A big tub of chocolates on the coffee table is one of the most reliably searched Christmas confectionery terms in the UK every November and December — partly out of tradition, and partly because everyone has strong, very specific opinions about which sweet in the tub is the best (and which one always gets left till last).
How the shareable tub became a Christmas fixture
The format has deep roots: Mackintosh's launched Quality Street in 1936, followed by Cadbury's Roses in 1938, both building on an earlier British tradition of boxed chocolate assortments as gifts. Celebrations arrived much later, in 1996-97, as Mars's answer to the format — miniature versions of existing bars like Mars, Bounty, Snickers and Twix in one tub rather than entirely new recipes. All three became genuinely national Christmas institutions, to the point that debates over the "worst sweet in the tin" are a recurring, semi-serious topic of British conversation every December.
Why it's a tub and not a box
Quality Street and Roses were originally sold in tins, which is part of why "tub" and "tin" get used almost interchangeably for the category even now that most versions ship in plastic tubs. The sealed, resealable tub format suits a sweet that's meant to be picked at over several weeks, rather than eaten in one sitting like a standard chocolate bar.
What we actually stock right now
We should be upfront: we don't currently stock the big three household-name tubs — Quality Street, Cadbury Roses or Celebrations — directly. If you're specifically after one of those, we're not the right place this year. What we do carry in the selection-box and shareable-chocolate space is genuinely good, just a different set of brands. Our Lindt Swiss Luxury Selection Box 193g and 143g are both well stocked. Our Merci Finest Selection Box 250g is in stock, though the larger 400g version is currently out of stock. Cadbury Heroes Chocolate Box 290g and Maltesers and Friends Chocolate Large Christmas Selection Box 196g (Case of 9) are both listed but out of stock at the moment — worth checking back on closer to Christmas if either is the one you want.
FAQ
Do you sell Quality Street, Roses or Celebrations?
Not currently — those three aren't in our range at the moment. We do stock other selection boxes and chocolate tubs, including Lindt and Merci, plus Cadbury Heroes and Maltesers and Friends when they're in stock.
Why is it called a chocolate "tub" if it used to come in a tin?
Quality Street and Roses were originally sold in metal tins, and the name habits stuck even as most versions moved to resealable plastic tubs, which are cheaper to produce and easier to reseal between servings.
What's the difference between Celebrations and Roses or Quality Street?
Celebrations is made up of miniature versions of existing chocolate bars (Mars, Bounty, Twix and so on), while Quality Street and Roses use their own dedicated recipes and shapes not sold individually elsewhere.
Is Cadbury Heroes in stock right now?
No — our Cadbury Heroes Chocolate Box 290g is currently out of stock. Our Lindt and Merci selection boxes are available in the meantime.