A method for the preservation in a cooled condition of loose confectionery products which can be damaged by heat, for the purpose of permitting the retail sale thereof, is described. The products (P) are displayed, preferably loose, in a cooled container (2, 12) into which an air-flow cooled by the Peltier effect is supplied by means of a fan (40) disposed outside the container (12), through at least one opening (42) in the bottom (18, 24) of the container (12), and is caused to flow continuously through the tortuous passageways between the products (P) contained therein, the airflow being at least partially extracted from the container and caused to flow, without exchange of matter with the exterior, in contact with a cold dissipator element (32) of a Peltier-effect thermoelectric module (28) disposed on the intake side of the fan (40). A Peltier-effect cooling device for implementing the method is also described.