Event organisers planning lots of portions
If you’re serving a group, count the ice lollies in each box and check that your chosen pack size is available before deciding how many to buy.
Who are these options for?
Anyone putting together a varied buffet
If your guests have different tastes, choose between water ice assortments, fruit ice lollies and creamy chocolate-coated recipes.
Anyone mindful of allergens and keeping food frozen
If guests have mentioned dietary restrictions, read the label on each box. You’ll also need suitable transport and enough freezer space for frozen products.
What should you check before buying?
For a Christmas market or similar buffet, start by working out how many portions you need, then check that the flavours you want are compatible with any labelling and storage requirements.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Number of portions | Count the pieces in each box and work out how many boxes you’ll need for the expected number of guests. | When I’m serving a large group, I want to make sure there are enough ice lollies without buying more boxes than necessary; around 40% of consumers would make the number of portions their priority. |
| Flavours and type of ice lolly | Check which flavours are available and distinguish between water ice, creamy ice lollies and products that need freezing before serving. | For a buffet catering to different tastes, I’d rather offer a choice of recipes than just one flavour; variety would be a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces on the label of the batch you buy. | If guests mention dietary restrictions, I need to be able to identify exactly what each product contains; around 20% of consumers would put these checks first. |
| Transport and storage | Check the storage instructions and how much freezer space you have before choosing how much to buy. | If the journey or the wait before serving makes it difficult to keep products frozen, I need to plan storage before buying; this would be a priority for around 10% of consumers. |
Common mistakes to avoid
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Counting boxes instead of portions
A SMICY assortment contains 20 ice lollies, compared with 6 in the SIMPL box listed by Carrefour. So the same number of boxes won’t serve the same number of people.
Start with the number of guests and the number of pieces shown on each pack, then check that your chosen boxes are available.
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Assuming fruit flavours are allergen-free
Auchan warns that its fruit ice lollies may contain traces of milk, peanuts and tree nuts. So water ice isn’t automatically suitable for everyone with dietary restrictions.
Keep the packaging to hand while serving, and check the ingredients and trace warnings on the batches you buy.
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Underestimating the need to keep products frozen
A long journey or an undersized freezer could affect how well the ice lollies keep before your event. ANSES recommends keeping transport time to a minimum, using an insulated bag and never refreezing food that has defrosted.
Make sure you have enough freezer space and suitable transport arrangements before collecting the products.
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Assuming a product you’ve found is available locally
The listing for the 20-piece SMICY assortment advises customers to contact their E.Leclerc store to check availability.
Check with the store that you can get the pack size you want before planning your service around it.
Brands to know when comparing pack sizes
SMICY
E.Leclerc’s Marque Repère range includes a 20-piece water ice assortment and vanilla and chocolate ice lollies.
- The 20-piece assortment makes it easy to plan plenty of portions with just one box.
- Check availability of this product with your E.Leclerc store.
SIMPL
The Carrefour product we checked is a box of 6 vanilla and chocolate ice lollies, with a stated weight of 483 g.
- This pack combines vanilla and chocolate in one recipe.
- This product contains milk and soya; also check the packaging for trace warnings.
Auchan
The products we checked include fruit-flavoured water ice and mini fruit ice lollies.
- These options let you distinguish between water ice and mini ice lollies made with milk.
- The fruit ice lollies may contain traces of milk, peanuts and tree nuts.
Magnum
The Amandes x4 product combines vanilla ice cream, a milk chocolate coating and almonds; an assortment featuring several recipes is also available.
- The Amandes x4 recipe is a good choice if you particularly like vanilla and almond chocolate.
- It contains milk and almonds; check the label for other allergen information.
Ice lollies and frozen treats on Joybuy
These products let you compare fruit-flavoured frozen portions, creamy ice lollies and assortments that need freezing before serving. For each one, check the number of pieces, the labelling and the storage instructions.
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CAPRI-SUN Orange & Cherry Ice Pops x12, 444 g
A good choice for individual portions in orange and cherry flavours. The box contains 12 ice lollies weighing 37 g each; check the batch label for allergen trace warnings and follow the freezing instructions.
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Maison de la Glace Water Ice Pops, 12 pieces, 5 flavours
A varied selection of water ice flavours. Make sure you freeze them before serving, and check the net weight and allergen information on the packaging of the batch you buy.
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MAGNUM Vanilla Almond Ice Cream Bars x8, 600 g
Serve eight individual vanilla ice cream bars coated in milk chocolate and almonds. This product contains milk and almonds, so check the batch label for dietary information and storage instructions.
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ABC JELLY Fruity Jelly Bar Assorted, 10 pieces
A fruity selection of jelly bars to freeze before serving. The ten pieces come in strawberry, grape, pineapple, orange and lemon flavours; check the net weight and freezing instructions on the packaging.
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Binggrae Melona Melon Ice Bar, 8 x 70 ml
Serve eight melon-flavoured ice bars instead of water ice. This recipe contains milk; check the batch label, especially if you’re serving children, and follow the storage instructions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out how many boxes I need for a group?
Allow one piece for each portion you plan to serve, then divide the total by the number of ice lollies in each box. The SMICY assortment listed by E.Leclerc contains 20 pieces, while the SIMPL box listed by Carrefour contains 6; check that your chosen pack size is available.
Is water ice always free from allergens?
No. Auchan warns that its fruit ice lollies may contain traces of milk, peanuts and tree nuts. Check the label on the batch you’re serving before offering a product to anyone who has mentioned a dietary restriction.
How should I transport ice lollies before serving?
Buy them at the end of your shopping trip, use an insulated bag and minimise the time they spend out of the freezer. ANSES recommends never refreezing food that has defrosted; also follow the storage temperature shown on each pack.
What should I check if I’m reselling these products at a Christmas market?
For prepacked food sold in France, the DGCCRF says allergens must be highlighted on the label. Keep the packaging and check separately with the event organiser or local council about the requirements for your chosen pitch and planned sales.