What Gelato Messina does

Gelato Messina is a vertically integrated Australian artisanal gelato maker founded in 2002 and headquartered at the Messinaville production complex in Marrickville, Sydney. The company produces all gelato from scratch on-site — including in-house chocolate, dulce de leche, and gelato bases — and churns fresh daily inside each retail location, avoiding pre-made pastes. It operates more than 40 company-owned storefronts across every Australian state (NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, SA, WA), plus international stores in Hong Kong and Singapore, with each store offering 30 permanent flavours and 10 customer-voted monthly specials.

The business model is primarily direct-to-consumer retail through owned physical stores, supplemented by a Shopify e-commerce site, a proprietary mobile app with a 10-point-per-A$1 loyalty programme (Messina Dollars), Uber Eats delivery, and a Woolworths supermarket partnership for grocery-channel distribution. Revenue diversification extends beyond gelato into hand-made gelato and semifreddo cakes (priced A$72–A$109), bake-at-home cookie pies, in-house chocolate bars, branded apparel and merchandise, digital and physical gift cards (A$6.90–A$200 denominations), and experiential offerings — the Erin Restaurant & Bar, Shadow Baking bakery, and a tiered factory-tour programme (A$25–A$139 per person). A high-cadence collaboration engine (Whittaker's, Get Baked, Standard Procedure, Lanolips, By Billie, YETI) generates viral limited-edition drops.

The customer base is overwhelmingly individual consumer — gelato enthusiasts, families, tourists, and event/celebration planners — sourced across geographically dispersed storefronts and a digital channel stack. Pricing is positioned at premium mass-market levels (single scoop A$6.90, two scoops A$8.90, three scoops A$10.90; 1.5L tub A$39). The company is privately held, founder-controlled, reports no external institutional investment, and does not disclose financials, with reported headcount in the 251–500 band. Distribution is Australia-anchored with limited international exposure, supporting a stable but geographically concentrated revenue base.

Name

Gelato Messina

Legal name

Gelato Messina

Website

https://gelatomessina.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Gelato Messina is an Australian artisanal gelato maker and retailer, producing gelato from scratch at its Marrickville 'Messinaville' factory and operating 40+ company-owned scoop shops across all Australian states plus Hong Kong and Singapore, serving everyday consumers, event planners, and dining patrons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Gelato

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024), Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream & Gelato Shops (THAFAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Gelato Manufacturing (AFAHAEAD)

Keywords

• Artisan gelato production
• Specialty ice cream
• Gelato retail stores
• Handcrafted frozen desserts
• Dessert manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Darlinghurst

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices39 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Gelato Sales: Core revenue from selling gelato scoops and tubs across 40+ stores in Australia and internationally. Customers can purchase 1-3 scoops or take-home tubs (0.5L, 1L, 1.5L). This is the primary revenue driver.
2. Gelato Cakes: Sale of gelato cakes and semifreddo cakes including Bombe Alaska ($82), Boysenberry Cheesecake ($72), Dr. Evil's Magic Mushroom ($109), and others. Ordered online for pickup or purchased in-store.
3. E-commerce and Delivery: Online ordering through website and app for pickup and delivery. App users receive cheaper delivery fees and pay no service fee on orders.
4. Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel (hoodies, t-shirts), accessories (socks, bucket hats, tote bags), homeware, and collaborative products with partner brands.
5. Gift Cards: Digital and physical gift cards available in various denominations. Cards can be used online and in-store at any Messina location in Australia.
6. Loyalty Program Points: App-based loyalty program earning 10 points per $1 spent, redeemable for free gelato and products. Points can be converted to Messina Dollars for flexible spending.
7. Factory Tours: Behind-the-scenes tours of Messinaville factory. Tour options include BTS Tour ($70pp), Tour with Dinner at Erin ($139pp), School Tours ($25pp minimum 10 students), and Private Tours ($95pp, 6-20 guests).
8. Erin Restaurant & Bar: Restaurant and wine bar inside Messinaville serving dishes with frozen elements. Open Thursday-Sunday for dinner service. Offers set menu and a la carte dining plus special events like Pour Decisions wine and gelato pairing nights.
9. Shadow Baking: Weekend bakery inside Messinaville store offering freshly baked pastries and sit-down breakfast. Open Thursday-Sunday from 8am until sold out.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Gelato Messina produces and sells premium artisanal gelato made from scratch at its Marrickville factory (Messinaville), offering 30 permanent classic flavours plus 10 rotating monthly specials churned fresh in store. The company sells gelato by scoop, by take-home tub, and as cakes/semifreddos, alongside in-house chocolates, branded merchandise, gift cards, and limited-edition collaborative products across 40+ Australian stores and locations in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Product overview

