Delivery & Returns & FAQS

Delivery & Shipping Information

We want to get your chocolates to your door as quickly and smoothly as possible. Here is everything you need to know about how we ship your orders.

 Dispatch & Delivery Times

• Same-Day Dispatch: Place your order before 1:00 PM (Monday–Friday), and we’ll get it out the door the very same day!
• Next Working Day: Orders placed after 1:00 PM, or over weekends and Bank Holidays, will be securely packed and shipped the next working day.
• FREE Express Delivery: Spend £40 or more, and the Express Delivery is on us!
• UK Shipping: We partner with Evri to deliver across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands. Delivery typically takes 1–3 working days from the day after dispatch.

Please note: Delivery times are estimates. During peak seasons like Christmas or major promotions, couriers can take a little longer to get your chocolates to you.

 Managing Your Delivery Preferences

To guarantee your parcel arrives exactly where you want it, we highly recommend setting your delivery preferences directly through the Evri app or website. This is the most reliable way to ensure your driver gets your instructions.

• Use the Evri app or website: Add your delivery preferences directly in your account — this is the most reliable way to make sure the driver sees them. https://www.evri.com/customer/account/preferences/intro

Through Evri, you can choose options like:

• A dedicated safe place
• A preferred neighbour
• Collection from a local ParcelShop or locker
• Important Note on Deliveries: Once Evri confirms a successful delivery to your chosen address, safe place, or preferred neighbour, the parcel is legally considered delivered. Because we cannot control external factors after this point, we are unable to cover parcels that are unfortunately lost or stolen after a confirmed successful delivery.

If you aren’t home and haven’t set preferences, Evri will make up to three delivery attempts (or leave it with a nearby neighbour at the driver’s discretion) If you do not wish for your order to left with your neighbour please ensure your delivery preference has been updated your Evri app to ensure you get your order.

 Something Missing? We’ve Got You Covered.

Sometimes parcels take an unexpected detour. If your order hasn’t arrived within your estimated delivery window, please don’t worry—we are here to help sort it out!

• Step 1: Let us know. If your tracking hasn’t shown any movement for 3 working days from when you receive your “We’ve got it” email from Evri, drop us a line with your order number so we can look into it.
• Step 2: The Quick Search. We will immediately open a priority trace with Evri to locate your items. They can usually get things moving again within 48 hours.
• Step 3: Fast Resolution. If Evri cannot locate your parcel within 5 working days from when you receive your “We’ve got it” email from Evri, we will gladly ship out a replacement order or issue a full refund.

To ensure fairness and prevent misuse, all missing parcel claims undergo this swift courier investigation before a replacement or refund is finalized.

Because our chocolates are freshly prepared and cannot be safely resold once they leave us, we are unfortunately unable to offer a full refund if a parcel is returned to us by Evri due to an incorrect address, or if it goes unclaimed at a local depot. In these specific circumstances, a 50% handling and disposal fee of the total order value will be deducted from any partial refund issued. We kindly ask that you double-check your delivery details carefully before completing your order.

Cancellations & Returns Due to the food safety regulations governing perishable goods, we cannot accept returns or issue refunds if you change your mind after your order has been dispatched.

Free Delivery on orders over £40.

Express, Evri Delivery, order before 1 pm, depending on location can take 1 – 3 working days from the “we’ve got it” email from Evri. Requires a signature on delivery. To track your order please visit www.evrie.com/track-a-parcel/ and enter your 16 character reference.

• up to 400g £5.50
• up to 500g £5.99
• up to 700g £6.50
• up to 800g £6.99
• up to 900g £7.50
• up to 1000g £7.99
• up to 1250g £8.50

Jersey Delivery: 1 -3  Days

• up to 2.000g £4.50
• up to 4.000 g £7.99

Click and collect: Ready in Store Next Working Day

Orders wrapped in tissue paper, for a gift presentation. Packed in specially-designed outer polystyrene casing in warmer months or environment-friendly cardboard boxes.

To pre-order, please specify your desired dispatch date (not delivery date) in the comments section at checkout.

