Who are these formats for?

Organisers who want to plan each portion

If guests will help themselves to an ice lolly, the number of sticks and the amount in each one can help you plan how to serve them. The Carrefour Extra, Magnum France and Carrefour product listings give, respectively, 32 g, 55 ml and 50 ml per item for the products in question. So the word “mini” alone doesn’t tell you how much each portion contains, and grams can’t be directly converted into millilitres.

Couples who want to offer a range of flavours

An assorted box lets you serve several recipes without having to choose just one flavour for the whole buffet. Magnum France offers a selection of Classic, Almond and White Chocolate; Carrefour’s Solero Mini listing features two fruit flavours. Be sure to check the ingredients in each one before serving them together.

Organisers planning to serve lots of portions

To work out how much to buy, check the number of items in each box and the space available in your freezer. Carrefour, Auchan and ALDI France list packs of 8 or 12, depending on the product. Check availability with your chosen retailer before relying on a particular pack for the wedding.

What should you look for?

Start by deciding how many items you’ll serve and what size portion you want. You can then compare the recipes, allergen information and freezer storage requirements to choose between the boxes.

Criteria What to check Who is this for?
Portion size and serving Count the items in each box and check the stated weight or volume per item. Don’t compare grams and millilitres directly. I want everyone to be able to help themselves to a small ice lolly, without it needing to be cut up, and to know how much I’m serving. Around 33% of consumers would put portion size at the top of their list.
Range of flavours Check which recipes are actually included in each box and plan how you’ll label them on the buffet. If I’m offering several flavours, I want guests to have a choice without the recipes getting mixed up when they’re served. This would be the priority for around 25% of consumers.
How much to buy Work out how many boxes you need based on the number of items in each, then check availability and freezer space. When serving lots of guests, I mainly need to make sure I have enough ice lolly sticks without buying more boxes than necessary. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise this.
Allergens and keeping products frozen Read the ingredients, allergen information and any traces that may be present on the pack you buy, as well as its storage instructions. I need to be able to distinguish between recipes to cater for guests’ dietary requirements and keep the ice lollies in the stated conditions until they’re served. Around 17% of consumers would put this first.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming all “mini” formats are the same size

    Carrefour Extra lists 32 g per stick, while Magnum France gives 55 ml and Carrefour’s Solero Mini listing gives 50 ml. So the number of items alone doesn’t tell you how much each portion contains.

    For each product, note the number of sticks and the amount per item. Where possible, compare products using the same unit, without automatically converting weight into volume.

  • Serving an assortment without identifying its allergens

    The Carrefour Extra assortment listed in the search contains milk, soya and almonds, among other ingredients, and may contain traces of eggs and other nuts. A box containing several recipes won’t necessarily suit every guest.

    Keep the packaging for the products you serve and label the different recipes on the buffet. The DGCCRF advises that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list on pre-packed foods.

  • Assuming “gluten-free” means “dairy-free”

    Carrefour’s Solero Mini listing says “gluten-free”, but also lists milk, lactose and milk proteins. A gluten-related claim doesn’t tell you about other allergens.

    Check the packaging for the specific product you’ll serve against each guest’s dietary requirements, including any precautionary allergen statements.

  • Ordering boxes without planning how to store them

    Having enough items doesn’t solve the question of where to store them or when to take them out for the buffet. Carrefour’s Solero Mini listing says this product should be stored at −18 °C.

    Before ordering, check the instructions for each product, the capacity of your freezer and whether you can take the boxes out gradually. Also check how many are available at your chosen retailer.

Brands to consider for mini formats

These products illustrate a range of pack sizes and assortments. Their features depend on the specific product, not on every ice cream made by each brand.

Magnum

Magnum France offers a box of six 55 ml mini sticks, with a mix of Classic, Almond and White Chocolate.

  • The box described by the brand contains three chocolate-coated recipes.
  • Check the allergen information for the Almond recipe, and calculate how many boxes you need based on six items per pack.

Carrefour Extra

Carrefour’s listing describes an assortment of eight mini sticks, each weighing 32 g.

  • The weight per item and the number of items make portion planning easier.
  • The ingredients listed for this assortment include milk, soya and almonds, and it may contain traces of eggs and other nuts.