Gelato Messina is an Australian artisanal ice cream company operating 35+ stores across Australia plus international locations in Hong Kong and Singapore. The core product is freshly churned gelato made from scratch at their Messinaville factory in Marrickville, Sydney. Their portfolio includes 30 permanent classic gelato flavours plus 10 rotating monthly specials, along with gelato cakes (hand-made inventive designs) and semifreddo cakes (mousse-textured, travel-friendly). Additional offerings include in-house crafted chocolate bars, branded merchandise, digital and physical gift cards, bake-at-home cookie pies, and limited-edition seasonal products. The company has expanded beyond retail gelato into restaurant dining (Erin), weekend bakery (Shadow Baking), factory tours, and special events. A proprietary mobile app provides loyalty points, mobile ordering, and delivery. Recent partnerships include Get Baked x Messina (UK cake brand) and Whittaker's x Messina collaborations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Artisanal Gelato (Scoops and Tubs)
• Gelato Cakes

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000+ unique flavours created since founding
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Integration11 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Get Baked (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 August 2026Collaboration bringing UK cult cake brand Get Baked and their famous Bertha Chocolate Cake to Australia for the first time. Bertha is a 24-layer chocolate cake (12 layers dark chocolate cake + 12 layers milk/dark chocolate ganache). Available via pre-order for store collection (August 10-16) and Messinaville pop-up event (August 8). Get Baked team flew to Sydney to produce Bertha at Messinaville.
• DRNKSminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 July 2026Partnership with Sydney bottle shop and online retailer DRNKS for Pour Decisions - ongoing wine and gelato pairing events at Erin restaurant. DRNKS is known for hunting down real, organic and interesting drinks from small producers. First event featured Ravensworth wines.
• Whittaker'scoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Partnership with New Zealand chocolate brand Whittaker's to celebrate their Banana Caramel chocolate block. Created limited edition 'Caramel's Gone Bananas' gelato featuring banana and Whittaker's Creamy Milk chocolate gelato with vanilla caramel and Whittaker's brownie. Available from June 30, 2026. First 50 customers received free Banana Caramel Block and stickers.
• By BillieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on hemp/cotton blend t-shirts. Each tee comes with a free scoop voucher on the swing tag. Products available in-store and online.
• Standard ProcedureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on SPF 50+ scented sunscreen lotion inspired by tropical mango, pineapple and vanilla scents. Available at Messina stores, Sephora, Standard Procedure, and Qantas Marketplace. Product generates revenue through wholesale to retail partners.
• LanolipsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on lip balm products including Dulce Balm, Coco Mango Balm, and Duo. Products sold in Messina stores.
• YETIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMessina X YETI collaboration on reusable cup and free scoop pack. Bundled product sold in stores and online.
• MayerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian chocolate supplier for Get Baked x Messina collaboration. Providing over 2 tonnes of high quality Belgian chocolate to make Bertha cake down under.
• Hey DoodleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on Hey Doodle x Messina Mat. Silicone mat product sold in Messina stores.
• KollabminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMessina x Kollab collaboration on picnic mat. Product sold in Messina stores.
• DefyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on recycled plastic gelato scoop and cup sets. Sustainable product line sold in stores.
• Creative Department x Maison BalzacminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on Miel d'Hiver candles. Available from $39. Products sold in Messina stores.
• WoolworthscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMessina X Woolworths collaboration making Messina products available through Woolworths supermarket chain. Expands distribution to grocery retail.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gelatissimo: Australia's largest premium gelato chain with a national store footprint in similar shopping precincts. Directly comparable to Messina on product (gelato), geography (Australia), and customer (premium walk-in dessert consumers).
• N2 Extreme Gelato: Sydney-based premium gelato brand differentiated by liquid-nitrogen churning. Competes with Messina in the same premium experiential gelato category and same Sydney catchment.
• Amorino: International premium gelato chain with similar artisan positioning, store aesthetic, and rotating-flavour merchandising. Comparable on product format and premium customer segment, though operating mainly outside Australia.
• GROM: Italian premium gelato brand recognised for ingredient quality and artisan production. Closely comparable to Messina on from-scratch production ethos and premium scoop-and-tub retail format.
• Yo-Chi: Australian self-serve frozen yogurt chain operating a multi-store retail model in similar catchments. Comparable on direct-to-consumer frozen dessert retail format and Australian footprint, though differentiated by yogurt rather than gelato.

Broad incumbents

• Venchi: Italian premium chocolate and gelato brand with vertically integrated production and retail stores. Comparable to Messina on the chocolate-in-house + premium gelato + retail combination, though broader in chocolate portfolio.
• Häagen-Dazs: Global premium ice cream brand owned by a major CPG parent. Operates at a much wider scale than Messina but competes for the same premium dessert occasion, including via scoop shops.
• Baskin-Robbins: Long-established global ice cream chain with broad flavour range and franchise-led store model. Competes for the same impulse/dessert occasion as Messina but at mass-market positioning.

Emerging players

• Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: US premium craft ice cream brand with a cult following, scoop shops, and grocery distribution. Comparable to Messina on premium positioning, cult-brand marketing, and innovative limited-edition flavour drops.
• Salt & Straw: US craft ice cream brand known for unusual flavours and strong storytelling. Comparable to Messina on the small-batch, innovative-flavour, premium scoop-shop model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GelatoMessina
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/gelatomessina
• Facebookfacebook.com/gelatomessina
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gelato-messina
• Instagraminstagram.com/gelatomessina
• TikToktiktok.com/@gelatomessina

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Gelato Messina