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Original poster

Tony’s chocolate - duped

101 replies

Marsis · 20/02/2021 20:37

So not as ethical as they like to make out it seems. They partner with a large chocolate brand in Europe and their website and packaging is actually very carefully worded to say they are working towards ‘slave free’ chocolate rather then it actually being slave free. They are no longer on the ‘ethical lists’

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2021/02/13/tonys-chocolonely-dropped-from-ethical-list-over-slavery-links-14076481/amp/

I can’t help but think it’s very clever marketing on their part and quite unethical as I really think looking at the product they want you to think they are slave free.

They did a stunt a few weeks ago with chocolates copying kitkat etc taking the moral high ground but they actually aren’t any different to them it seems. Also they state that the big retailers were pressured to remove the copy bars but nothing to corroborate this and I think I read that they did it themselves as marketing ploy.

Many ethical retailers have pulled them claiming to have been misled. One quite prominent large ethical retailer has dug their heels in or ‘ placed their stake in the sand’ standing by the product saying they never said they were slave free etc although they themselves have made the 100% slavery free claim and not corrected anybody who has made the assumption. It feels like they can’t just admit they were wrong and trying to justify their position not doing their business any favours for the sake of some chocolate bars.

OP posts:
UltimateBlends · 20/02/2021 20:41

Thank you for bringing this to attention! I've been staring longingly at Tony's as I'm doing lent and have given up sugar, and had that down as my bar of choice once lent is over.
My mind is firmly changed now, I'm off to Google now!

SleepingKitten · 20/02/2021 20:44

To be honest, I was more shocked by the 'BMI bonus' they used to pay employees who weren't overweight than the stuff around not being able to guarantee 100% child Labour free. Chocolate has always been a murky and complex world.

I know BP are standing by them but they aren't the only ones. Some of the smaller indies are taking a 'watch and wait' approach to see where Tony's go from here.

Original poster
Marsis · 20/02/2021 21:03

@SleepingKitten yes! I meant to include that too. I haven’t seen any other retailers standing by but a ‘watch and wait’ approach seems better than BPs which comes across very defensive and dismissive of anybody that questions their stance.

OP posts:

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General food
howmanyroads · 20/02/2021 22:23

The chocolate isn't even that great, the hazelnut one tastes identical to Tesco's own (they are the same ingredient for ingredient)

I know that's not the point, have just never got the hype about the taste!

Duckyneedsaclean · 20/02/2021 22:25

BP seem to have gone a bit off the rails tbh

Timeforabiscuit · 20/02/2021 22:26

Thanks for bringing to light, damn it! After all the hype I really thought the Cadbury name and ethos was living on in a new generation- what a let down Sad.

flappityflippers1 · 20/02/2021 22:31

@Duckyneedsaclean I agree, I’ve stopped shopping there

flappityflippers1 · 20/02/2021 22:32

Thanks for bringing this to light OP, I love Tony’s primarily for the ethical side. Feel thoroughly duped and won’t be buying again!

BaronessBomburst · 20/02/2021 22:36

This isn't the quite the version I heard. I understand that their cocoa beans are sourced from Barry Callebaut, who have different operations in different countries. They say that the beans supplied to Tony's are produced completely separately and come from different warehouses than the beans in their main processing lines.
On the other hand, Barry Callebaut supply Nestlé.......

BaronessBomburst · 20/02/2021 22:43

It's a bit of a grey area for me. Almost like not wanting to buy organic produce at a supermarket because they also sell factory farmed eggs and meat.

AnnaMagnani · 20/02/2021 22:44

So I bought this for the first time in ages yesterday after lots of MNetters raving about it, despite 1. Me not having liked it the first time and 2. Me being on a diet and now having put 2 lbs on not solely one chocolate bar but it didn't help

Result:
I still didn't like it, I now have reflux AND you are telling me it's all lies about the ethics ShockAngrySad

StanfordPines · 20/02/2021 22:44

@Duckyneedsaclean

BP seem to have gone a bit off the rails tbh
BP?
HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 20/02/2021 22:46

I was a bit Hmm at the BP response. They have gone a bit astray from their ethical roots.

