EUROPE
- Record revenue exceeding €10 billion: In 2023, the artisanal gelato market in Europe reached a new record, surpassing €10 billion for the first time. Revenue hit €10.9 billion, marking an +11% increase compared to 2022 (€9.83 billion) and a significant rise from €8.7 billion in 2021.
- Price increases: Revenue growth was mainly driven by rising prices (+10% in 2023 across Europe) due to the increasing cost of raw materials. Only a minor part of the growth was attributed to the opening of new gelaterias, increased tourism flows (which declined between May and June but strongly recovered from August to October), and an extended season thanks to mild autumn temperatures.
- Geographical distribution: Artisanal gelato has a strong presence in 76 countries worldwide, with Europe leading the market. The continent boasts around 65,000 gelaterias, with particularly high consumption in Italy, Germany, Spain, and Poland. Other countries such as Austria, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands are also experiencing significant growth.
- Slight increase in the number of gelaterias in Europe (+1%): In 2023, the number of outlets surpassed 65,000, employing 300,000 people in the sector. The main 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 quantity of artisanal gelato sold in Europe recorded a slight increase (+1% compared to 2022).
ITALY
- Revenue growth of 11%: The Italian artisanal gelato market approached €3 billion in 2023, considering gelaterias, pastry shops, and cafés serving gelato. The sector had previously recorded €2.7 billion in 2022, €2.3 billion in 2021, and €1.85 billion in 2020.
- Tourism and consumption: Tourism accounted for around 15% of gelato sales, with a mixed trend. Domestic tourism saw marginal growth, affected by declining purchasing power. In contrast, foreign tourist flows increased by +4% during the summer season and +13% throughout the year. The average spending in gelaterias by foreign tourists reached over €2.5 per person, thanks especially to increased arrivals from August onward.
- Stable sales volume: Despite the sharp rise in raw material costs and unfavorable weather in the first part of the season, sales volumes remained stable. In fact, there was a slight increase (+1%), a positive sign for the sector’s future.
- Per capita spending: Italians spent an average of €43 per capita in 2023, an increase from the previous year.
- Geographical distribution of gelaterias: Italy has over 9,300 pure gelaterias (+0.3% compared to 2022), 12,000 pastry shops, and approximately 18,000 bars serving artisanal gelato, totaling over 39,000 points of sale.
- Main Italian regions by number of production laboratories:
- Lombardy: 2,120
- Sicily: 1,610
- Campania: 1,564
- Lazio: 1,453
- Veneto: 1,305
- Emilia Romagna: 1,235
- Staff shortage: One of the most significant challenges in the sector remains the difficulty in finding qualified staff. Some gelaterias have had to reduce operating hours due to staff shortages, negatively impacting sales, especially during morning and late-evening hours.
ARTISANAL GELATO SUPPLY CHAIN
- Ingredients and semi-finished products: Italy also leads in the production of ingredients and semi-finished products for artisanal gelato. The sector includes 65 companies and generated revenue of €1.1 billion in 2023 (+9% compared to 2022). Exports account for approximately 65% of total sales.
- In 2023, sector companies 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 significantly impacted the sector:
- Sugar +54%
- Milk +34%
- Eggs +40%
- Cocoa +62%
- Fruit +9% (with much higher peaks for certain varieties, such as strawberries)
- Machinery and furnishings for gelaterias: The equipment sector for artisanal gelato production and sales generated a turnover of approximately €650 million in 2023, of which €350 million came from sales to artisanal gelaterias. Italian companies in this sector export over 70% of production and employ around 1,500 people.
- The weight of the supply chain in the Italian market: Overall, the Italian artisanal gelato supply chain (including gelaterias, ingredients, machinery, equipment, and display cases) surpassed €4 billion in revenue for the first time, employing over 100,000 people in Italy.
Sources: UIF, internal data, ACOMAG, Confartigianato, Confesercenti, Demoskopea, ISTAT, TCI.