Choose a pack based first on how many people you’ll be serving, then check the amount per ice lolly: the number of items alone doesn’t tell you what portion each person will get. An assorted pack can cater for different tastes, but check the ingredients for each recipe. You’ll also need to keep the lollies cold on the way from the shop to your freezer.
If you want to serve one ice lolly per person rather than share a large tub, check the number of lollies and, when stated, their individual weight or volume. Magnum Mini Classic, Carrefour Extra and Auchan packs show different ways of presenting this information.
If several people will be choosing an ice lolly, work out how many you need before deciding between a pack of six, eight or twelve. It’s also worth checking which flavours are actually included in an assorted pack.
The word ‘mini’ tells you nothing about the recipe or allergens. If someone needs to avoid certain ingredients, check the label on the specific product you’re buying, especially if the pack contains several flavours.
For a local shop run, start by working out how many portions you need, then compare packs by the amount per ice lolly, their recipes and how you’ll keep them cold on the way home.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portion | Number of items and the weight or volume per ice lolly, when stated. | If I want to give everyone an ice lolly, I need to know the size of each portion, not just how many are in the pack. Around 31% of consumers would put this first. |
| Quantity to share | Number of items for your group and the space available in your freezer. | For a snack with several people, I want enough ice lollies without choosing a pack I can’t fit in the freezer. This would be the priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Flavour choice | Single-flavour pack or assortment, and the flavours actually included. | When people around the table have different tastes, I look for a pack that gives everyone a choice. Variety would come first for around 23% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Ingredients list and allergens for the exact product, including in an assorted pack. | If someone needs to avoid an ingredient, I need to be able to check every recipe before buying. Around 15% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Keeping them cold on the way home | Whether you can buy the ice lollies last and take them home in an insulated bag. | If my journey continues after I’ve finished shopping, I need to plan how to get them home and into the freezer. For around 8% of consumers, keeping them cold during the journey would be their main concern. |
Six, eight or twelve ice lollies won’t necessarily give you the same number of portions. The total weight doesn’t tell you how much each one weighs or how much it contains, either.
Count the people you’ll be serving, then compare the number of lollies and their individual quantity, if it’s shown on the pack.
An assorted pack can contain different recipes. The Carrefour Extra assortment listing, for example, mentions milk, soya and almonds. This doesn’t necessarily apply to another pack.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product you’re buying. Don’t assume what it contains based on the flavour or the word ‘mini’.
You’ll need to keep the ice lollies cold after taking them out of the shop freezer. According to ANSES, limiting the time they’re out and using an insulated bag helps maintain the cold chain.
Pick up frozen foods last, head straight home and follow the storage instructions on the pack.
A particular pack may not always be available, depending on the shop and the time of year, even if it appears in a retailer’s catalogue.
Check what’s available at your chosen shop before deciding how many portions you need or which flavours to serve.
Magnum’s Mini Classic comes in a pack of 6 × 55 ml. The range also includes an assortment of six mini ice lollies in Classic, Almond and White Chocolate varieties.
Carrefour offers an assortment of eight mini ice lollies, each weighing 32 g.
Auchan offers an assortment of eight mini ice lollies, weighing 258 g in total.
E.Leclerc offers Trium mini vanilla ice lollies coated in chocolate, as well as a vanilla variety with an exotic fruit sorbet coating.
ALDI France offers a MUCCI pack of twelve mini ice lollies, weighing 429 g in total.
These products let you compare packs described as mini with other individually wrapped ice lollies. If a small portion is your main consideration, check the amount per item: Binggrae Melona are listed at 70 ml each, but aren’t described as ‘mini’.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to count out twelve individual ice lollies for a group. Check the amount per lolly and the ingredients before comparing them with mini ice lollies, and make sure you can keep them cold on the way home.
Image unavailable
For serving six portions with a stated volume per lolly. Magnum describes these as vanilla ice cream coated in milk chocolate. Check the ingredients on the pack if anyone needs to avoid particular ingredients.
Image unavailable
For sharing six ice lollies between people who would like a choice of recipes. The stated weight is for the whole pack: check the packaging to compare individual portions and check the allergens for each variety.
Image unavailable
For planning six mini ice lollies in a variety that’s different from Mini Classic. The 282 g refers to the whole pack. Check the amount per lolly and the ingredients list if portion size or nuts are important to your choice.
Image unavailable
For counting out eight individual melon portions. Each ice lolly is listed as 70 ml, but isn’t described as a mini size. Compare this volume with the portion you’re looking for and check the ingredient information on the packaging.
Start by allowing one ice lolly per person, then choose a pack with enough for your group. Magnum Mini Classic comes in a pack of 6 × 55 ml, while Carrefour Extra and Auchan offer packs of eight mini ice lollies and MUCCI has a pack of twelve. If you want to plan portion sizes carefully, compare the amount per lolly too.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product, especially if it contains several recipes. The Carrefour Extra assortment featured here mentions milk, soya and almonds, among other ingredients. Don’t assume the same list applies to another pack.
Pick up frozen foods at the end of your shop and carry them in an insulated bag, minimising the time it takes to get them into the freezer, as ANSES recommends. Then follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
First check whether it’s available at your chosen shop. ALDI France offers a MUCCI pack of twelve mini ice lollies, but availability can vary by shop and time of year. Check the flavours too before deciding what to serve.