Delivery to those outlying areas is from 2 to 5 days by Evri

Scottish Islands – IV41-51, IV55-56, KA27-28, KW15-17, PA41-80, PH42-44, PH15-18

Scottish Highlands – FK17-22, IV1-40, IV52-54, KW1-4, PA20-38, PH15-41, PH49-50, AB36-38, AB54-56

Northern Ireland – BT

Channel Islands/Isles of Scilly – GY, JE*, TR21-25

To ensure your order arrives with you in perfect condition, we have our specially-designed outer polystyrene casing which protects the fresh Belgian chocolates from temperature changes in transit, for use in our warmer months. We also use environmentally friendly packing for our smaller ballotins. All orders are wrapped in tissue, for a gift presentation. Our Luxury gift boxes have been chosen as they provide a hard firm casing.

To help complete your gifts, you also will be able to add your own free personal message and choose luxury wrapping and personalised ribbon.

A flavour guide is online and downloadable, you will receive a QR for easy access with your order, if you want a paper copy please advise us at checkout.

We are currently shipping to the UK and the Channel Islands only.

Unfortunately, we are no longer shipping to any countries outside of the UK and the Channel Islands.

As we look forward to the beautiful sunny weather, we want to ensure your luxury chocolates arrive looking and tasting just as perfect as when they leave our boutique.

While our store is fully temperature and humidity controlled, transit during warmer months can be unpredictable. Even if it feels cool where you live, delivery vans and sorting depots along the courier route can experience significant temperature fluctuations.

Because chocolate is highly sensitive to heat, shipping during hot spells does carry a small risk. To help us ensure your chocolates arrive safely, we highly recommend monitoring your local forecast.

Our Warm Weather Options:

• Delay Your Delivery: If you are worried about the heat, you can request a specific dispatch date in the comments box at checkout. We will happily hold your order in our temperature-controlled store until a cooler spell arrives.

• Courier Safe Place: We strongly advise setting up a “Safe Place” preference with Evri that is entirely in the shade (e.g., a covered porch or garage) so your parcel is never left sitting in direct sunlight.

Please note that because heat damage during transit is beyond our direct control, orders shipped during periods of extreme heat are sent at the buyer’s discretion.

We are sorry that your order didn’t arrive in perfect condition.

Please see our Hot Weather delivery section for more information.

Jersey customers now have the option for items to be posted locally.

There are 2 delivery options:

• Local delivery (Jersey: starting from £4.50) Please note that we use Evri for our local deliveries. Items may take 1-3 working days to arrive. 
• ‘Click & Collect Jersey only’, Items must be collected in-store with this service the NEXT WORKING DAY after ordering (Weekends are not included in a working day). If you need a set date for collection, please contact us with your requested collection date when ordering.

We will dispatch orders the same day, (Monday to Friday) for orders placed before 1.00 pm. Orders placed after 1.00 pm on a Friday will be sent the following Monday, as long as the following Monday is not a bank holiday. As a general rule, our cut-off time is 1.00 pm Monday to Friday.

Large or multiple orders will take a few days to complete (as all online orders are handpicked)

Orders over £40 will be sent as a Express tracked service at no extra charge, to ensure safe delivery, however, they will require a signature on delivery. We will send you a confirmation email on receipt of your chocolate by post order and a shipping e-mail to confirm shipment.

Please note that we DO NOT ship e-gift certificates.

These are sent by email. Once purchased the value of the Gift Certificate will be added to your own personal Gift Certificate Account. If you have funds in your Gift Certificate Account, you will notice that the amount now shows in the Shopping Cart box, and also provides a link to a page where you can send your Gift Certificate via email.

Multiple orders may not all be dispatched at the same time. During busy periods, e.g. Christmas or Easter chocolates, delivery times have been known to increase by 24 hrs. We are unable to dispatch on bank holidays and Sundays.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer multi-address orders now and suggest if you need to send to multiple addresses making separate orders or contacting us by phone and we’ll process it for you at a nominal fee.

