Gelista

What Gelista does

Gelista Pty Ltd is an Australian family-owned premium gelato manufacturer founded in 2009 by Peter Cox and headquartered at a single production facility in Ridleyton, South Australia. The company produces Italian-style gelato, ice cream, sorbet and sherbet across more than 60 flavors organized into three sub-ranges — traditional, Australian Native (Bush Tucker with ingredients such as Kakadu Plum, Quandong, Wattleseed and Desert Lime), and Asian Favourites (Matcha, Hojicha, Yuzu, Ube, Durian) — with both dairy and dairy-free (coconut-milk based) formulations. Technical differentiation centers on lower-fat, lower-overrun gelato served at -10 to -15°C, proprietary dual-swirl decoration, an in-house sherbet process (Gelista was first to retail sherbet in Australia), and a recently launched chocolate-coated handheld format (Gelati Indulgence on a Stick, 2025).

The product portfolio spans six packaging formats: 100mL, 150mL and 570mL retail jars (including the 2015 clear-jar innovation), and 5L, 6L and 10L wholesale tubs for foodservice customers. Inputs are sourced from named Australian suppliers including Nutworks (macadamias), Westerway Berry Farm (raspberries), Nippy's Juices (citrus), Glen Ewin Estate (figs) and Kangaroo Island Honey. The company has accumulated category recognition including Champion Ice Cream at the 2021 South Australian Dairy Awards and Gold Medals in 2022 for Pistachio and Classic Chocolate.

Gelista generates revenue across four streams: (i) wholesale food service (bulk tubs sold via a dedicated direct sales team covering restaurants, cafes, hospitals, schools and gelaterias across Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart and Sydney), (ii) retail jar and multi-pack sales through independent supermarkets and Costco Australia's 12 warehouse stores, (iii) event catering via gelato cart hire (packages for 120–250+ guests) and bespoke flavor creation, and (iv) online wholesale ordering via the Ordermentum platform. National coverage is completed by Eden Foods as the Tasmanian distributor. Distribution is single-country (Australia only); the company has no external funding, no M&A activity, and operates with a headcount in the 11–50 range.

Name

Gelista

Legal name

Gelista Pty Ltd

Website

https://gelista.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Adelaide-based, family-owned premium Australian gelato manufacturer founded in 2009, producing 60+ flavors of Italian-style gelato, sorbet and sherbet for wholesale food service, retail supermarkets (including Costco Australia) and event catering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Gelato Manufacturing

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Gelato Manufacturing (AFAHAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ice Cream & Gelato Shops (THAFAGAA), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts Wholesale (AFAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Artisan gelato manufacturing
• Premium frozen desserts
• Wholesale ice cream supply
• Retail gelato jars
• Food service gelato

Headquarters

HQ city

Adelaide

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 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. Wholesale Food Service: Bulk gelato sales in 5L, 6L, and 10L packaging to restaurants, cafes, hospitals, schools, and food service operators. Core B2B revenue stream with dedicated sales team.
2. Retail Jar Sales: Pre-packaged 570mL, 150mL, and 100mL retail products sold through independent supermarkets, Costco, and specialty food retailers nationally.
3. Event Catering: Gelato cart hire services for events with preset packages (Mini Cone, Single Scoop, Double Scoop, Triple Scoop) serving 120-250+ guests. Additional revenue from bespoke flavor creation for major events.
4. Bespoke Flavor Creation: Custom flavor development service for wholesale clients and major events, creating unique flavors reflecting brand identity and specific requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gelista manufactures and sells premium Italian-style gelato, ice cream, sorbet, and sherbet across retail glass jars (570mL, 150mL, 100mL) and wholesale bulk tubs (5L, 6L, 10L) under its own brand. The company also operates a gelato cart hire catering service for events and offers bespoke flavor development for wholesale partners. Products are distributed nationally through independent supermarkets, Costco, food service operators, and event catering.