Auchan

Auchan offers an assortment of eight mini ice lolly sticks, weighing 258 g in total, with a range of coatings around vanilla ice cream.

  • The box includes milk, dark and white chocolate coatings, as well as an almond recipe.
  • Check the ingredients in the assortment you’re serving, as the recipes contain milk and almonds.

Solero

Carrefour’s listing features a pack of six 50 ml Solero Mini ice lollies in Exotic Fruit and Red Berry flavours.

  • Two fruity flavours can add variety to a selection of chocolate recipes.
  • Although the listing says “gluten-free”, it also lists milk and lactose, so check dietary requirements separately.

MUCCI

ALDI France offers a pack of 12 MUCCI mini sticks, weighing 429 g in total.

  • The 12 items in each box give you a useful starting point for working out how many packs you need.
  • Before serving, check the pack you’ve chosen for the amount per item, allergens and storage instructions.

Ice lolly sticks available on Joybuy

These boxes include an orange and cherry option as well as several Magnum Mini recipes. To plan your buffet, compare the number of items and the quantities stated, then check the packaging for the allergens and storage instructions for the products you’ve chosen.

CAPRI-SUN orange and cherry ice lolly sticks, 12 pieces, 444 g

CAPRI-SUN orange and cherry ice lolly sticks, 12 pieces, 444 g

Worth considering if you’d like to offer two fruity flavours and count out the portions individually.

Box of 12, 444 g in total. Check the packaging for the product you’re serving for the amount per item, allergens and storage instructions.

View on Joybuy
Magnum Mini Classic, Almond and White Chocolate, 6 pieces, 254 g

Magnum Mini Classic, Almond and White Chocolate, 6 pieces, 254 g

Worth considering if you want to offer several chocolate recipes in one box.

Six sticks, 254 g in total. Check the amount per item and the allergens in each recipe in the pack you’re serving, particularly the Almond one.

View on Joybuy
Magnum Mini Classic, 6 ice lolly sticks of 55 ml

Magnum Mini Classic, 6 ice lolly sticks of 55 ml

Worth considering if you prefer a single recipe with the volume per item stated.

Six Classic sticks, 55 ml each. This product is different from the assorted box with several flavours. Check the packaging for allergens and storage instructions.

View on Joybuy
Magnum Mini Deluxe Caramel, 6 pieces, 330 g

Magnum Mini Deluxe Caramel, 6 pieces, 330 g

Worth considering if you’d like to add a caramel recipe while keeping to six portions per box.

330 g in total. To plan how much you’ll serve each guest, check the pack for the individual portion size, allergens and storage instructions.

View on Joybuy
Magnum Double Billionaire's Mini, 6 pieces, 282 g

Magnum Double Billionaire's Mini, 6 pieces, 282 g

Worth considering if you’d like another Magnum recipe in a box of six individual portions.

282 g in total. Check the packaging for the amount per stick, allergens and storage instructions for the product you’re serving.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How many boxes do I need for a wedding buffet?

Divide the number of portions you want to serve by the number of sticks in each box, then round up to the number of boxes you need. Depending on the product, the ranges listed by Magnum France, Carrefour and ALDI France contain 6, 8 or 12 items. Check you have enough freezer space before planning to buy extra boxes.

Is an ice lolly labelled “gluten-free” suitable for all guests with dietary requirements?

No: the claim only relates to gluten. Carrefour’s Solero Mini listing says “gluten-free” but also lists milk, lactose and milk proteins. For each dietary requirement, check the ingredients and any precautionary allergen statements on the pack you’ll actually be serving.

How should I store mini ice lolly sticks before serving?

Follow the storage temperature stated for each product and make sure your freezer can maintain it until serving time. Carrefour’s Solero Mini listing gives −18 °C for this product; ANSES and the Ministry of Agriculture stress the importance of maintaining the cold chain. Take the boxes out gradually rather than leaving the entire stock on the buffet.

How should I answer guests’ questions about allergens?

Keep the packaging for each recipe you serve so you can check its ingredients and allergen information. The DGCCRF says allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list for pre-packed foods. If you’re offering several assortments, label each one clearly and keep their information separate.