Evri will not deem a parcel to be lost until it has been in the postal system for a period of 7 WORKING days (UK). Although it is highly unlikely deliveries will take this amount of time we are unable to dispatch a replacement until Evri have confirmed the location of the original parcel.

Once your order has been dispatched we are unable to cancel it or request postal address changes or recall it. Due to the fresh nature of our chocolates, we do not accept orders back. Our standard delivery dates are not guaranteed by Evri.

Our product has a recommended consume by date of 8 weeks from dispatch.

A flavour guide is online and downloadable, you will receive a QR for easy access with your order, if you want a paper copy please advise us at checkout.

Some of our boxes are designed to fit through the majority of UK letterboxes. In cases where the item cannot be posted through the letterbox and the recipient is not at home, the Evri service may try to leave in a secure location, or after 3 failed delivery attempts it could be left with a neighbour returned to us at Evri’s discretion. Evri should leave you a card to tell you that your parcel has been left with a neighbour.

Evri may return the parcel to us or leave it with a neighbour at their discretion. Delivery details can be accessed on the tracking link provided with your order.  Please note that Chocolate Express is not responsible if your parcel is left with a neighbour.

We accept no liability if delivery is not made due to the recipient not being available or the recipient failing to divert the order to a safe-place, neighbour, or closest Parcel Shop or Locker.

Use the Evri app or website: Add your delivery preferences directly in your account — this is the most reliable way to make sure the driver sees them. https://www.evri.com/customer/account/preferences/intro

UK Delivery Area: the United Kingdom includes Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands.

We deliver to all UK post codes including businesses and hospitals. Due to the nature of larger hospitals and businesses we highly recommend providing as much detail to the delivery address, this helps reduce the risk of your goods going missing.

Sadly no, you can advise us of a day you would like your products to be dispatched, however, this would mean that the package would have to be signed for. Our Express delivery service is with Evri and normally is delivered before 1 pm  1-3 working days from the “we’ve got it” Evri email. Delivery is Monday to Friday.

🎄 Christmas Delivery Information 🎄

Just a little jingle-filled reminder: we can’t take responsibility for parcels once they’ve been delivered, so please keep an eye out for your festive goodies!

During this magical (and very busy!) season, shipping may take a little longer than usual.

✨ Recommended last postage date for pre-Christmas delivery:
Thursday 18th December for orders placed before 1pm.

We’ll also be dispatching on Friday 19th (likely to arrive before Christmas) and Monday 22nd (which may arrive in time—fingers crossed! 🎅).

Our next dispatch after the big day will be 29th December.

Wishing you a smooth, sparkly, chocolate-filled Christmas delivery! ✨🍫

Please note we do not post out on any Bank holidays. Our store is based in Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, which enjoys an additional Bank holiday to the rest of the UK which falls on the 9th of May, known as Liberation Day. All orders placed on a Bank holiday will be dispatched on the next working day.

All payments are processed through our secure site in accordance with the standing Consumer Protection Distance Selling Regulations, we will mail you details of your order and confirmation details of payment.  It is our policy not to sell or pass on any personal details. We will store and process any details you provide at the time of registering or purchasing to help support our service to you and from time to time we will provide you with details of our products and special offers.

Payment in order to be processed are required to have the name and billing address given, at the time of order, must be the same as the registered name and address of the cardholder. Failure to supply correct details may result in your order being delayed. In accordance with the standing Consumer Protection Distance Selling Regulations, we will mail you details of your order.

You may cancel your order at any time BEFORE dispatch. Should you wish to cancel your order please contact our customer services on 01534 873834.

If you are in any way dissatisfied with our products or our service we will always do our best to ensure that we resolve the problem to your satisfaction. You may cancel your order at any time BEFORE it is dispatched and we will issue a refund.

Please contact us before returning the goods by email at support@chocolate-express.co.uk.

Shipping costs are non-refundable.

We do not offer refunds for the late arrival of chocolates.  After 5 WORKING days of no movement we will only send out a replacement box as soon as Evri have confirmed the location of the original item. We will do this as a tracked service that will require a signature upon delivery. Please ensure your chocolates have not been left with the local parcel shop, locker or neighbour as we will submit claims for non-delivery with Evri.

