Quality Street® Tins Through the Years: A Look Back at the Nation’s Favourite

We love Christmas at Quality Street®, and we're delighted that the feeling is mutual – because there's often a tin to enjoy and share at the heart of these festive family celebrations! There's nothing like the thrill of popping the lid, seeing the familiar colours and hearing the rustle of wrappers as you rummage to snag your favourite Quality Street® sweet. It’s a festive ritual wrapped in nostalgia.  

The iconic Quality Street® tins over the years have seen many changes and today we celebrate some of our favourites with a trip down Quality Street®’s memory lane. For more festive magic, party ideas and tasty recipes, sign up for our newsletter.
 

The Early Days of Quality Street® 

Launched in 1936 by Harold Macintosh, Quality Street® was a way to bring affordable, delicious luxury to families across the UK. It was named after a J.M. Barrie play and featured two charming characters, the Major and Miss. This iconic duo graced the original tins and their legacy lived on long after the play was over. The early tins were metal, round and crowned with paper bunting along the edges. Each tin held 18 individually wrapped chocolates and toffees with unique colours and shapes.  

Collectors love these early tins for their vintage charm. With ornate detailing and the regal presence of the Major and Miss, these original tins are now prized finds. 
 

How the Quality Street® Tin Evolved Over the Decades    

As the decades marched on, so too did the design and feel of the Quality Street® tin. The 1950s had introduced vibrant colours and captured family traditions, often depicting happy households gathered around a tin. By the 1960s, snowy scenes and holiday settings became popular, placing Quality Street® at the centre of the UK Christmas tradition.  

In the 1970s, sharing became the name of the game. Cartons with seasonal designs were introduced and our tins came in different sizes with the slogan, ‘Quality Street® made for sharing’. The 1980s flipped the script, introducing a sleek white tin. This ushered in the ‘favourites era’, a debate that still rages on today!  

By the 1990s, tins featured gift-wrap-style bows and ribbon motifs, with the logo presented as a clever gift tag. During this time, we saw the departure of the Major and Miss from the packaging for the first time since 1936. This shift marked a new era of modernisation in the Quality Street® story.  

Fast forward to the 2000s, and the tins adopted their iconic purple. This bold colour choice has become synonymous with Quality Street® and the tradition continues today. Designs focused on the sweets with stars and sparkles, reinforcing the magical moments created by Quality Street®. For a deep dive into our flavours, explore our Ultimate Guide to Quality Street® Flavours.  
 

Limited Editions and Collector Favourites 

Quality Street® has had its fair share of collectable moments over the decades. In 2011, we celebrated our 75th anniversary with a limited-edition tin featuring a vintage-style logo and the return of the Major and Miss. The retro design was a fan favourite, with many collectors sharing the tin and celebrating it on social media and in the press.  
 

2025: The Year of the Bauble Tins

In 2025, the festive season is even sweeter with a limited-edition Christmas decoration collection. In partnership with John Lewis, the 2025 Christmas collection features five exclusive bauble-shaped tins inspired by designs from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and today. Each one is a colourful nod to the past, reimagined with festive flair! They’re the perfect keepsake or stocking filler for Quality Street® collectors. For more exciting news on this partnership, the return of Coffee Crème flavour and a new mystery flavour, read our wrap-up of Quality Street® at John Lewis.

Why We Still Love the Quality Street® Tin  

The magic of Quality Street® goes beyond the delicious chocolate and toffees inside the tin. It’s the tradition, the unwrapping, the excitement and the shared memories. It’s reaching for a lucky dip into the tin as it gets passed around on Christmas morning. It’s the shared smiles and the friendly debates about everyone’s favourite. Quality Street® makes special moments even sweeter and the festive season just wouldn't be the same without it!  

Looking for a fun Christmas gift idea? Learn how to make a Chocolate Bouquet with our tutorial. 
 

 A Sweet Ending 

From paper bunting to the purple tradition, Quality Street® tins over the years have evolved with the times, winning hearts across generations. While the designs may change, the story it tells stays the same – one of celebration, tradition and shared moments. Here’s to the next chapter of Britain’s favourite festive tin. And for more Quality Street® magic, festive ideas and tasty recipes, sign up for our newsletter.  sign up for our newsletter.