Global data 2025
In 2025, the artisanal gelato market closes with an overall 8.5% growth worldwide and a value of €16.5 billion. The result is mainly driven by non‑EU markets, which advance at a 10% pace, confirming a structural expansion of artisanal gelato within international foodservice.
In parallel, in Europe demand remains solid: tourism and third‑quarter weather conditions continue to directly influence consumption, while a slowdown in price growth is observed, despite persistent inflationary pressures on certain raw materials.
Europe: value, volumes and points of sale
In Europe, the market for artisanal gelato of Italian tradition reaches €11.7 billion in 2025, with 7% growth compared to 2024—evidence of increasingly widespread, cross‑country appreciation.
From an operational standpoint, 2025 shows the balance typical of a consolidation phase: volumes +3% and average prices +4%. Not all markets move at the same pace: Germany shows a slight decline, while Spain and the United Kingdom grow compared to the previous year.
Another key indicator for professionals (and investors) is the commercial network: in 2025, European points of sale (gelato shops, bars, pastry shops and restaurants offering artisanal gelato) increase by 2%, exceeding 66,000 units, involving around 300,000 employees.
Italy: turnover, consumption and points of sale
Italy remains the global hub of artisanal gelato. In 2025, sector turnover exceeds €3.1 billion (+3.5% vs 2024, including ancillary products), while volumes grow by 0.5% and the average price increases by 3%. Gelato shops with a strong tourism focus (especially in Central and Southern Italy) benefit in particular from international demand.
On the consumption side, figures are stable: per‑capita consumption is around 2 kg per year, with an average spending of €48 per person. The Italian network of gelato shops/pastry shops/bars/restaurants offering artisanal gelato exceeds 39,000 units, remaining broadly stable in recent years.
Non‑European countries: growth and network development
In non‑European countries, 2025 marks a clear step change: the market reaches approximately €4.8 billion (+10% year‑on‑year). Here, artisanal gelato is consolidating as an increasingly “structured” segment of international foodservice.
The global non‑European network exceeds 45,000 points of sale (gelato shops, bars, restaurants, hotels), mainly distributed across the Americas, Asia and emerging markets. Over the last year, points of sale grow by 8% and average turnover per point of sale by 2%, highlighting a dual dynamic: commercial expansion + gradual profitability growth.
Artisanal gelato prices: how much does it cost in 2025?
In 2025 in Europe, prices increase on average by 4% compared to 2024, driven by list‑price adjustments due to rising raw materials and production costs. The price per kg ranges between €28 and €35, with peaks up to €45 in the most expensive cities and tourist destinations.
For “over‑the‑counter” consumption, a small cup or cone costs on average between €3.20 and €4.50, reaching up to €7 in the historic centers of London and Paris.
Italy (the world’s leading market)
In Italy, the average price is lower: €20–28/kg, with peaks above €35/kg in Milan and in tourist areas. Territorial differences reach 30% between North and South; Florence is identified as Italy’s most expensive city, while Macerata is the cheapest, and in tourist cities prices can be up to 40% higher.
Territorial ranges (Italy, €/kg):
- North: 25–32
- Central: 22–28
- South: 18–25
Other European markets (price focus)
- Germany: €20–35/kg (Munich is the most expensive; Berlin’s outskirts the most affordable).
- Spain: €20–32/kg; central areas of Barcelona (small cone €4.50) and Madrid (€4.20) are among the most expensive; peaks of €38–40/kg in areas such as the Ramblas and Barcelona airport.
- Poland (an emerging market with over 2,000 gelato shops): €15–25/kg, with peaks at €32 in Warsaw’s Old Town and lows at €15 in Wroclaw.
- Great Britain: €39–47/kg, with peaks above €55/kg in central London (the highest in Europe); Manchester is more affordable, starting around €28/kg.
Costs and raw materials: what is changing
Costs remain central: between 2021 and 2025 the average production cost increases by 42%, impacting the final price. In 2025, despite the decline in sugar prices, fresh fruit (+5–8%) and especially nuts (+18–20%) still weigh heavily, affecting the premium flavors most in demand.
