For a weekend breakfast, choose a size to suit the number of people and the portion sizes you want: an assortment gives you several ice lollies, while a mini format lets you serve smaller portions. Then check the ingredients for each recipe and the storage instructions on the box you choose.
If you’re serving several guests or planning for more than one weekend, the number of ice lollies and the weight of the box can help you compare formats. The assortments listed by E.Leclerc and ALDI illustrate the differences.
A mini ice lolly could be a good choice if everyone would like a smaller portion or a different flavour. Carrefour, for example, lists an assortment of eight mini ice lollies, each weighing 32 g.
Ingredients vary from one product to another. Information published by Carrefour and Magnum lists milk, soya, almonds or other nuts, depending on the recipe. The label on the box you choose is the one to check.
Start by working out how many portions you need and how big they should be. Then check the ingredients and how you’ll be able to transport and store the products.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Number of portions | Count the ice lollies and check the net weight of the box. | If several people will be helping themselves, I want to know how many ice lollies the box contains; around 40% of consumers prioritise the number of portions. |
| Size and variety | Compare the amount in each ice lolly and the flavours in the assortment. | Everyone at the table may want a smaller portion or a different flavour; around 30% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients and allergen information for each recipe. | If someone in my household needs to avoid an ingredient, I should check the exact box before serving it; around 20% of consumers put this check first. |
| Availability and storage | Confirm that the product is available at your chosen shop and follow the storage temperature shown on the packaging. | If the journey home is a long one, I need to be able to transport and then store the products according to the instructions; around 10% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
A box of mini ice lollies and a box of larger ones may differ in both the number of items and their weight.
Check the number of ice lollies, then how much each one weighs, before choosing a format to serve.
The products listed by Carrefour and Magnum don’t all have the same ingredients or the same “may contain” warnings.
Read the ingredients list and “may contain” warnings on the exact box, even when the assortment includes several flavours.
The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that the cold chain must be maintained while frozen food is being transported and stored.
Pick up the ice lollies at the end of your shop, keep the journey time to a minimum and follow the storage temperature printed on the packaging.
An assortment listed by a retailer may not necessarily be available at the shop where you plan to do your shopping.
Check that the product and format are available at your chosen shop or on its click-and-collect service before planning your portions.
A supermarket own-label brand to consider if you’re looking for an assortment of ice lollies at E.Leclerc.
The SIMPL product listed by Carrefour is an assortment of eight mini ice lollies, weighing 284 g in total.
Carrefour lists an assortment of eight mini ice lollies, each weighing 32 g.
Magnum’s range includes Mini Almond, a vanilla ice cream coated in milk chocolate and almond pieces.
The range listed by Auchan includes ice lollies, mini ice lollies and ice cream bars.
ALDI’s range includes a MUCCI box of twelve mini ice lollies, weighing 429 g in total.
These products include mini ice lollies, water ice lollies, ice pops and a sorbet on a stick. They differ in their number of items and recipes, so start by choosing the type of product you’d like to serve.
Image unavailable
A mini format to consider if you’d like to serve several smaller portions. Check the label if anyone in your household needs to avoid milk, soya or almonds, and follow the storage instructions on the box.
Image unavailable
An assortment to consider if you’d like to offer several ice lollies and flavours. The stated storage temperature is −18 °C; check the allergen information on the packaging before serving the different flavours.
Image unavailable
Eight ice lollies to consider if you’re looking for a melon flavour to share. The product contains milk; its description also warns that the colouring E102 may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.
Image unavailable
Ice pops to consider if you’d like to serve individual portions in orange and cherry flavours. Check the packaging for warnings about traces of gluten, peanuts, soya, milk and nuts.
Image unavailable
Four portions to consider if you’d like to serve coconut sorbet. Check the packaging for trace warnings; the product is stated to be unsuitable for children under 36 months and should not be refrozen after thawing.
Compare the number of ice lollies, the weight of the box and the amount in each portion. A box with more mini ice lollies won’t necessarily offer portions that are the same size as those in a box of larger ice lollies.
They could be a good choice if you’d like to serve smaller portions or offer several flavours. Carrefour lists eight 32 g ice lollies in its Carrefour Extra assortment; check the size and recipe of any other product separately.
Check the ingredients and “may contain” warnings on the whole box, as recipes can differ. Depending on the product, the items listed by Carrefour and Magnum include milk, soya, almonds and other nuts.
Maintain the cold chain during transport and follow the temperature stated on the packaging. The DGCCRF recommends limiting the time food spends outside its recommended storage conditions. So pick up frozen products at the end of your shop and plan how to transport them according to the length of your journey.