What Polo del Gusto does

Polo del Gusto S.r.l. is a privately held Italian holding company founded in 2019 by Riccardo Illy and headquartered in Trieste (operational) and Milan (legal registered office). It consolidates a portfolio of super-premium food and beverage brands operating under a unifying philosophy called 'Qualità Dirompente' (Disruptive Quality). The portfolio comprises five core brands: Domori (fine chocolate, including the inventor of the 100% Criollo bar and a 25-year Criollo cacao preservation project with proprietary low-temperature ball-mill processing at <50°C versus 72+ hours at 85°C industry standard), Dammann Frères (French premium tea house founded 1925, with over 3,000 recipes and the proprietary Cristal pyramid sachet invented in the 1980s), Achillea (Italian organic fruit juices and spreads, founded 1980), Pintaudi (artisan baked goods, founded 2004), and Incantalia (multi-brand retail concept launched 2023). The group also owns Rococo Chocolates in the UK (acquired 2022) and distributes Barons de Rothschild champagne in Italy via Domori.

The business model is B2B/B2C distribution of premium branded products through four main channels: (1) owned monobrand and multi-brand boutiques (Paris, Marseille, Turin, Milan, Trieste); (2) wholesale to premium supermarkets, gourmet specialty stores, and GDO premium chains (with Pintaudi obtaining BRC and IFS certifications in 2025 to unlock broader retail penetration); (3) HoReCa supply including Domori's professional chocolate coverings for pastry chefs; and (4) direct-to-consumer via Incantalia physical stores and incantalia.it e-commerce. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is positioned at the premium/super-premium tier. Milano Finanza projects FY2025 revenue of approximately €132M, against €100M+ in both FY2021 and FY2022.

Revenue is supported by ongoing capital investment and institutional backing: SIMEST (CDP Group) provided €3M in 2022 for Domori's international expansion, IDIA Capital and Crédit Agricole co-invested in Dammann Frères in 2023, Friulia invested €1.2M in Pintaudi in January 2026 for a 35% stake, and a €30M investment inaugurated a new 26,500 m² Dammann Frères facility in Dreux in April 2026. Customers served include discerning premium consumers, HoReCa operators, and retail distributors across Italy, France, the UK, and other international markets, while governance draws on senior executives from McKinsey, LVMH, Zegna, Ralph Lauren, and Feltrinelli.

Name

Polo del Gusto

Legal name

Polo del Gusto S.r.l.

Website

https://polodelgusto.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Polo del Gusto is a privately held Italian holding company founded in 2019 by Riccardo Illy that owns and operates a portfolio of super-premium food and beverage brands — Domori (chocolate), Dammann Frères (tea), Pintaudi (bakery), Achillea (organic juices), Rococo Chocolates (UK), and the Incantalia multi-brand retail concept — distributing through owned boutiques, premium retail, HoReCa, and e-commerce channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Food and Beverage Holding

NAICS

Specialty Food Retailers (4452), Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers (42445), All Other Specialty Food Retailers (445298)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141), Canned, Fruits, Veg, Preserves, Jams & Jellies (2033)

akta.pro primary industry

Refrigerated Dips & Spreads (Cream Cheese, Hummus, Salsa, Guacamole) (CRADACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ethnic Spices, Herbs & Seasonings Wholesale (AFAIAIAF), Luxury Retail & Clienteling (Boutiques/Omnichannel) (CRAKAFAM)

Keywords

• Premium chocolate manufacturing
• Specialty tea blending
• Organic fruit beverages
• Artisan baked goods
• Multi-brand food holding

Headquarters

HQ city

Trieste

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Branded Food & Beverage Product Sales: Core revenue stream from the sale of premium/super-premium branded products across four main categories: (1) Domori — fine chocolate (tablets, bonbonniere, cacao nibs, professional coverings); (2) Dammann Frères — premium teas and infusions (retail tins, sachets, gift boxes); (3) Pintaudi — artisanal baked goods (Frolle pastries, Biscottoni, Fette Biscottate); (4) Achillea — organic fruit juices, soft drinks, and fruit spreads. Products are sold through owned boutiques, premium retail, GDO premium, and HoReCa channels.
2. Exclusive Distribution (Champagne Barons de Rothschild): Domori serves as the exclusive distributor for Barons de Rothschild Champagne in Italy, generating transaction-based distribution revenue.
3. Incantalia Retail & E-commerce: Incantalia is a multi-brand retail concept (plurimarca) that aggregates all Polo del Gusto brands plus selected partner products under one roof, both in physical stores and via an online portal (incantalia.it), creating a direct-to-consumer revenue channel.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Polo del Gusto is a privately held Italian holding company that owns and curates a portfolio of super-premium food and beverage brands: Domori (fine chocolate via direct Criollo cacao cultivation), Dammann Frères (premium teas with patented Cristal sachets), Pintaudi (artisan baked goods), Achillea (organic fruit juices and spreads), Rococo Chocolates (UK premium chocolate), plus the Incantalia multi-brand retail concept. The group applies a "Qualità Dirompente" philosophy centered on superior raw materials sourced directly, proprietary processing methods, and sustainability, distributing through owned boutiques, premium wholesale, HoReCa supply, and an online portal.

