If Fairtrade is a requirement for your conference, choose a chocolate ice lolly only once you’ve matched the certification to the exact product and obtained confirmation from the supplier for your order. Another cocoa certification isn’t enough. Then compare the number of portions per box, allergens and storage instructions. A convenient format for handing out doesn’t take care of these other considerations.
If you’re telling attendees or your client that you’re committed to Fairtrade, ask for evidence that identifies the ice lolly you’re ordering. Fairtrade International says its marks apply to specific products that meet its standards.
You’ll need to count portions, plan where to store the boxes and arrange when to take them out of the freezer for serving. The pack sizes listed by Carrefour and Auchan show why you need to check the number of pieces for each product.
Before offering a chocolate ice lolly, check its ingredients and any ‘may contain’ allergen statements. Keep this information available to attendees during the buffet, even if the boxes have been removed from the serving area.
If your conference is making a Fairtrade commitment, first check the certification of the exact product. Then plan your service around cold storage and the information you’ll need to provide to attendees.
| Criterion | What to check | Consumer priorities |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade evidence | The FAIRTRADE mark on the exact product and confirmation from the supplier before you order. | If I need to tell attendees the product is Fairtrade, I want to be able to link that commitment to the product being served. Around 33% of consumers would rank this evidence as their top priority. |
| Cold storage | The instructions for the product you choose, transport arrangements and the freezer capacity on site. | I need to be able to keep the ice lollies under the specified conditions until they’re served; for around 27% of consumers, this would be their top priority. |
| Allergens | The ingredients, ‘may contain’ statements and access to this information during the buffet. | When I’m putting on a buffet for attendees whose dietary requirements I don’t know, I want everyone to be able to check the allergens in the product being served. Around 20% of consumers would make this information a priority. |
| Box size | The number of attendees, the number of pieces per box and the freezer space required. | To avoid running short of portions or ordering more boxes than I can store, I start with the number of people I need to cater for. Around 20% of consumers would make working out the right quantity their top priority. |
The product information for Magnum Double Chocolat mentions Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa under a mass balance system. This doesn’t mean you can describe this ice lolly as Fairtrade.
Check for the FAIRTRADE mark on the exact product and ask the supplier to confirm that it applies to your order before making this commitment public.
The product information for a 12-piece Auchan ice lolly pack specifies storage at −18 °C and says not to refreeze the product after thawing. Follow the instructions for the product you ultimately choose when planning storage and serving.
Confirm the freezer capacity, transport conditions, delivery slot and when the ice lollies will be served.
You may need to arrange a suitable freezer and transport to keep the ice lollies at the conference venue.
Allergens depend on the exact recipe. If the ice lollies are served without their box, attendees still need access to reliable information about the products on offer.
Keep the packaging and provide information by the buffet that matches the products actually being served.
A pack of 4 ice lollies and a box of 12 make it easier to work out different portion numbers, but the pack size tells you nothing about Fairtrade certification or allergens.
Calculate how many portions you need, then check the certification, labelling and storage instructions separately for each product you’re considering.
The Double Chocolat product is a chocolate ice lolly sold in a pack of 4 × 85 ml.
The retailer offers, among other products, a 12-piece box of Carrefour Classic’ chocolate and vanilla ice lollies.
An Auchan vanilla ice lolly product is sold in a 12-piece box weighing 450 g.
No. A Fairtrade claim must apply to the specific product you’ll be serving. Fairtrade International says its marks are used for specific products that meet its standards. Check the product and ask the supplier for confirmation before ordering. The Rainforest Alliance statement on Magnum Double Chocolat refers to a different certification.
Follow the storage instructions for the product you order until it’s time to serve. The product information for Auchan’s 12-piece box specifies storage at −18 °C in a freezer and says not to refreeze a thawed product. Check the instructions for your own product and the venue’s storage facilities.
Provide information that matches every ice lolly you’re actually serving. Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging for the exact product, then keep the packaging accessible or accurately display its information by the buffet.
Start with the number of portions you plan to serve, then use the number of pieces listed on each box you’re considering. Magnum Double Chocolat comes in packs of 4 ice lollies, while the Carrefour and Auchan products mentioned here come in packs of 12. Also check that you’ll be able to store the boxes under the required conditions.