M&S is to start selling a family-run chocolatier's 'matchbox' product - after being accused of copying their original design.<br /><br />Flo Broughton started her independent 'Choc On Choc' firm around the kitchen table with her dad twenty years ago.<br /><br />Based in Bath, Somerset has a range of unique products including 'chocolate matchsticks'.<br /><br />So Flo was stunned when a customer of hers noticed M&S was selling a similar product for February 14th.<br /><br />She took to social media to accuse the retail giant of making a “strikingly similar” box of their unique chocolate matchsticks.<br /><br />The Choc on Choc matchsticks features white chocolate matches with red ends with 'perfect match' written on them.<br /><br />M&S started selling its chocolate matchsticks this year as a present for Valentine's Day.<br /><br />But the originals were launched by Choc on Choc in 2015.<br /><br />Flo, who started the artisan chocolate business with her dad Kerr Dunlop, said she was shocked and "frustrated".<br /><br />She said: “My initial reaction was just frustrating because we're so small.<br /><br />It was much more galling. <br /><br />"M&S is such an iconic British business - it just felt like I should say something. To be honest I really didn't expect to be heard.<br /><br />"It really hit the pit of my stomach this time. And I just felt it wasn't right."<br /><br />Ms Broughton said it was a customer who spotted the striking similarity between M&S's box of £3 chocolate matchsticks and the company's £8 Perfect Match Chocolate Gift Box, and alerted them to the product.<br /><br />Flo started her business with her dad straight after graduating from UWE with a Graphic Design degree. <br /><br />She said: "Choc on Choc stemmed from mine and my dad's creativity, in particular our love of art and chocolate.<br /><br />"I started when I was 24 - and have never looked back! We began with 12 designs and now have over 200. I love it."<br /><br />She said she received thousands of supportive messages from customers and other small companies after calling out the retailer on social media.<br /><br />The posts sparked the attention of M&S, who, after a meeting over the weekend with Choc on Choc, has now committed to selling the Bath-based company’s chocolate matchsticks.<br /><br />Flo said: “After posting about the copying on social media on Friday and Saturday, M&S contacted me and said they wanted to resolve this. <br /><br />"On Sunday lunchtime we had a video conferencing call and came to an agreement.<br /><br />"They were keen to do the right thing and resolve the issue."<br /><br />An M&S spokesman said: “We take IP (intellectual property) very seriously and when we saw Choc on Choc’s social media posts we immediately got in touch.<br /><br />“Choc on Choc is a fantastic company producing quality chocolates and we’re delighted to be working with them through our small supplier program going forwards.”<br /><br />M&S has said it will sell the Choc on Choc matchsticks for Valentine's Day and will also sell its products for Mother's Day and Easter.