Use the Evri app or website: Add your delivery preferences directly in your account — this is the most reliable way to make sure the driver sees them.

https://www.evri.com/customer/account/preferences/intro

As the nature of our product is handmade and fresh, the weights and sizes of chocolates do vary, therefore the quoted number of chocolates may vary accordingly. Our loose chocolates vary in weight from approximately 15 – 28 grams therefore our shipping weights can also vary accordingly. Shipping weights are measured in Gross (e.g. Item + Packaging = Gross Weight).

We will always endeavour to dispatch your order the day it is placed (Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays and weekends) – providing your order is received by 1.00pm. On the rare occasion that a product is not in stock this may not be possible. Should this happen we will contact you to propose an alternative product of equal value.

A flavour guide is online and downloadable, you will receive a QR for easy access with your order, if you want a paper copy please advise us at checkout.

No, we have a ‘Just Checkout’ service where you can place an order without registering with us, as a guest. If you wish to store delivery addresses and view your order history or take advantage of our loyalty scheme then you will need to create an account with us. We also can accept payment by PayPal for your ease. If you do open a VIP account and sign up to our newsletters you will receive an email with a 15% discount code to use on your first order. This might take a few hours to come through however should you please an order during this time and we can confirm you have signed up to our newsletter we refund the difference  of the 15% back to you if you contact us on support@chocolate-express.co.uk.

Disclaimer: Due to sizing and packaging restrictions, please note we can only include a limited number of highlighted chocolates. Due to their sizes more will NOT fit in the box.

If your order is successful you will be given an order number and receive an automated email to confirm the order details. If you’re in any way unsure please email our customer services on support@chocolate-express.co.uk

We are happy to take phone orders, however your order will be processed quicker online.

It may be possible to change your order or delivery address if your order has not been processed. We aim to dispatch all orders before 1.00pm Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays. As our main priority is to process orders as quickly as possible, we may not have received or processed email queries before your order has been prepared and dispatched. Please ensure that your delivery address is accurate for your order. We will, of course, endeavor to make any changes required if your order has not been dispatched.

You can cancel your order providing it has not already been dispatched. You cannot do this online, unfortunately.

If you have received an incorrect order, please take a photo of your order received and invoice and email it to us at support@chocolate-express.co.uk We will then be able to investigate this and get back to you promptly.

Once an order has been placed with us and has been marked as dispatched, we reserve the right to charge a postage administration fee of £5. After the order has been collected by Evri we are unable to recall or alter the delivery address as we no longer have access to the parcel.

We do accept corporate/ large orders, please email support@chocolate-express.co.uk with your requirements for your order.

As corporate/ large orders involve a high number of bespoke items, the ability to make alterations after purchase is costly and time-consuming, therefore if a large order has been placed with us, we have the right to charge an administration of £15 for each alteration made, before the order has been sent.

We charge an administrative fee to all orders taken over the telephone or email to multiple addresses:

0-4 different addresses have no charge.

5-9 different addresses have a £15 admin charge added

10+ different addresses have a £25 admin charge added

After the order has been shipped we are unable to recall or alter the delivery as it is in the hands of Evri.

For the ultimate personal gift, choose your own selection. To help choose, you can view our flavour guide or visit our chocolate menu pages, which are sectioned under flavour types, i.e. Butter Creams & Caramel, Ganache, Pralines, Truffles etc.

Once decided, click on ‘Choose Your selection’. From here, you can view & select our chocolates & the quantity required. Then click ‘Add to basket’.

We will take your order direct at support@chocolate-express.co.uk

You can also use the gift box message section to provide any extra information. 

A flavour guide is online and downloadable, you will receive a QR for easy access with your order, if you want a paper copy please advise us at checkout.

As our chocolates are fresh, the contents of each selection will vary, although some key signature pieces will always be in stock like the Manon Blanc and Manon Cafe. Others will be in and out of stock and with over 100 different chocolates, it is not possible to get one of each!

