The growth of Italian artisanal gelato has been strongly supported by several sectors that, although less well-known, have been the driving force behind the gelato's increasing quality and consumption levels.
Over the past twenty years, the sector of compound ingredients – also known as semi-finished products – has seen a steady consolidation of its structure. It is currently made up of around 80 companies employing 1,500 people, generating a turnover of over 850 million euros. In recent years, this sector has grown both in Italy (+2/4% per year) and especially abroad (+10% per year). Most of these are manufacturing companies, with some also working as third-party producers. Few companies are solely engaged in distribution.
The products in this sector are numerous, such as concentrates of local and exotic fresh fruit, pastes of oilseeds (e.g., hazelnuts, pistachios), flavoring agents, thickeners, stabilizers, whipping agents, and toppings. These products allow gelato makers to offer a considerable range of advantages to consumers: among them, the ability to provide novelty and a wide variety of flavors, consistent quality over time, greater seasonal availability, and a product that is safe in all its organoleptic properties, controlled and completely free of preservatives.
Returning to the numbers, the European Union, led by Germany, represents the main export market, although demand is steadily increasing from the United States, Eastern European countries, the Far East, and Australia. In general, both exports and demand, especially for new flavors, are on the rise, although the majority of consumption is still concentrated on traditional flavors such as lemon, strawberry, chocolate, hazelnut, and cream.
Unione Italiana Food
Unione Italiana Food is the primary association in Italy for the direct representation of food product categories and one of the leading ones in Europe. It is an association whose mission is the enhancement and protection of companies, products, and sectors that are among the excellences of our industry, constantly facing new challenges in global markets. Founded in January 2019 from the merger of AIDEPI (Italian Association of Confectionery and Pasta Industries) and AIIPA (Italian Association of Food Industries), it represents 530 companies from over 25 product categories, employing 100,000 people and generating a turnover of over 56 billion euros, of which 18 billion come from exports.
UIF – Gelato Products Group
The main Italian producers of compound ingredients for gelato, which together generate a turnover of 850 million euros, representing 80% of the total turnover of the artisanal gelato ingredients sector, are part of the UIF – Gelato Products Group.