a small advent calendar myself, I want to know in advance whether I’ll have lots of flakes left over. Around 14% of consumers give the quantity needed top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Rainforest Alliance with Fairtrade

    ALDI lists Rainforest Alliance for Kiekeboe chocolate flakes, while PLUS lists Fairtrade Cocoa for its flakes. These are not the same claims.

    If you’re specifically looking for Fairtrade, check the claim on the packaging you choose.

  • Assuming vegan-labelled means milk-free

    PLUS dark chocolate flakes are labelled vegan, but according to the product information, they may contain milk and lactose.

    If you’re avoiding milk, check the allergen warning on the current packaging too; don’t base your choice on the vegan label alone.

  • Buying loose flakes without a plan for the compartments

    A pack of flakes isn’t portioned out by day. PLUS sells its varieties in 300 g packs, so decide in advance how much you want to put in each compartment.

    Choose flakes if you want to portion them yourself and have a use for any leftovers; otherwise, compare a bar or a complete calendar.

    You may need small bags or containers for individual portions.

  • Relying on a seasonal version you’ve seen before

    An advent calendar is a seasonal product, so the version you saw previously may not be the same one available when you buy.

    Check the current version, certification and availability at the retailer shortly before buying.

Brands and product ranges to consider

PLUS

PLUS lists Fairtrade Cocoa on both its dark and milk chocolate flakes, sold in 300 g packs: two flake options for anyone filling advent calendar compartments themselves.

  • The dark variety is labelled vegan and lists at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • The dark variety may contain milk and lactose. The milk variety contains milk and lactose and lists at least 20% cocoa solids.

Fairtrade Original

Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade Original dark chocolate flakes, 300 g, as a flake product made with cocoa from Fairtrade farmers.

  • Albert Heijn marks this product as discontinued. Don’t count on being able to buy it without checking current availability.

Lidl Way To Go

A bar option if you’d rather break chocolate into pieces for your advent calendar compartments than use flakes.

  • Lidl describes its Way To Go chocolate bars as fully Fairtrade-certified.
  • These are bars, not flakes. Check the ingredients and allergens for the flavour you choose, and break up the bar yourself.

Choceur

ALDI lists a 200 g bar of dark Choceur chocolate as Fairtrade chocolate.

  • You can break a bar into pieces yourself for individual compartments.
  • This isn’t a flake product; read the allergen information on the packaging you choose.

Action

Action lists a 50 g chocolate advent calendar with Fairtrade certification as an alternative to filling the compartments yourself.

  • The chocolate is already in a calendar, so you don’t need to prepare individual portions.
  • Check the version you choose and the availability of this seasonal product shortly before buying.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are PLUS dark chocolate flakes suitable for a vegan advent calendar?

PLUS labels its dark flakes as vegan, but also states that they may contain milk and lactose. If the recipient needs to avoid milk, check the warning on the packaging rather than relying on the vegan label alone.

Does Fairtrade certification mean the cocoa is kept physically separate?

No, not always: Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa. If physical separation matters to you, read the certification and any accompanying explanation on the packaging.

How should I store chocolate flakes for homemade advent calendar compartments?

Follow the storage advice and best-before date on the packaging. PLUS says to store its dark and milk flakes in a cool, dry, dark place; seal the flakes well after portioning them.

Do I need to provide allergen information when offering homemade treats to consumers?

Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, food providers must inform consumers about allergens present in their products. For unpackaged treats, this information must be available where you offer them.

Can I still buy Fairtrade Original dark chocolate flakes at Albert Heijn?

Don’t assume so without checking first: Albert Heijn marks the Fairtrade Original dark chocolate flakes product page as ‘Discontinued’. Check availability before planning to use this product in your calendar.