Hosts planning a small get-together
You want to have enough ice lollies for Friday without filling the freezer with extra portions. Count how many people will have one and decide whether it’s worth offering a choice of flavours.
Who are these multipacks for?
Households packing lunchboxes too
You’d like to save some of the multipack for later. Choose a quantity that works for the portions you have in mind and the space in your freezer. Any portion you take with you needs to stay properly frozen until you eat it.
People who check the ingredients
If someone in your group needs to avoid an ingredient, check the label on the exact product, including each recipe in an assortment. The flavour or brand name alone won’t tell you what’s in it.
What should you look for before choosing?
If you’re serving some at Friday drinks and saving the rest for later, start by working out how many ice lollies you need. Then check the flavours, the size of each one and the storage instructions before choosing a multipack.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Number of portions | Count the ice lollies for Friday drinks and the ones you want to save, then check how many are in the box. | If I want to share the multipack without running short, I need to know how many people will have one and how many I’ll keep for later. Around 33% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Choice of flavours | Check which recipes are in the assortment and, if stated, how many of each are included. | When people have different tastes, I’d rather offer a choice of recipes than just one flavour. Around 27% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Portion size | Compare the net weight or volume and the number of pieces across products in the same category. A mini ice lolly isn’t necessarily the same size as a standard one. | If I’m splitting the multipack between Friday drinks and lunchboxes, I need to know how much is in each piece, not just how many there are. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Storage and ingredients | Check the storage temperature and the ingredients and allergen information for the exact multipack; plan to use an insulated bag for the journey. | If the journey is long or someone needs to avoid an ingredient, I want to be able to transport and serve a suitable product. This would be the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based on the number of pieces alone
Two boxes of six may contain ice lollies in different sizes. The number of pieces alone doesn’t tell you how large each portion will be.
Compare the stated net weight or volume, then check the size of each piece if that information is shown on the packaging.
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Choosing an assortment without reading the label
Different recipes in the same box may contain different ingredients. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on food labels.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact assortment before serving it to your group.
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Leaving the multipack out of the freezer after shopping
Transport and delays before putting frozen food away can affect how well it keeps. One Magnum Mini product listing advises that a defrosted product should not be refrozen.
As recommended by Anses and the DGCCRF, pick up frozen food at the end of your shop, carry it in an insulated bag and put it away promptly, following the instructions on the packaging.
Brands to consider
Magnum
Magnum offers boxes of six mini ice lollies, including a Classic, Almond and White Chocolate assortment promoted by the brand.
- Six pieces and a choice of recipes could work well for a small get-together.
- Check the ingredients and storage temperature for the box you choose.
Carrefour
Carrefour’s ranges of ice lollies and frozen bars come in different pack sizes, including boxes of twelve Classic' ice lollies.
- The number of pieces lets you choose a pack to suit the portions you have in mind.
- Check the weight and product type too: a frozen bar and a mini ice lolly aren’t the same size portion.
Miko
Carrefour features Miko Twister mini ice lollies in boxes of eight.
- A box of eight gives you a different amount to share than a box of six.
- Check the weight and ingredients for the variety you choose on its product page or packaging.
Oasis
The products reviewed include fruit ice lollies and vanilla-and-fruit ice lollies in multipacks of different sizes.
- Fruit flavours give you a way to offer more variety.
- Don’t assume the ingredients or allergens are the same across different products.
Mars
The Mars frozen bars available from the retailers reviewed come in multipacks of different sizes, depending on the recipe.
- A multipack with more pieces could suit a larger group.
- Compare these frozen bars separately from mini ice lollies, particularly for portion size and ingredients.
Multipacks of ice lollies and frozen bars on Joybuy
These products include packs of six to twelve for sharing or saving for later. The first is described as jelly ice pops, so check the preparation instructions before choosing it instead of ice lollies that are already frozen.
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ABC JELLY Fruity Jelly Bar assorted, 850 g
Worth considering if you’d like to offer a choice of flavours rather than just one. The box is described as an 850 g assortment of jelly ice pops; check the freezing instructions and ingredients before serving at Friday drinks.
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Binggrae Melona Melon, 8 bars of 70 ml
A pack of eight portions to split between Friday drinks and the freezer for later. Each frozen bar is listed as 70 ml; the flavour is melon, not an assortment.
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PEPPA PIG strawberry and vanilla, 6 ice lollies of 60 ml
Six portions to consider for a small group or to save a few for later. The product name lists strawberry and vanilla flavours; check the exact label if anyone in your group has dietary restrictions.
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CAPRI-SUN orange and cherry, 12 ice pops, 444 g
Twelve pieces give you enough to serve at Friday drinks and save some for later, as long as you can store them properly. The name lists orange and cherry but doesn’t say how the flavours are split between the pieces, so check the packaging.
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Binggrae Melona Banana, 8 bars of 70 ml
Eight individual portions to share between your guests and save for later. Each frozen bar is listed as 70 ml and the flavour is banana; check the ingredients on the packaging if anyone has a dietary restriction.
Frequently asked questions
How many ice lollies should I buy for Friday drinks?
Count how many people will have one, then add only the portions you want to save for later. Check how many pieces are in the multipack: Carrefour and Auchan stock boxes in different sizes, and not every size will suit your needs.
Is an assortment better than a single flavour?
An assortment is useful if you want to offer a choice of recipes, but it won’t automatically suit everyone. For example, Magnum offers a box of six mini ice lollies in Classic, Almond and White Chocolate flavours. Read the label on the exact box before serving.
How should I transport ice lollies after shopping?
Pick up frozen food at the end of your shop, put it in an insulated bag and move it into the freezer as soon as possible. Anses and the DGCCRF recommend these steps to maintain the cold chain during transport.
What should I check on a multipack label?
At a minimum, check the quantity, ingredients, allergens and storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted, and that the nutrition declaration for relevant foods is given per 100 g or 100 ml. It doesn’t replace checking the size of the portion you’ll actually serve.