What Mec3 does

Mec3, operating through its legal entity OPTIMA S.P.A. con socio unico, is an Italian manufacturer of ingredients and semi-finished products for the artisanal gelato and pastry industry, headquartered in San Clemente (Rimini), Italy, and founded in 1984. The company supplies a comprehensive B2B portfolio organized into gelato product lines (bases, flavouring pastes, variegates/ripple sauces, the Quella® spreadable cream family, the Cookies® biscuit-gelato family launched in 2001, the I Cremosi premium variegate line, complete flavours, soft serve, toppings, and grains/decorations), pastry product lines (bases, glazes, ready-made desserts, grains, sprinkles, and Gelato 365 pastry products), licensed novelty kits (Pokémon, PAW Patrol, Lotus Biscoff, Baileys, Guinness, Cointreau), the DOuMIX® mixology beverage sub-brand, and the Genius Cloud digital platform of catalogues, recipe books, and video recipes. Technical differentiation is anchored by proprietary formulations — notably Quella® positioned as the original spreadable cream for gelato parlours and Cookies® positioned as the first branded biscuit gelato — and by product-level certifications including Halal, Kosher, Gluten Free, Vegan, Palm Oil Free, Clean Label, and No Sugar Added variants.

Mec3 operates a sales-led B2B go-to-market targeting artisanal gelato parlours, pastry shops, and food-service operators globally, transacted through area agents, a daily customer-service team reachable via email and phone, and quote-based pricing on inquiry. Revenue is generated through repeat orders of consumable ingredients and semi-finished products; no consumer retail or e-commerce storefront is operated. Customer reach is reinforced by the Casa Optima Training School, which runs professional courses in Rimini, Dubai, Miami, and Shanghai, distributing know-how and brand equity into the global artisanal gelato trade. The company is part of the Casa Optima Group under intermediate holding VERCELLI MIDCO S.P.A., and is currently transitioning ownership from Charterhouse Capital Partners to a Terlos LLP-led investor group, with closing expected in Q1 2026. Historical inorganic growth includes the 2017 acquisition of Modecor Italiana and the 2018 acquisition of Giuso Guido, which extended the platform into decorative and complementary ingredient categories.

Name

Mec3

Legal name

OPTIMA S.P.A. con socio unico

Website

https://mec3.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Mec3 (OPTIMA S.P.A.) is an Italy-based B2B manufacturer of ingredients and semi-finished products — bases, pastes, variegates, spreadable creams, and licensed novelty kits — serving artisanal gelato parlours and pastry professionals globally since 1984.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Gelato and Pastry Ingredients

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (31152), Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024), Bakery Products (2050), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Gelato Manufacturing (AFAHAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Soft-Serve Ice Cream Mix Manufacturing (AFAHAEAB), Baking & Dessert Mixes (Brownie, Cookie Mixes, Frosting) (CRADABAN), Wholesale / Commercial Bakeries (B2B Supply) (THAFAFAF)

Keywords

• Artisan gelato ingredients
• Pastry semi-finished products
• Gelato flavoring pastes
• Ice cream bases
• Variegates ripple sauces

Headquarters

HQ city

Rimini

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. B2B Ingredients and Semi-Finished Products: Mec3 sells ingredients and semi-finished products (bases, pastes, variegates, decorations, kits) to artisanal gelato parlours and pastry professionals. Revenue is generated through repeat product orders from professional B2B customers including gelaterias, pastry shops, and food service operators globally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mec3 manufactures and sells ingredients and semi-finished products for artisanal gelato and pastry, including gelato bases, flavouring pastes, variegates/ripple sauces, spreadable creams (Quella), biscuit gelato kits (Cookies), toppings, decorations, and complete flavour kits. The company supplies gelato parlours, pastry professionals, and mixology operators globally through direct B2B sales via area agents and customer service, complemented by a digital inspiration platform (Genius Cloud) and training school.

