Dangerous fake Wonka bars sold at Powys' Mollie's sweet shop

Alan Price, who owns the Welshpool-based Mollie's chain of shops, admitted 10 charges before Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court this week. Three others were withdrawn.

The offences relate to the 57-year-old selling chocolate bars made famous by the Roald Dahl children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and subsequent films.

The offences, which occurred between November 24, 2022, and March 16 this year, relate to products bearing a false trade mark and incorrectly labelled items in the bars that were said could cause “fatal consequences” to customers with allergies.

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Price, trading as Mollie's at the Severn Farm Industrial Estate in Welshpool, has shops in Welshpool and Newtown, plus Aberystwyth, Ludlow, Telford and Chester.

Reshmi Mukherjee, prosecuting for Powys County Council, said "imminent" safety risks were not identified, warning the sale could have had fatal consequences to those with milk and soya allergies.

A trading standards officer first visited Mollie's in June 2021, with an inspection uncovering Wonka bars that had incorrect food labelling.

“The officer removed a large quantity of bars,” Ms Mukherjee said, adding that a further visit in August 2021 saw 56 more bars removed and a warning issued over the potential allergy risks.

Price emailed the local authority in November 2021, stating his shops had removed all Wonka bars from sale.

But intelligence from Aberdeen trading standards in November 2022 suggested the Mollie's website was still offering Wonka bars for sale, and a test purchase was arranged in Newtown.

“No bars were on sale in the shop but there was a framed Wonka bar above the counter offering bars for sale," Ms Mukherjee added.

"When the person asked for one, the assistant said the store had some in the back but they were not supposed to sell them as people had been complaining.

“The purchaser asked for and was given one. The bar had the incorrect information displayed on it."

In March 16 visits were made by other trading standards teams to stores in Shropshire, Ceredigion and Cheshire, and found bars still on sale despite assurances they were not.

Ms Mukherjee said 1,200 bars had been delivered to Mollie's by suppliers.

Representing Price, who had never been in court before, Rob Hanratty said his client “saw a gap in the market” to make a “modest” profit on the bars made famous by the films, and didn’t think he was doing anything wrong.

The Mollies store in Welshpool. (Image: Josh Price / Newsquest)

“He is a family man who spent most of his working life running a successful fruit and veg business,” said Mr Hanratty.

“He started selling sweets several years ago and has been successful. People were enthused when he started and the shops have proved very popular.

“He was a retained firefighter for 15 years, a very community orientated and extremely hard-working man.”

He said Mollie's buys "thousands" of products from 50 suppliers, including the Wonka bars.

“The one bought in Newtown was not supposed to be for sale," Mr Hanratty said. "He was very surprised there had been a purchase and thought the regulations only applied to Wales.

“Mr Price saw a gap in the market due to the famous films, one of which was produced with Jonny Depp in it. Unlike the bars in the films, these bars had a gold ticket inside every one.

“He thought it was a great opportunity to sell the bars. There was no issue regarding the quality of the product.

“It is a small operation any way you look at it. He makes a profit of about £75,000 a year; overall the business makes a profit of £150,000.”

Chair of the bench, Ingrid Gallagher, told Price: “You were warned, advised, requested on a number of occasions, and failed to take measures. They are your shops, they are your responsibility.”

Price was fined a total of £7,200 and told to pay a contribution towards costs of £3,000. He must also pay a £190 surcharge – making a total financial penalty of £10,390, which he will pay off at £1,000 a month.