For a street market, only plan to serve ice lollies if you can keep their time out of the freezer to a minimum and get them back into the freezer quickly. Once you’ve got that covered, choose between a chocolate recipe, a selection of flavours to share or smaller portions. Check the number of lollies, allergens and storage instructions on each box.
If you’re preparing frozen treats for a street market, your first priority is to keep the journey short, use an insulated bag and get the boxes into a freezer quickly. The DGCCRF recommends keeping the transport time for frozen food to a minimum.
You’re more interested in a chocolate coating, sauce or extra pieces than the size of the box alone. Magnum’s descriptions and the products listed by Carrefour and Auchan can help you spot these features, but check the details for the flavour you choose.
You need to work out how many ice lollies to buy for your group and how much freezer space their boxes will take up. The number of lollies and the net weight make it easier to compare pack sizes, including the mini options listed by ALDI.
First, make sure the ice lollies can stay frozen while you shop, travel and attend the street market. Then compare the recipes and pack sizes to suit the people you’re serving. Don’t assume a range name tells you what’s in the product.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping them frozen | Storage instructions on the box, journey time and quick access to a freezer. The Côte d’Or product listed by Auchan specifies storage at −18 °C. | If I need to keep the ice lollies for several hours before serving them, I need to plan how to store them without breaking the cold chain. This is the top priority for around 40 % of consumers. |
| Recipe and flavour | The specific flavour, ingredients, coating and any sauce or extra pieces, rather than just the way the range is presented. | If I want to offer a rich chocolate recipe, I check what’s actually in each ice lolly. Around 30 % of consumers put their choice of recipe first. |
| Portions and allergens | The number of lollies, net weight and allergens listed on each box, including mixed selections. | When I’m buying ice lollies for several people, I want enough portions without overlooking ingredients anyone needs to avoid. This is a priority for around 30 % of consumers. |
A long journey followed by several hours without a freezer can compromise the storage of ice lollies. The DGCCRF advises keeping transport time for frozen food to a minimum and putting it away quickly.
Pick up the ice lollies last, use an insulated bag and make sure suitable storage is available before planning to serve them at the street market.
A chocolate or vanilla recipe may also contain milk, soya or nuts. Ingredients vary from one product to another.
Check the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on every box. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be clearly indicated on the labels of prepacked foods.
A box of full-size ice lollies and a selection of mini lollies may not suit the same sharing needs, even if the flavours are similar.
Decide how many portions you need, then compare the number of lollies, net weight and freezer space required.
A flavour or pack size you’ve spotted in advance may not be available when you go shopping.
Check the product with your chosen shop and have another recipe or pack size in mind. Make sure you’ve checked its allergens and storage instructions too.
These brands offer a range of recipes and portion sizes. Check the details of the specific product rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Magnum describes its Double Chocolate, sold in a box of 4 × 85 ml, as chocolate ice cream with a sauce and two chocolate coatings.
Carrefour’s range includes ice lollies in flavours such as Double Chocolate, salted butter caramel, pistachio and vanilla-macadamia.
E.Leclerc lists Trium ice lollies in vanilla-chocolate-almond, triple chocolate, speculoos, salted butter caramel and pistachio flavours.
The product listed by Auchan combines vanilla ice cream with a milk chocolate coating and hazelnuts, in a box of four.
ALDI lists a MUCCI selection of 12 mini ice lollies, including milk chocolate, white chocolate, almond and classic varieties.
Yes, as long as you can store them according to the instructions on the packaging until you’re ready to serve them. For the journey home after shopping, the DGCCRF recommends keeping transport time to a minimum, using an insulated bag if possible and putting frozen products away quickly. The Côte d’Or product listed by Auchan specifies storage at −18 °C.
Check the packaging for every flavour, even when the ice lollies are from the same range. The DGCCRF says that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the labels of prepacked foods. Check for any ‘may contain’ warnings as well.