In Belgium, “praline” is the word for chocolate with a filling. In the UK, “praline” is a term often used for a specific type of chocolate with a filling consisting of a fine paste of nuts, sugar and chocolate. This naturally causes some confusion!
On this site, we refer to our chocolates as “Belgian pralines”.

“Buttercream” is the name for a delicious, fresh, flavoured soft filling. It is made from a base of real fresh butter, fresh cream and milk, and flavoured with either coffee, vanilla or fruit.

All of our traditional Belgium Ballotin Chocolate Boxes can be gift-wrapped, you can choose between different wrappings and we also have seasonal variations.

You can leave a message in the free gift message box under each product for the greeting cards. If you want the bespoke ribbon please write what you want on it in the Bespoke Ribbon Text box.

We dispatch all orders placed before 1.00 pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). We do not dispatch goods on Saturday or Sunday or any bank holidays.

Please note that the delivery date is NOT GUARANTEED. If the recipient is not in and it is not possible to leave the item in a secure area, Evri will attempt up to 3 delivery attempts.

We accept no liability if delivery is not made due to the recipient not being available or due to the recipient failing to  within a reasonable time to arrange collection from local Parcel Shop or Locker.

Use the Evri app or website: Add your delivery preferences directly in your account — this is the most reliable way to make sure the driver sees them.

https://www.evri.com/customer/account/preferences/intro

UK Delivery Area: the United Kingdom includes Scotland, England, Wales, and Channel Islands.

Any discount codes or special offers are issued to VIP customers only that have also signed up to our newsletters and will have a limited time and quantity of usage, this information will be stated on the newsletter itself.

Discount codes can not be redeemed against any product already marked on a special offer price.

You can NOT use your loyalty points in conjunction with discount codes.

Please note that you cannot use more than one promotional code at one time.

Discount codes can not be redeemed against any product already marked on a special offer price.

You can use your loyalty points in conjunction with discount codes.

Jersey customers now have the option for items to be posted locally. At the checkout, choose Jersey. Please note that we use Evri for our local deliveries. Items may take 1-3 working days to arrive.

Our recommended final day for Easter delivery is Wednesday 16th for express deliveries.

We will continue to ship express deliveries until Thursday 17th April 2025.

As per Evri they will deliver orders placed by Wednesday 16th April 2025 by 1pm on Tuesday 22nd April 2025, due to Evri being closed over the Easter Bank Holidays.

Saturday Deliveries are dependent if the Evri services your provided postcode area.

Our next dispatch day will then be 22nd April 2025 after Easter.

It all depends on what type of allergy you have. Some Leonidas products contain allergens (gluten or nuts for instance). If you have a food allergy, simply send us an e-mail and we’ll be happy to tell you which chocolates are safe for the allergy you specify.

In short:
Nuts: Leonidas Products may contain Nuts and are processed in a factory that contains nuts.
Alcohol: Leonidas products may contain Alcohol.
Eggs and egg derivatives (albumin): Some Leonidas products contain eggs. Please see our Flavour & Allergy Guide for further details.
Gluten: Gluten is a molecule found in cereals such as wheat, barley, oats and their derivatives such as malt and starch. Some Leonidas products are made with ingredients that contain gluten and that may contain traces of gluten. All Leonidas products are made in factories where gluten is present.
Dried fruits: Many Leonidas products contain nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, etc.). All Leonidas product can contain traces of dried fruit.
Milk (lactose, milk proteins, etc.): Dairy products are naturally key ingredients in the manufacture of some Leonidas products. Leonidas quality assurance procedures demand that between manufacturing cycles, i.e. between different types of chocolate, the equipment will be properly cleaned and rinsed. Despite the implementation of good manufacturing practices, traces of milk proteins may be found in some of our dark chocolates. The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFA) have identified milk proteins as a food allergen. However, methods of analysis have recently become available to manufacturers that allow milk proteins to be detected in minute proportions of parts per million. For the benefit of its customers, Leonidas prints the following statement on all its packagings at the end of the list of ingredients for its dark chocolate “Peut contenir des traces de protines de lait” (may contain traces of milk proteins).