Product overview

Mec3 is a leading manufacturer of ingredients and semi-finished products for artisanal gelato and pastry, founded in 1984 and headquartered in San Clemente, Rimini, Italy. The company operates under the Casa Optima Group and offers a comprehensive portfolio organized into distinct product lines: Gelato products (Bases, Flavouring Pastes, Variegates/Ripple Sauces, Quella Family spreadable creams, Cookies Family biscuit gelato products, I Cremosi premium variegates, Complete Flavours/500 Fast Line, Soft Serve, Toppings, Grains and Decorations); Pastry products (Bases, Glazes, Ready-made desserts, Grains and sprinkles); Licensed products (Pokémon and PAW Patrol themed gelato kits); Dubai Chocolate-inspired products; Alcoholic Gelato Line; DOuMIX beverages; and Services (Genius Cloud digital platform with catalogues and recipes, Casa Optima Training School). Key brands include Quella (original spreadable cream for gelato parlours), Cookies (iconic biscuit gelato celebrating 25 years), and the new I Cremosi line. The company serves gelato professionals worldwide through a network of distributors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Quella: The first and original spreadable cream for gelato parlours, featuring a wide range of flavours including hazelnut, pistachio, caramel, and fruit variants.
• Cookies
• I Cremosi
• DOuMIX
• Genius Cloud

Products and services

• Gelato Bases
• Flavouring Pastes
• Quella Family
• Cookies Family
• I Cremosi
• Variegates and Ripple Sauces
• Pastry Products
• Complete Flavours (500 Fast Line)
• Kit Pokémon
• Kit PAW Patrol
• Alcoholic Gelato Line
• DOuMIX
• Kit Dubai
• Kit Dream Cup
• Genius Cloud
• Casa Optima Training School

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Barry Callebaut: Barry Callebaut is the world's largest chocolate and cocoa manufacturer, supplying professional customers including gelato and pastry artisans with chocolate, fillings, and decorations. While not specialised in gelato ingredients, it competes in overlapping categories (chocolate pastes, variegates) and is a broad incumbent in the artisanal-supply channel.
• Döhler: Döhler is a German-headquartered global producer of flavours, natural ingredients, and ingredient systems for the food and beverage industry, including ice cream, dairy, and bakery applications. It serves B2B customers with comparable flavour and ingredient technologies, though it is broader and not specialised in artisanal gelato.

Direct peers

• Martin Braun Group: Martin Braun is a Spanish/Italian manufacturer of pastry, bakery, and ice cream ingredients including bases, pastes, and decorations. It serves the same B2B artisan customer base and competes directly in several of Mec3's product categories.
• Fabbri 1905: Fabbri 1905 is an Italian manufacturer of flavours, syrups, variegates, and ingredients for gelato, pastry, and bar applications, with the iconic Amarena cherry brand. The product mix and Italian heritage overlap closely with Mec3's Quella, variegate, and kit lines.
• PreGel: PreGel is an Italian-headquartered manufacturer of ingredients and semi-finished products for artisanal gelato, pastry, and coffee, with a comparable product portfolio of bases, pastes, variegates, and training programs for gelato professionals worldwide. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor to Mec3 in the B2B gelato ingredients market.
• Irca Group: Irca Group is an Italian producer of pastry, bakery, and ice cream ingredients including chocolate compounds, fillings, and decorations. Comparable B2B ingredient portfolio and Italian manufacturing base serving global artisanal customers, similar to Mec3's categories.
• Pernigotti: Pernigotti is an Italian manufacturer of gelato ingredients, chocolate, and confectionery products with a long heritage in the artisanal gelato market. The product portfolio (gelato bases, flavourings, chocolate) and target customers overlap with Mec3's range.
• Puratos: Puratos is a Belgian-headquartered global supplier of ingredients for bakery, pastry, and chocolate, including ice cream and gelato ingredient ranges. Its multi-category B2B food-ingredient model and global distribution footprint closely match Mec3's go-to-market approach with artisanal customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mec3_gelato
• Facebookfacebook.com/mec3gelato

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A2 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Mec3