Turn your passion for artisan frozen desserts into a thriving café business creating daily moments of joy in your community. Gelatissimo has delighted customers since 2002 with award-winning gelato made fresh in-store using premium natural ingredients and secret Calabrian family recipes. Join Australia’s largest gelato chain now expanding across the United States with proven simple business model, internationally recognized brand, and untapped market opportunity!
Gelatissimo at a Glance:
- World Gelato Award GOLD and CHAMPION winner
- 70 global locations across 7 countries
- 5 US stores with rapid expansion underway
- Investment $372,500-$818,500 including $35K franchise fee, 4% royalty
- Fresh gelato made in-store daily with natural ingredients
Gelatissimo Gelato Cafe Franchise
Founded in 2002 on King Street in Sydney, Australia, Gelatissimo revolutionized artisan gelato by bringing authentic Italian techniques and secret Calabrian family recipes to neighborhood café settings. Our first store created lines out the door through word-of-mouth alone, growing into Australia’s largest gelato chain with 70 locations across 7 international markets. Launching in the United States in 2022 with Houston flagship followed by Waikiki, Orange County, and Rogers locations, we’re bringing award-winning fresh gelato to American communities craving authentic frozen desserts made with premium natural ingredients in cozy café environments perfect for celebrations and everyday moments.
Why Franchise With Gelatissimo?
Our proven artisan café model delivers award-winning product differentiation and operational simplicity with fresh in-store production creating customer loyalty impossible with pre-made desserts.
- Award-Winning Product Differentiation: Multiple World Gelato Award GOLD and CHAMPION competition-winning flavors year-after-year proving quality creates customer demand and repeat business through authentic taste experiences.
- Fresh In-Store Production: All gelato made fresh daily in your café using provided recipes and ingredients, ensuring consistent quality while allowing endless flavor innovation keeping menus exciting and customers returning.
- Natural Ingredient Focus: No artificial colors or flavors, plus gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and 98% sugar-free options capturing health-conscious consumers seeking lighter alternatives to traditional ice cream.
- Low-Investment Café Model: Compact 300-1,200 square foot footprints with simple production systems, low overhead operations, and multiple revenue streams through dine-in, delivery, takeaway, and event sales channels.
- Internationally Proven Concept: 70 locations operating successfully across 7 countries with 20+ years Australian market validation providing proven systems, recipes, and operational best practices for US expansion.
ABF Exclusive Insights
Market Analysis: Gelato market expanding rapidly as health-conscious consumers discover lighter frozen dessert alternative to ice cream. Made with fresh milk instead of cream, gelato easier to digest while delivering intense natural flavors. Americans increasingly seeking authentic artisan frozen desserts with natural ingredients creating sustained demand tailwinds for premium gelato concepts.
Competitive Advantage: Award-winning recipes with 20+ years Australian validation provide authentic product differentiation. Fresh in-store production creates quality control and flavor innovation capabilities chain ice cream brands cannot match. Compact café footprints (300-1,200 sq ft) enable mall, boardwalk, downtown, and shopping center locations traditional ice cream parlors cannot access economically.
ABF Investment Tip: Target high-traffic locations in warmer climates where frozen dessert consumption strongest year-round. Mall food courts, boardwalk destinations, downtown shopping districts, and outdoor lifestyle centers provide ideal customer flow. Build rotating seasonal flavor calendar leveraging local fruits and regional preferences. Focus on educating consumers about gelato’s lighter, more natural characteristics versus traditional ice cream to convert first-time customers into loyal regulars.
Training & Support
Gelatissimo ensures franchise partner success through comprehensive training, operational systems, and continuous support protecting franchisee profitability.
- Comprehensive 10-Day Training: Intensive hands-on training at corporate store covering gelato production techniques, flavor creation, equipment operation, customer service, business operations, and marketing strategies launching confidently.
- Site Selection & Development: Assistance with location identification, lease negotiation, store design and décor support, construction coordination, and permitting navigation ensuring optimal site selection and efficient buildout.
- Fresh Production Systems: Complete recipes, ingredient supply chain, production schedules, quality control standards, and equipment training enabling consistent award-winning gelato production daily without prior dessert-making experience.
- Grand Opening Support: Marketing campaign planning, event coordination, community fundraiser assistance, public relations outreach, and launch promotions driving immediate customer traffic and brand awareness in territory.
- Ongoing Operations Support: Dedicated Franchise Operations Support Manager providing regular check-ins, performance analysis, new flavor rollouts, marketing initiatives, and best practice sharing throughout franchise ownership.
Who Thrives as a Gelatissimo Franchisee?
Gelatissimo seeks passionate entrepreneurs excited about creating daily moments of joy through award-winning artisan gelato.
- Passionate about quality artisan food made fresh daily
- Value proven international concept with 70 global locations
- Customer-experience focused, creating memorable moments not just sales
- Appreciate simple formula-based production with provided recipes
- Community-oriented, creating gathering spaces for celebrations
- Want multiple revenue streams through dine-in, delivery, takeaway, events
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the difference between gelato and ice cream?
A: Gelato uses fresh milk instead of cream, creating lighter texture that’s easier to digest while delivering more intense natural flavors. This differentiation attracts health-conscious consumers seeking premium frozen desserts without heavy cream content.
Q: Do I need culinary or gelato-making experience?
A: No prior experience required. Our comprehensive 10-day training teaches gelato production, flavor creation, equipment operation, and quality standards. We provide all recipes, ingredients, and production systems ensuring consistent award-winning results.
Q: What are the complete investment requirements?
A: Total investment $372,500-$818,500 including $35,000 franchise fee, 4% ongoing royalty. Investment covers 300-1,200 square foot café buildout, gelato equipment, initial inventory, comprehensive training, grand opening marketing, and working capital.
Q: How long does it take to open a store?
A: Approximately 20 weeks total. If suitable site and lease already available, build phase takes 12-18 weeks depending on location size, local permitting, and contractor availability.
Q: Where do gelato ingredients come from?
A: All gelato made fresh in your store daily using provided recipes and ingredient systems. Gelatissimo supplies majority of products ensuring consistent quality standards. Some fresh fruits may be purchased locally for optimal freshness.
Next Steps
Ready to join the award-winning artisan gelato franchise creating moments of joy in communities across the globe? Complete the form below to talk to our franchise development team and to discuss specific details and territory availability for this top franchise brand.
This profile represents general franchise information. Individual results may vary. Consult the Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details about fees, obligations, financial performance, and all franchise terms before making any investment decision.