Gluten is a molecule found in cereals such as wheat, barley, oats and their derivatives such as malt and starch. While our fudge is not a Leonidas product and is sold to us as a ‘gluten-free’ product, it is made in a factory where gluten is present. We have been advised that the chances of cross-contamination are slim to none but there is still a remote possibility that it may contain traces of gluten.

All the chocolates used in the production of our pralines are free from colourants and preservatives.
Dark chocolate (min 54% cocoa) cocoa paste, sugar cocoa butter, emulsifier, soya lecithin (may contain traces of milk proteins).
Milk chocolate (min 30% cocoa) sugar, powdered milk, cocoa paste, cocoa butter, emulsifiers, soya lecithin, flavourings and natural vanilla.
White confectionery (min 26% cocoa) sugar, powdered full milk, cocoa butter, emulsifier, soya lecithin, flavouring and natural vanilla.
Pralines (chocolate candy min 25% chocolate) one of the three (3) chocolates mentioned above and the fillings/preparations containing some of the following ingredients. Cocoa paste, cocoa butter cocoa powder, coffee, fresh butter, fresh cream, milk cream, evaporated full milk and powdered full milk, sugars, (sucrose, fructose, dextrose, lactose) glucose syrup, emulsifier, soya lecithin and among other fruits, candied fruits, dried fruits, (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts,…) popped rice, spirits and liqueurs, natural and artificial flavourings, colouring agents, E102, E110, E122, E132, E141, preservative, E200, E202, acidity corrector, E330, Marzipan made of at least 33% rough almonds, sugars, (sucrose, lactose) almonds, glucose syrup, preservatives E200, E202, colourants, E102, E110, E122, E132, covering agent, E904.
All our products may contain traces of nuts and/or nougat.

Chocolate is made from the seeds of the tropical cacao tree, theobroma cacao. The cacao tree was named by the 17th-century Swedish naturalist, Linnaeus. The Greek term theobroma literally means “food of the gods”. Cacao beans were used by the Aztecs to prepare a hot, frothy drink which had stimulant and restorative properties. The chocolate itself was reserved for warriors, nobility and priests. The Aztecs valued its supposed ability to confer wisdom and vitality. A fermented chocolate drink was also used in their religious ceremonies. The sacred concoction was associated with Xochiquetzal, the goddess of fertility. Emperor Montezuma allegedly drank 50 goblets a day. The Aztecs paid their taxes in cacao beans, 100 cacao beans could buy a slave.

No. From 3rd August 2003, a European Directive has allowed chocolate manufacturers to use vegetable fats (instead of cocoa butter) in their chocolates, albeit under certain very strict conditions. This Directive caused a lot of controversy among manufacturers and consumers but at Leonidas, we have a very clear and simple position on this issue. Leonidas only uses 100% cocoa butter in its chocolates and fillings. The statement that “Leonidas is 100% pure cocoa butter… and 100% quality” is truer now than ever.

We are happy to inform you that a great selection of our chocolate is approved under the Kashruth certification of the cRc (Chicago Rabbinical Council). We are happy to create a bespoke box containing your favourite flavours.

These specific pralines are not ‘sugar-free’ but rather ‘Reduced sugar’. ‘Low in sugar’ does not mean that there is no sugar in the product. The product still contains the sugar naturally present in milk (lactose). The sugar which is normally used when making the chocolates and fillings is replaced by sweeteners.

The company that supplies Leonidas with its couverture chocolate guarantees that the soya lecithin used in the manufacturing process is exclusively from soy plantations that are strictly controlled to ensure they do not contain genetically modified soya and is PCR negative.

As for glucose and products containing glucose, our suppliers guarantee that the glucose is either produced from starch from non-genetically modified wheat or that controls are in place to ensure that no genetically modified maize is used in the course of manufacture.

Leonidas Maîtres Chocolatiers are obsessed with quality. For their creations, they only want pure cocoa butter. So you won’t find a single drop of palm oil in Leonidas chocolate. It’s better for the taste and the planet!

Quite the opposite in fact. Once it has been absorbed by your body, cocoa produces 72% unsaturated fatty acids which actually reduce your cholesterol level.