For a festival, choose mini ice lollies based on the number of portions you need to serve, the flavours you want and your ability to keep them frozen. The Magnum, Auchan and Eco+ boxes featured here contain different numbers of sticks. If you’re putting together an assortment, you’ll also need to check the allergens for each variety. If you’re organising a sale or professional distribution, plan your refrigerated transport and storage first.
For a stall or buffet, the number of sticks in each box helps you plan how many to hand out. Check that you’ll be able to keep the ice lollies frozen during the journey and at the venue until they’re ready to serve.
An assortment lets you offer several flavours or coatings in one box. Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety before serving.
First, work out how many sticks you want to hand out. Then choose your flavours and check the storage requirements and labelling.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions | Count the sticks in each box and check their size. Don’t work out the number of portions from the total weight alone. | If I need to give each person an ice lolly, I want to know how many portions I have before opening the boxes. Around 33% of consumers would put this first. |
| Variety | Check which flavours or coatings are actually included in the product you’ve chosen. | If I want to give people a choice, I look for several flavours rather than just one recipe; around 25% of consumers would prioritise this variety. |
| Keeping them frozen | Plan your refrigerated transport, storage and serving arrangements before deciding how many boxes to buy. | If the ice lollies need to wait at the venue, I need to be able to keep them frozen until they’re handed out. Around 25% of consumers would put this first. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging for each product. | If I’m serving people with allergies, I need to be able to show them the information for the product being served; around 17% of consumers would put this first. |
The different formats show why it’s important to count the portions: Magnum’s Mini Classic comes in a box of 6 sticks, each 55 ml; Auchan lists an 8-piece assortment weighing 258 g; and E.Leclerc lists an Eco+ box of 12 pieces weighing 405,6 g. These details apply to the products mentioned, not to every box from these brands.
The total weight doesn’t tell you how many individual sticks you can hand out. The Magnum Mini Classic, Auchan and Eco+ products mentioned contain 6, 8 and 12 pieces respectively.
Start with the number of portions you need, then check how many pieces are in each product before working out how many boxes to buy.
If a box contains fewer sticks than expected, you’ll need to transport and store more boxes.
Ingredients can vary from one variety to another. Magnum Mini Classic contains milk and carries a ‘may contain’ warning for several nuts; the Auchan assortment described contains milk, with soya or almonds in some recipes.
Keep the packaging for the products you serve so that anyone who needs to can check the ingredients and precautionary statements.
A mini format is no substitute for suitable refrigeration. For transporting and serving ice lollies in a professional setting, the French Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control specifies a temperature of −18 °C.
Check your transport capacity and the storage available at the festival before deciding on quantities. If capacity is limited, arrange restocking that will keep the ice lollies frozen.
If there’s no refrigeration at the venue, you may need to provide equipment and keep it running throughout service.
The number of pieces depends on the exact product, and an ice lolly listed by a retailer may not be available when you come to buy it.
Confirm the product and its availability at your chosen store or for your selected delivery slot before deciding how many boxes to order.
These products show a few different ways to serve individual portions. Compare the specific box rather than assuming its features apply to the whole brand.
The range includes Mini Classic in a box of 6 × 55 ml, as well as assortments of mini sticks.
One assortment from the brand contains 8 mini ice lolly sticks and weighs 258 g.
E.Leclerc lists Eco+ mini vanilla and chocolate ice lolly sticks in a box of 12 pieces weighing 405,6 g.
These four Magnum boxes are designed for serving mini sticks: one contains several flavours, while the others each feature a different product. Before the festival, check the number of portions you need, the allergens listed on the box you receive and how you’ll keep the ice lollies frozen.
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For offering a choice of flavours in individual portions: the box contains Classic, Almond and White Chocolate. Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety on the packaging before serving.
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For serving six mini portions of the same vanilla and chocolate product. This Mini Classic contains milk and may contain nuts, so check the information on the box you’re serving.
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For serving mini caramel sticks as individual portions. Each box contains six pieces. Check the labelling before offering them to anyone with allergies.
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For serving six mini portions of this distinct product. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the box intended for serving.
Divide the number of portions you want to serve by the number of sticks in your chosen product, then adjust the number of boxes to suit your plans. Don’t rely on the weight alone: the Magnum Mini Classic products, Auchan assortment and Eco+ box mentioned contain 6, 8 and 12 pieces respectively.
Yes. Check the information for each variety on the packaging you’re serving. ANSES reminds food businesses that substances which cause allergies or intolerances must be highlighted in the ingredients list on pre-packed foods. The Magnum Mini Classic and Auchan examples featured here contain ingredients or ‘may contain’ warnings that you should take into account.
Use equipment that can keep the ice lollies at −18 °C during transport, storage and serving. The French Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control specifies this temperature for ice creams and sorbets at these stages of professional activity. Check your refrigeration arrangements before deciding how much stock to take to your stall.
Yes. If you’re distributing food as a professional activity, you’ll need to take the relevant hygiene requirements into account. The French Ministry of Agriculture notes that the activities concerned must be declared to the relevant authority and have suitable facilities for storing perishable goods. Check the requirements for your activity with the relevant authority and the festival organiser.