Match the scale to the gesture, choose a maker with real provenance, and keep the box simple. Handled that way, a thank you gift does its whole job: it closes the loop warmly and leaves nobody feeling they have to reply in kind.

A personalised touch suits the occasion well. A message marking the years of service, or simply the leaver's name, turns the hamper into a keepsake of the day rather than a generic box. Keep any message warm and brief, allow lead time for the personalisation, and order earlier still if the retirement falls near Christmas.

One honest note. If the leaver or anyone sharing the hamper asks about ingredients or dietary suitability, point them to the published product information rather than vouching for it yourself.

Presentation helps the impression. A neutral, well-put-together box needs no wrapping and photographs well if the new owners are the sort to post about the day. It also avoids the guesswork of matching a gift to a colour scheme you have not seen yet, which is the risk with anything decorative for a home.

One honest note that applies everywhere. If the recipient asks about ingredients or dietary detail, point them to the published product information rather than answering yourself.

Provenance makes any of these feel more deliberate. Lily O'Brien's Chocolates O'Brien's has handcrafted its chocolates in Newbridge, Co. Kildare since Mary Ann O'Brien founded the brand in 1992, so even a modest box carries a bit of story you can nod to. A gift that comes from somewhere specific always reads as more chosen than one that does not.