To share ice lollies at Candlemas, start by choosing a multipack with enough portions for your group. Then decide between ice lollies and mini chocolate-coated ice creams based on your guests’ preferences, and check the ingredients and allergens on each pack. These formats aren’t interchangeable.
If you’re serving several people, count the portions rather than relying on the size of the pack. Carrefour, for example, offers an Extra assortment of 8 mini ice creams, while E.Leclerc lists a SMICY multipack of 20 ice lolly sticks.
To offer a choice of flavours, Magnum’s 6-mini assortment includes Classic, Almond and White Chocolate, according to Magnum France. Check that these flavours suit your guests before choosing this multipack.
If ingredients are a factor in your choice, check the ingredients and allergens for each product. To compare nutritional information across packs of different sizes, use the values per 100 g or 100 ml, as recommended by the DGCCRF.
When serving a group at Candlemas, work out how many portions you need before choosing flavours and checking the labels.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Number of portions | Count the items in each pack, then check their size. A multipack of 20 ice lolly sticks isn’t the same kind of dessert as a box of mini chocolate-coated ice creams. | To serve everyone without opening several small boxes, I count how many ice creams I’ll need first; around 44% of consumers put the number of portions at the top of their list. |
| Flavours on offer | Check which flavours are included and how many of each item there are; a range name alone doesn’t tell you what’s in the pack. | When guests don’t all like the same flavours, I prefer to give them a choice; variety is said to be the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Check the ingredients and allergens on the exact pack you’re buying. The DGCCRF says nutritional values should be shown per 100 g or 100 ml. | If someone needs to avoid certain ingredients, I check the label before serving; for around 23% of consumers, ingredients are said to be the top priority. |
The weight or size of the packaging doesn’t tell you on its own how many people you can serve. The products listed by Magnum, Carrefour, Auchan and E.Leclerc come in different quantities.
Work out how many portions your group needs, then check the number of ice creams stated on the pack.
The SMICY ice lolly multipack listed by E.Leclerc and Carrefour Extra’s mini ice creams are different products. So the number of items alone isn’t enough to compare them.
Decide what type of ice cream you want to serve before comparing the available pack sizes.
The Carrefour Extra product listing mentions milk, soya and almonds, and possible traces of egg and other nuts. Ingredients can vary between products.
If someone has an allergy or avoids certain foods, check the details on the exact pack before serving.
Magnum France offers an assortment of 6 mini ice creams in Classic, Almond and White Chocolate flavours. Auchan also lists a 10-piece Magnum assortment.
Carrefour offers an Extra assortment of 8 mini ice creams weighing 32 g each, and a 450 g box of Classic' chocolate and vanilla ice creams. These are two different formats.
E.Leclerc offers a SMICY assortment of 20 ice lolly sticks, with a total weight of 850 g.
Auchan lists an assortment of 8 mini ice creams, with a total weight of 258 g.
Aldi France offers, among other products, a MUCCI multipack of 12 mini ice creams, with a total weight of 429 g.
Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you’re going to serve. For pre-packed food in France, the DGCCRF says allergens must be highlighted and the labelling must be visible, legible and written at least in French.
No. Check the information for the specific product before serving it. Carrefour says its Extra assortment contains almonds and may contain traces of other nuts.
Start by comparing the values per 100 g or 100 ml, rather than the values for an entire box. The DGCCRF says this common measure makes comparisons easier. Then check the weight and number of items to see what’s in each pack.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy. Auchan says the 6-piece Magnum assortment listed on its website should be stored at -18 °C; check the instructions for your specific product.
No. The E.Leclerc listing says this assortment isn’t sold on its website. The retailer recommends contacting your local E.Leclerc store to check availability before planning to serve this multipack at Candlemas.