For a car boot sale, first decide how many ice lollies you want to hand out and what size portion you’d like to serve. The number of lollies in a box doesn’t tell you how large each one is. Before you buy, check the weight or volume per lolly, the allergens in each variety and how you’ll keep them frozen during the journey and at the sale.
A mini lolly makes it easy to plan one ice lolly per person. To get a clear idea of the portion size, check the weight per lolly. For example, Carrefour Extra lists an assortment of eight lollies, each weighing 32 g.
If you’re expecting a steady stream of visitors, the number of lollies in each box helps you work out how many to buy. Listed formats include assortments of eight and a 20-stick SMICY pack sold by E.Leclerc. Check the type of ice lolly, too.
If you’re offering several flavours, keep the packaging for the exact product to hand so you can check the ingredients and allergens before serving. Also plan how you’ll keep the lollies frozen during the journey and at the car boot sale.
Decide on the portion size and number of lollies you need, then check each assortment and its storage requirements before choosing which boxes to take with you.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Number of lollies and the weight or volume per lolly, where stated. Don’t compare grams and millilitres directly. | If I want to hand everyone a consistently small portion, the details per lolly matter more than the word “mini” alone; around 36% of consumers would prioritise this portion size. |
| Number of lollies | Number of lollies per box and how many boxes you’ll need for the portions planned. Check that they’re actually lollies on sticks, too. | If lots of visitors are expected, my main priority is having enough individual portions without buying more boxes than necessary. Around 29% of consumers would put quantity first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The label on the exact pack, including any differences between varieties in an assortment and any highlighted allergens. | If I’m offering different coatings, I need to check the ingredients in each variety before serving; around 21% of consumers would prioritise this check. |
| Keeping the lollies cold | Whether you can keep the lollies frozen during transport, while waiting and when handing them out at the sale. The DGCCRF specifies −18 °C as the maximum temperature for ice creams and sorbets in the storage, transport and direct-sale situations covered in its guidance. | If the boxes need to be kept outside a fixed freezer, I need to plan how to keep them cold before choosing the flavours; around 14% of consumers would prioritise this requirement. |
The word alone doesn’t tell you the portion size. Carrefour Extra lists its assortment of eight at 32 g per lolly, while Magnum lists another assortment of six at 55 ml per lolly. Weight and volume can’t be compared directly.
Check the number of lollies and the details per lolly on each box, then work out how many packs you’ll need for the portions you plan to serve.
A box may include different coatings and an almond variety. Published information for Carrefour Extra and Auchan assortments mentions milk and, depending on the product or variety, soya and almonds.
Keep the full label for the pack you buy to hand, and check the ingredients and allergens before offering a lolly.
The journey and the time spent waiting at the sale are part of your planning. For ice creams and sorbets, the DGCCRF specifies a maximum temperature of −18 °C for the storage, transport and direct-sale situations covered in its guidance.
Before you buy, make sure your set-up can keep the lollies frozen until they’re served.
Transport and waiting may require suitable equipment to keep the lollies cold.
Magnum lists an assortment of six mini lollies in Classic, Almond and White Chocolate flavours, at 55 ml per lolly.
Carrefour lists an assortment of eight mini lollies, each weighing 32 g, with vanilla ice cream and different chocolate coatings.
Auchan lists an assortment of eight mini ice lollies, with a stated total weight of 258 g.
Marque Repère’s SMICY range, listed by E.Leclerc, includes an assortment of 20 sticks weighing 850 g, as well as other types of mini ice treats.
These individually wrapped ice lollies include some formats labelled as mini and others where you’ll need to judge the portion by the stated weight or volume. For a car boot sale, compare the number of lollies per box without assuming they’re all the same size or have the same ingredients.
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A box to consider if you want to count out 12 individual ice lollies to hand out. The stated total weight is 444 g; check the portion per lolly and the allergens on the packaging before serving.
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This mini assortment lets you plan for six lollies in several varieties. The stated weight is for the whole box, so if portion size matters, check the details per lolly and the allergens for your chosen variety on the packaging.
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The 10 lollies make it easier to count out portions, and the box lists five flavours. This product isn’t labelled as mini, so check that the portion per lolly suits your plans for the car boot sale, and look at the allergen information, too.
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The stated volume per lolly helps you judge the portion before planning to hand out all six. Check the allergens on the exact pack and plan how you’ll keep the lollies frozen until serving.
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You can count out the eight lollies individually when serving. Each one is listed as 70 ml: check that this suits your preferred portion size, then read the ingredients and allergens on the pack before offering them.
Check the details per lolly, not just the word “mini”. Carrefour Extra lists its assortment as eight lollies at 32 g each, while Magnum lists another assortment of six at 55 ml each; grams and millilitres can’t be compared directly.
Read the ingredients list and highlighted allergens on the exact box, taking each variety into account. The Carrefour Extra and Auchan assortments mentioned include milk and, depending on the product or variety, soya and almonds. Carrefour also notes possible traces of egg and other nuts.
Don’t assume it will keep them frozen. For ice creams and sorbets, the DGCCRF specifies a maximum temperature of −18 °C for the storage, transport and direct-sale situations covered in its guidance. Check that your equipment is suitable for the journey and for waiting at the sale.
Keep the packaging for the exact product to hand so you can check its information. For prepacked food sold in France, the DGCCRF lists details including the product name, ingredients, highlighted allergens, nutrition declaration and net quantity. If you’re organising a sale or distribution at the car boot sale, check the arrangements separately with the organiser and the local council.