EUROPE
Price Increase: The revenue growth was primarily driven by a 10% price increase in 2023 across Europe, linked to rising raw material costs. Only a small part of the increase was attributed to new gelato shops, growth in tourist traffic (which decreased between May and June but rebounded strongly from August to October), and an extended season due to mild autumn temperatures.
Geographical Distribution: Artisanal gelato has a strong presence in 76 countries worldwide, with Europe being the absolute leader. The continent has around 65,000 gelato shops, with particularly high consumption in Italy, Germany, Spain, and Poland. Countries such as Austria, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands also saw significant growth.
Slight Growth in Gelato Shops (+1%): In 2023, the number of gelato shops surpassed 65,000, employing 300,000 people in the sector. Key countries include:
- Germany: 9,000 outlets (3,300 pure gelaterias)
- Spain: 2,200
- Poland: 2,000
- Belgium: 1,200
- United Kingdom: 1,100
- Austria: 900
- Greece: 700
- France: 500
Increase in Sales Volume: The volume of artisanal gelato sold in Europe saw a slight increase (+1% compared to 2022).
ITALY
11% Growth in Revenue: The Italian artisanal gelato market reached nearly 3 billion euros in 2023, including gelaterias, pastry shops, and bars with gelato. Previous years had recorded 2.7 billion euros in 2022, 2.3 billion in 2021, and 1.85 billion in 2020.
Tourism and Consumption: Tourism contributed approximately 15% to gelato sales, showing varied dynamics. Domestic tourism grew marginally, impacted by decreased purchasing power, while foreign tourist flows increased by 4% in the summer season and 13% for the entire year. The average expenditure per foreign tourist in gelaterias was over €2.5, particularly in the months after August.
Stability in Sales Volume: Despite the significant rise in raw material costs and unfavorable weather in the first part of the season, sales volumes remained stable. On the contrary, a slight increase (+1%) was registered, a positive indicator for the sector's future.
Per Capita Spending: Italians spent an average of €43 per person on gelato in 2023, up from the previous year.
Geographical Distribution of Gelaterias: Italy is home to over 9,300 pure gelaterias (+0.3% compared to 2022), 12,000 pastry shops, and about 18,000 bars offering artisanal gelato, totaling over 39,000 outlets.
Main Regions for Gelato Shops:
- Lombardy: 2,120
- Sicily: 1,610
- Campania: 1,564
- Lazio: 1,453
- Veneto: 1,305
- Emilia Romagna: 1,235
Labor Shortage: One of the most pressing issues in the sector is the difficulty in finding skilled workers. In some gelaterias, staff shortages have led to reduced opening hours, negatively affecting sales, particularly in the morning and evening.
ARTISANAL GELATO SUPPLY CHAIN
Ingredients and Semi-Finished Products: Italy remains a leader in the production of ingredients and semi-finished products for artisanal gelato. The sector includes 65 companies and generated a turnover of 1.1 billion euros in 2023 (+9% compared to 2022). Exports account for about 65% of the total.
In 2023, the sector purchased:
- 233,000 tons of milk
- 69,000 tons of sugar
- 53,000 tons of fruit (fresh and dried)
- 1,700 tons of Bronte pistachios
- 1,900 tons of Piedmont hazelnuts
Price increases have heavily impacted the sector:
- Sugar: +54%
- Milk: +34%
- Eggs: +40%
- Cocoa: +62%
- Fruit: +9% (with some varieties, like strawberries, seeing much higher increases)
Machinery and Equipment for Gelaterias: The equipment sector for the production and sale of artisanal gelato generated a turnover of about 650 million euros in 2023, with €350 million related to sales for artisanal gelaterias. Italian companies in this sector export over 70% of their production and employ around 1,500 people.
Weight of the Supply Chain in the Italian Market: The overall Italian artisanal gelato supply chain (gelaterias, ingredients, machinery, equipment, and showcases) surpassed 4 billion euros in turnover for the first time, generating employment for over 100,000 people in Italy.