Product overview

Polo del Gusto is a holding company founded in 2019 by Riccardo Illy that owns and manages premium Food&Beverage brands. The portfolio consists of five main acquired brands: Dammann Frères (premium French teas, founded 1925), Domori (fine chocolate, founded 1997), Achillea (organic Italian fruit juices, founded 1980), Pintaudi (artisan baked goods, founded 2004), and Incantalia (multi-brand retail concept launched 2023). The holding applies 'Qualità Dirompente' (Disruptive Quality) principles across all brands, focusing on unique products, superior raw materials, better production processes, and sustainability. Each brand operates independently while benefiting from shared governance and strategic direction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Achillea: Organic fruit juices, soft drinks, and spreadable creams. Founded 1980, acquired 2022. Located in Paesana, Cuneo, Italy.
• Dammann Frères
• Domori
• Pintaudi
• Incantalia
• Rococo Chocolates

Products and services

• Domori Fine chocolate brand producing tablets, bonbonniere, cacao nibs, and professional chocolate coverings (coperture) for pastry chefs; controls the entire supply chain from cacao cultivation (rare Criollo variety representing 0.01% of global cacao) to finished products. Targets premium consumers and HoReCa/pastry professional buyers.
• Dammann Frères Premium French tea house offering over 50 varieties of pure teas, flavored blends, and infusions in tins, Cristal sachets, and gift boxes; produces 3,000+ recipes across decades. Sells through own boutiques in Paris, Marseille, Turin, and Milan, plus wholesale and HoReCa channels.
• Pintaudi Artisan bakery producing premium cookies (Frolle), Biscottoni (large-format cookies designed for dunking), and Fette Biscottate (toast biscuits) using certified-ingredient supply chain. Serves premium retail and GDO premium channels including via the new Noghere (Trieste) production facility.
• Achillea Italian certified-organic producer of fruit juices (e.g., clear apple juice from fresh pressing without concentrates), soft drinks, and fruit spreads using no additives or preservatives. Targets consumers seeking organic and natural products through retail and HoReCa channels.
• Incantalia Multi-brand retail concept (plurimarca) that aggregates all Polo del Gusto brands plus curated partner products under one roof, both in physical stores (flagship in Trieste) and via the online portal incantalia.it, creating a direct-to-consumer channel for food enthusiasts seeking a curated super-premium gastronomic experience.
• Rococo Chocolates Iconic British premium chocolate brand acquired in June 2022; sold through premium retail and specialty channels in the UK market.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pintaudi revenue grew +41% in FY2024 and +14% in FY2025 (to 1.41M EUR)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2024Dammann Frères signed a new partnership with the Eiffel Tower in Paris (announced June 2024, Olympic year), reinforcing its French heritage credentials and premium positioning ahead of the Paris Olympics.
• Università di Scienze Gastronomiche di PollenzocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2023Polo del Gusto became a Strategic Partner of the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo (April 2023), supporting academic collaboration, research, and talent development in gastronomy and food studies. Reinforces the group's commitment to food culture and education.
• Barons de RothschildcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2023Domori was appointed exclusive distributor in Italy for Barons de Rothschild Champagne (announced January 2023). This is a strategic distribution partnership that expands Domori's premium beverage portfolio beyond chocolate, leveraging its existing premium retail and HoReCa distribution network.
• Prestat Group / Gelato LibreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2022Gelato Libre is a project of Domori founder Gianluca Franzoni — an innovative dairy-free and egg-free gelato made from cacao and dried fruit with water. Also linked to Prestat Group (also owned by Polo del Gusto). Represents Domori's expansion into adjacent premium food categories.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Prestat: Prestigious London-based chocolate house (Royal Warrant holder), part of the Polo del Gusto / Prestat Group structure; relevant as an in-portfolio adjacency that validates the group's UK chocolate distribution and HoReCa reach.
• Rococo Chocolates: Premium British chocolate brand already within the Polo del Gusto portfolio (acquired 2022 via Prestat Group); included as an in-portfolio adjacency rather than a true competitor, useful as a UK market proxy for the group's premium chocolate footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Pernod Ricard: Large premium spirits and wine group with a multi-brand house-of-brands model and B-CORP/Sustainability leadership; structurally comparable to Polo del Gusto's holding strategy of premium beverage brand stewardship.
• Ferrero Group: Italian-headquartered global confectionery giant; comparable to Domori on premium chocolate scale and category leadership, though operating across mainstream price tiers unlike Domori's super-premium niche.
• Lindt & Sprüngli: Global premium chocolate incumbent; comparable to Domori on premium chocolate positioning and gifting/retail scale, though operating across mass-premium rather than Domori's super-premium niche.
• illycaffè / Gruppo illy: Polo del Gusto's former parent group; comparable as an Italian premium beverage holding with shared founder lineage (Illy family) and similar super-premium positioning in coffee.
• Twinings (Associated British Foods): Global premium and mainstream tea brand incumbent; comparable to Dammann on premium tea assortment and gifting/AH premium retail, but with vastly broader mass-market and international distribution.

Direct peers

• Mariage Frères: Historic French premium tea house and direct competitor to Dammann Frères; comparable on luxury tea assortment, boutique-led retail, and HoReCa distribution in France and internationally.
• Valrhona: Premium professional chocolate supplier to pastry chefs and HoReCa; directly comparable to Domori on fine-cocoa positioning, professional (B2B) channel coverage, and short-recipe chocolate innovation.
• Eataly: Multi-brand Italian premium food retail and restaurant concept; the closest direct analogue to the Incantalia multi-brand store concept, with comparable curated assortment and destination retail experience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Polo del Gusto