Raw materials (2025 indicators and recent trends):
- Sugar: +64.8% between 2019 and 2024, then -24% in 2025
- Milk: +21.9%, with slight declines after the 2022–2024 increases
- Cocoa: +262% in three years
- Pistachio: +15–20% vs 2024
- Hazelnut: +56% vs 2024 (prices doubling due to the halving of the Italian 2025 harvest from 120,000 t to 65–70,000 t and lower Turkish production)
- Lemon: +30% vs 2024
- Strawberries: down
Operating costs (gelato shop):
- Energy: +50–60% over the last 5 years, accounting for 7–9% of the final price
- Labor: +8–12% in 2025
- Rents: +2% in Europe in 2025 and +4.7% in Italy; rent differences of +50–80% in central and high‑tourism areas
Despite these pressures, artisanal gelato shows a strong ability to absorb price increases and strengthens its positioning and international appreciation.
Tourism and climate: the two demand “accelerators”
Tourism: inbound as the sales engine
In 2025, European tourism surpasses pre‑Covid levels (+4% vs 2023) and Europe remains the world’s top destination with over 700 million estimated international arrivals. Italy is among the main hubs: fifth worldwide and third in Europe, with around 80 million international tourists and 220 million overnight stays (annual growth ~3%).
In Q3 2025—crucial for gelato—tourist presences in Italy increase by 2.5%, driven by international tourism (+5%), which accounts for over 53% of total presences. In tourist areas, inbound tourism can generate 50–70% of turnover, with peaks of 80–90% in central areas during summer; the tourist consumes on average 1 gelato during the stay and spends on average more than €4 per gelato.
Highlights include:
- art cities (Florence, Venice, Rome, Milan) with increases in presences and average tourist spending +15–18% (a significant share allocated to street food and gelato)
- Asian tourism (China, Japan, South Korea) +27% in the first half of 2025, with a propensity to spend on premium gelato 2–3 times the European average
- coastal destinations (Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, Sardinia, Sicily) +12–18% presences
- smaller tourist cities +20–25%
Seasonality remains marked: 70–80% of annual turnover is concentrated between April and September, with relevant implications for staffing and peak‑demand management.
Climate: variability and consumption
In 2025, European temperatures are generally above the 1991–2020 average, but with strong regional heterogeneity. Italy and Spain benefit from more stable, sunny periods (extended demand), while in Germany intermittent rainfall dampens peaks, and in Poland alternating hot/rainy days makes demand more variable. Overall, variability in Q2 and Q3 significantly influences consumption patterns, favoring fair‑weather days (not excessive heat) and high‑traffic urban and tourist contexts.
The Italian value chain: ingredients, machines and overall value
Beyond gelato shops, 2025 highlights the strength of Italy’s industrial and technological value chain.
Ingredients and semi‑finished products (Italian industry)
In 2025, the ingredients and semi‑finished products segment grows by 8% and reaches €1.188 billion, with 67% export—a clear signal of the international attractiveness of the Italian “standard” for quality, traceability and product performance.
Purchase volumes (value chain indicators):
- Milk: ~242,000 tons
- Sugar: 71,400 tons
- Fresh and dried fruit: 55,900 tons
- Pistachio: ~1,700 tons (with Pistachio di Bronte standing out for value/recognizability)
- Hazelnuts: ~2,000 tons
A contraction is noted in purchases of Piedmont hazelnut (~900 tons in 2025) due to reduced availability, partly offset by alternative premium Italian supplies (Nocciola di Giffoni, Nocciola Romana DOP, Mortarella, San Giovanni). Despite lower volumes, Piedmont hazelnut remains a symbolic and commercial asset of the premium offer.
Machines, display cases and equipment
The machines/display cases/equipment segment grows by 4% and reaches €697 million (from €670 million in 2024), with exports at ~70%. Asia and South America drive demand through new openings and technological upgrading; in Europe, Germany is contracting and Italy decelerates at year‑end due to uncertainty around incentives (transition from Industry 4.0 to new mechanisms). The outlook remains positive thanks to exports, technological leadership, and growing demand for energy efficiency, automation and digitalization.
Overall value of the value chain
Overall, the Italian artisanal gelato value chain (gelato shops, ingredients, machines, display cases) reaches €4.9 billion in turnover and employs over 120,000 people.