Players who want a ready-to-serve portion
An ice lolly can be taken straight from the freezer, without having to portion out a tub of ice cream. Carrefour, for example, lists a box of six Magnum mini ice lollies.
Who are these formats for?
Groups looking for a choice of flavours
For a game with friends, an assortment lets everyone choose from the flavours in the box. Check how many of each flavour are included before you buy.
People who pay attention to ingredients
If ingredients matter to your group, read the label for each recipe, including the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information. An assortment may contain several different recipes.
What should you look for before buying?
For a gaming session at home, start with the number of portions you need, then compare the boxes by flavour and ingredients.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and serving | Number of lollies and amount per lolly. | I want to take an ice lolly out without pausing the game to serve it from a tub. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise having a ready-to-serve portion. |
| Flavours to share | Flavours included and number of lollies of each variety. | When sharing, I’d rather offer a choice of flavours than buy a box of just one. Variety would come first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g or 100 ml, and per portion where stated. | Before offering ice lollies to the group, I need to know whether each recipe meets everyone’s dietary requirements. This check would be the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming “mini” tells you what’s in it
“Mini” describes the size of the lolly, not its ingredients or nutritional values.
Compare the amount per lolly and the nutritional information per 100 g or 100 ml. The DGCCRF uses this as a basis for comparing products.
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Choosing a flavour without checking its allergens
A coating or added ingredient can change the recipe, even within the same assortment.
Read the ingredients list and check for allergen and “may contain” statements on the exact product. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the label.
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Judging by the size of the box alone
Two multipacks can contain different numbers of lollies, amounts per lolly and flavours.
Check all three before choosing a box for the group.
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Leaving the whole box within easy reach
Manger Bouger points out that screen-based activities often go hand in hand with snacking.
Decide how many lollies to take out of the freezer for the break, rather than leaving everyone to decide how many to eat as the game goes on.
A few brands to know
Magnum
The range includes boxes of chocolate-coated mini ice lollies, worth considering if you want to serve individual portions.
- Carrefour lists a box of six Magnum chocolate mini ice lollies.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for your chosen flavour: you can’t tell these from the range name alone.
Carrefour
The retailer’s ranges include ice lollies made with a variety of recipes.
- Carrefour lists Classic’ chocolate and vanilla ice lollies, among others.
- Check the number of lollies and the ingredients of the product you choose.
Auchan
The retailer’s range includes ice lollies and mini ice lollies to consider when buying for a group.
- The Auchan range lets you look for ice lollies in different formats.
- Check the flavours and number of lollies in each box at your chosen store.
MUCCI
This brand, sold by ALDI, includes multipacks of mini ice lollies.
- ALDI France lists a box of twelve MUCCI mini ice lollies.
- Check the recipe and availability before planning to serve this format to your group.
Ice lollies and water ices on Joybuy
These boxes contain ice lollies or water ices to serve individually. Choose a smaller portion, a selection of flavours or a larger number of lollies to suit your group, and check the ingredients of your chosen recipe.
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POP POLO, water ices, 5 flavours, 10 pieces, 700 g
A pack to consider if players want a choice of flavours.
Compare the nutritional information for the flavour you plan to serve.
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CAPRI-SUN, orange and cherry water ices, 12 pieces, 444 g
With two flavours and twelve portions, this pack is a good fit for a group sharing water ices.
Before serving, check the packaging for any “may contain” allergen statements.
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Binggrae Melona Coconut, ice lollies, 8 × 70 ml
The coconut flavour and eight individual portions make this pack ideal for sharing.
If ingredients are a key consideration, check the ingredients list and allergens on the packaging.
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Magnum Mini Classic, ice lollies, 6 × 55 ml
This pack is a good choice if you’re looking for six mini vanilla portions coated in milk chocolate.
Check the label if milk or possible traces of almonds are a concern for anyone in your group.
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Maison de la Glace, water ices, 5 flavours, 12 pieces, 1 200 g
With twelve portions and five flavours, this pack is worth considering for a group break.
Check the allergen information for each flavour on the packaging before offering them to your group.
Frequently asked questions
Is a mini ice lolly always lower in calories than a larger one?
No: “mini” refers to the format, not the nutritional composition. To compare two recipes, check their values per 100 g or 100 ml, then look at the amount in each lolly.
What should you check before sharing an assortment?
Check the flavours, how many of each variety are included and the ingredients in each recipe. If someone needs to avoid an ingredient, also check the allergens and any “may contain” statements on the exact packaging. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the label.
Is the Nutri-Score enough to compare individual ice lollies?
No: it doesn’t replace the ingredients list or allergen information. To compare the nutritional information for ice lollies of different sizes, use the values per 100 g or 100 ml, as the DGCCRF explains, then check the portion size.
Can you count on finding a multipack in every shop?
Check the product at your chosen shop before planning portions for your group. ALDI France has noted, for example, that a MUCCI almond product was unavailable on its product page. A range appearing in a catalogue doesn’t mean every box will be in stock.