TheFutureIs · 20/02/2021 22:50

Babipur, online retailer of ethical products

iwasmadeinthe1980s · 20/02/2021 22:53

I read that and thought you were all talking about BP, as in British Petroleum.

I was shaking my head thinking honestly, people are surprised that a fuel company is unethical?!Hmm

As you were!

IaltagDhubh · 20/02/2021 22:55

@TheFutureIs

Babipur, online retailer of ethical products
Glad you cleared that up. I’ve never heard of Babipur. I was wondering since when British Petroleum were considered such an ethical brand. Confused Grin
Original poster
Marsis · 20/02/2021 22:55

Yes @BaronessBomburst they use that company to supply and process their beans. So they as a supposedly ethical outfit pay/rent space from a company that certainly isn’t. I think essentially I have learnt that chocolate is not an ethical product and there is no way of trying to spin it to be one.

OP posts:
EasterIssland · 20/02/2021 23:03

[quote flappityflippers1]@Duckyneedsaclean I agree, I’ve stopped shopping there[/quote]
Not wanting to derail but any reason apart from this ? I used to buy a lot but not so much anymore as I’ve most of what I need. However , I feel quite disappointed with their group. My posts keep being rejected and asked to ask in one of the threads and I never get a response. So I’m taking my money to other places which bother to answer my question.
I’ve seen a few Indies that will continue selling and some others that will stop.

Okokokbear · 20/02/2021 23:10

Ffs! Literally within 15 mins of each other I've found my fave podcast reply all is unethical and my fave chocolate. I've just Googled the bmi bonus. What the actual fuck?

MercyBooth · 20/02/2021 23:35

My dad cut his lip last weekend on a bit of candy cane shrapnel in their dark chocolate mint candy cane bar.

Part of my nieces birthday present is a bar of their pretzel and toffee flavour but she wont unwrap that till the 19th March.

MercyBooth · 20/02/2021 23:37

@AnnaMagnani I dont like it either. They do small bars and i tried the milk chocolate one and the salted caramel one and i didnt like either.

Duckyneedsaclean · 20/02/2021 23:40

@EasterIssland there's been a few issues with their fb group which have left a bit of a bad taste. Rejecting any posts talking about issues, weirdness with male staff being fawned over. I know they always release clothing drops slightly early too undercutting smaller indies sales. Just all seems a bit off. Few other things.

Really heavy repping too, though they all do that.

SeedlessJam · 20/02/2021 23:48

I also used to love BP but have found their FB group has become almost cult like and not as friendly as it used to be. There seems to be no consistency as to what is allowed to be spoken about and what is not, it seems to depend much more on who you are. Which is a shame because they stock a lot of my favourite bits and bobs! To be fair though it’s been a long time since I used it so it may be better now.

I am disappointed about Tony’s and their reaction. The chocolate is nice but some of the flavours are too wacky for me. The recent Christmas ones were lovely though! I’ve been eyeing up a new ethical brand made with Oat milk that I’m hoping to try!

MercyBooth · 20/02/2021 23:51

@SeedlessJam the dark mint candy cane and the milk choc gingerbread were the Christmas ones. My niece had the gingerbread one and liked it.

EasterIssland · 20/02/2021 23:54

[quote Duckyneedsaclean]@EasterIssland there's been a few issues with their fb group which have left a bit of a bad taste. Rejecting any posts talking about issues, weirdness with male staff being fawned over. I know they always release clothing drops slightly early too undercutting smaller indies sales. Just all seems a bit off. Few other things.

Really heavy repping too, though they all do that.[/quote]
Thank you. I’ve to say I barely pay attention anymore to their group ... cuz of what I’ve mentioned which matches what @SeedlessJam is saying as well. I know as well many people are disappointed as when there is duns drops they get an email not long after apologising but they’ve run out of stock of x item and can’t send them what the customer bought. So this is causing loads of problems for many

I’ve got 3 bars of Tony’s chocolate I got over Xmas. Hope the candy one doesn’t cause me any damage !

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