For a birthday party, start by choosing the number of mini ice lollies according to how many guests you want to serve: a pack of 8 to 12 covers more individual portions than a box of 6. Then compare the flavours and ingredients in the specific pack you’re considering. A fruity coating doesn’t necessarily mean the ice cream is dairy-free. Remember to keep the products frozen until you’re ready to serve them.
If you want to hand out individual portions without cutting anything up or using crockery, count the ice lollies rather than relying on the pack’s weight alone. Carrefour, Auchan and ALDI offer packs containing 8 to 12 pieces.
When comparing packs in your chosen shop, look at the number of pieces alongside the prices displayed. A heavier pack doesn’t necessarily contain more portions.
An assortment lets you offer a choice of flavours, but you should check the ingredients of each variety. The products described by Carrefour and E.Leclerc show why it’s important to check the packaging for milk, almonds and other allergens.
For individual servings, first decide how many portions you need. Then compare packs by their flavours and any ingredients that some guests need to avoid.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Number of portions | Count the ice lollies in the pack and compare this with the number of guests you plan to serve. | If I want to give everyone an ice lolly, the number of pieces matters more than the total weight. Serving enough people is the top priority for around 33% of consumers in this group. |
| Budget | At your chosen shop, compare the prices with the number of pieces and the pack’s weight. | When I’m preparing several portions, I want to keep costs under control without losing sight of how much I’m serving. Around 25% of consumers in this group put this need first. |
| Flavours | Check which flavours are actually included: the word ‘assortment’ doesn’t tell you what each piece contains. | If my guests don’t all like the same flavours, I’d rather give them a choice from the pack. Variety is the top criterion for around 25% of consumers in this group. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the label on the exact pack, including for fruit-flavoured varieties and any warnings about possible traces. | When guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check every variety before serving. This check takes priority for around 17% of consumers in this group. |
A heavier pack doesn’t necessarily contain more ice lollies. If you’re handing out whole lollies, the number of pieces is the clearest measure.
First work out how many portions you need, then compare the weight and other details of the packs that fit the bill.
A fruit coating can cover ice cream that contains milk, as is the case with the fruit-flavoured Mini Trium described by E.Leclerc. Chocolate assortments can also include different recipes in the same pack.
Ask any guests with dietary requirements which ingredients they need to avoid, then check the allergens listed on the packaging of each product.
Ice lollies need to stay frozen during transport and before serving. The Ministry of the Economy reminds shoppers that the cold chain doesn’t end when you leave the shop.
Pick up frozen products last, keep transport time to a minimum and follow the storage temperature shown on the pack.
E.Leclerc says the Mini Trium shown on its product page isn’t sold on its website. So a product listing alone isn’t enough to plan your party around a particular pack.
Check that the product is available and confirm its ingredients with the shop where you plan to buy it.
Magnum offers an assortment of six mini sticks in Classic, Almond and White Chocolate flavours. Auchan also stocks a 10-piece Magnum assortment.
Carrefour offers an assortment of eight 32 g mini sticks, with different chocolate coatings and some pieces containing almonds.
Auchan offers an own-brand assortment of eight mini ice lollies, weighing 258 g.
The Mini Trium featured by E.Leclerc contains eight vanilla ice cream sticks with red fruit or exotic fruit coatings.
ALDI offers a 429 g pack of 12 MUCCI mini sticks.
These packs offer individual portions for a birthday party. They vary in the number of ice lollies, the size of each piece and the flavours available. Choose one to suit your group, then check the ingredients and storage instructions on the pack you select.
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Twelve individual ice lollies make it easy to count out portions for your group.
Orange and cherry flavours; stated total weight: 444 g. Store the product as directed on the pack and don’t refreeze it after defrosting.
If any guests have allergies, check the packaging on the batch for possible traces of gluten, peanuts, soya, milk and nuts.
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This pack of twelve individual ice lollies is a good choice if you want to serve several people and offer a range of flavours.
Five flavours are listed. Follow the storage temperature shown on the packaging.
Before serving anyone with allergies, check the allergen information on the specific pack.
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With six mini sticks, this pack is suited to a small group or as an extra dessert, rather than serving a larger group on its own.
The assortment includes Classic, Almond and White Chocolate. The recipes described contain milk; check the packaging of the specific pack for information about nuts.
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These eight individual melon-flavoured sticks can be shared among a small group, but the pack contains just one flavour.
Store them at the temperature stated on the packaging. If children will be eating them, also check the warning about the E102 colourant on the pack.
Check the full allergen information for the batch before serving guests with allergies.
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This pack of eight individual ice lollies is a good fit for a small group if everyone likes coconut and is happy with just one flavour.
The ingredients listed include milk. Check the full allergen information on the pack and follow its storage instructions.
Allow one for each guest you want to offer one to, then adjust the total to suit your group. The 8 to 12-stick packs offered by Carrefour, Auchan and ALDI give you a more useful guide to portions than the pack’s weight alone.
Not necessarily: the Mini Trium with fruit coatings featured by E.Leclerc contains vanilla ice cream with milk. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the exact product before serving it.
Keep them frozen during transport and until you’re ready to serve, following the temperature shown on the packaging. The Ministry of the Economy recommends maintaining the cold chain from the time of purchase; an Auchan product listing for Magnum specifies a storage temperature of −18 °C for this product.