Product overview

Gelista is an Australian family-owned premium gelato manufacturer founded in 2009, producing Italian-style gelato, ice cream, sorbet, and sherbet. The product portfolio spans multiple formats: 570mL, 150mL, and 100mL retail jars for consumer purchase; 6L, 5L, and 10L bulk containers for wholesale/food service; and new chocolate-coated gelati sticks. Specialty lines include the Australian Native (Bush Tucker) Range featuring indigenous ingredients and the Asian Favourites Range with Matcha, Yuzu, and Durian flavours. Services include mobile gelato cart hire for events and bespoke flavour creation for wholesale partners. Products are distributed nationally through independent supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, and Costco, with over 60 flavours across dairy-based, non-dairy, and sorbet categories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gelista Premium Gelato (570mL Retail Range) Premium Italian-style gelato in 570mL glass jars for retail purchase. Available in dairy-based, non-dairy, and sorbet varieties with over 50 flavors including classic favorites and innovative seasonal creations. Distributed through independent supermarkets nationally.
• Gelista Gelato (150mL Single Serve) Single-serve 150mL gelato portions designed for individual consumption, offering dairy and non-dairy options in popular flavors.
• Gelista Gelato (100mL) Compact 100mL gelato format for single-serve consumption, featuring classic flavors.
• Gelista Gelato (6L Wholesale Range) Pre-decorated 6L wholesale gelato tubs for food service, designed to fit standard scooping cabinets with handcrafted visual appeal.
• Gelista Gelato (5L Wholesale Range) 5L food service gelato and ice cream range for cafes, restaurants, and retailers. Includes dairy-based, non-dairy sorbet, premium, Australian Native, and Asian Favourites categories.
• Gelista Gelato (10L Wholesale Range) 10L bulk wholesale gelato for high-volume restaurants and cafes, including Vanilla Bean Whip and Frozen Yoghurt Whip options.
• Australian Native Range (Bush Tucker Ice Cream) Australian native ingredient-inspired gelato flavors featuring Kakadu Plum, Quandong, Wattleseed, Desert Lime, Lilly Pilly, and Salt Bush. Available in both dairy and non-dairy (vegan) options. Served at Adelaide Farmers Market for over 15 years.
• Asian Favourites Range Asian-inspired gelato flavors including Matcha (Japanese green tea), Hojicha (roasted green tea), Black Sesame, Yuzu Sorbet, Ube, Thai Tea, Durian, and Coconut Pandan.
• Gelista Cart Hire Service Mobile gelato cart catering service for events including weddings, birthdays, corporate events, and community gatherings. Offers preset packages (Mini Cone, Single Scoop, Double Scoop, Triple Scoop) serving 120-250+ guests with over 50 flavor options.
• Bespoke Flavour Creation Service Custom flavor development service for wholesale partners, allowing restaurants and cafes to commission unique, tailor-made flavors reflecting their brand identity.
• Gelista Indulgence on a Stick Chocolate-coated gelati sticks described as the most luxurious and innovative product, offering gelato in a convenient handheld format.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gelista's range of over 60 flavors incorporates traditional gelato, Asian, and Australian bushtucker inspired flavors
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Santos Tour Down UnderflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Exclusive collaboration for cycling event held in Adelaide, South Australia. Gelista creates bespoke gelato flavors for the event, including Coconut Mango with Mango Swirl Gelato for 2024 and arrangements for 2025 and 2026. The partnership showcases Gelista's commitment to quality ingredients and innovation at a prestigious international sporting event.
• NutworksminorOthers · 1 August 2021Australian macadamia nut processor from Yandina, Queensland supplying macadamia nuts for Lightly Salted Caramel Macadamia gelato flavor.
• Eden FoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2021Family-owned food business established in 1992, appointed as Tasmanian distributor for Gelista retail products. Facilitates distribution through quality retailers including Salamanca Fresh and Hill Street Grocer. This appointment reinforced Gelista as a national brand available in each State and Territory of Australia.
• Costco AustraliacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2021Ongoing partnership with international retail giant Costco Australia for multi-pack gelato products. Products include Durian Twin Pack, Gelati Party Pack, and Gelati Classic Pack. The Durian Twin Pack sold out nationally in Costco's 12 Australian stores in just 6 weeks upon introduction.
• Clark Family (Westerway Berry Farm)minorOthersTasmanian heritage raspberry supplier from Westerway Berry Farm providing sharp-flavored raspberries for Coconut with Raspberry Swirl gelato.
• Nippy's JuicesminorOthersAustralian family-owned juice processor from Riverland providing fresh lemons for Lemon Sorbet and blood orange juice for Blood Orange Sherbet products.
• Glen Ewin EstateminorOthersAdelaide Hills supplier providing fresh figs for Ricotta, Fig & Honey gelato flavor.
• Kangaroo Island HoneyminorOthersLocal South Australian honey supplier providing honey for Ricotta, Fig & Honey gelato and Macadamia & KI Honey Bush Tucker flavor.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gelato Messina: Australian premium gelato maker with both retail gelato shops and wholesale manufacturing. Closest direct peer given shared artisan gelato positioning, flavor innovation focus, and Australian foodservice/retail channels.
• Bulla Dairy Foods: Established Australian dairy and ice cream manufacturer producing premium tubs and foodservice formats (including the Connoisseur brand). Comparable in manufacturing gelato/ice cream for Australian retail and foodservice.
• Norco: Australian dairy cooperative with an ice cream range sold nationally through supermarkets and foodservice. Comparable as an Australian-based manufacturer competing in retail tubs and bulk foodservice supply.
• Connoisseur Ice Cream: Premium Australian ice cream brand owned by Bulla, sold through supermarkets in tubs and sticks. Direct competitor for premium retail pint listings and foodservice dessert menus.

Broad incumbents

• Peters Ice Cream: Iconic Australian ice cream brand (owned by R&R Ice Cream) with broad impulse and tub distribution nationwide. Competes with Gelista in retail frozen dessert aisles but at a much larger, mass-market scale.
• Tip Top Ice Cream: Major New Zealand-based ice cream manufacturer (Froneri) with wide Australian distribution. Competes in the same supermarket tubs and foodservice formats but with broader mass-market positioning.
• Häagen-Dazs: Global super-premium ice cream brand (Nestlé) sold through Australian supermarkets, convenience, and foodservice. Comparable premium positioning but operates at much larger international scale.
• Ben & Jerry's: Unilever-owned premium ice cream brand with strong Australian presence in tubs and scoop shops. Comparable premium, flavor-driven positioning, though backed by a multinational parent.

Regional players

• Golden North Ice Cream: Family-owned Australian ice cream manufacturer based in Townsville, Queensland. Comparable small-to-mid Australian frozen dessert maker with regional strength and national retail listings.

Emerging players

• Sanitarium (So Good): Australian plant-based food manufacturer with dairy-free frozen dessert alternatives. Comparable as a dairy-free frozen dessert option for vegan and lactose-intolerant consumers overlapping Gelista's non-dairy range.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/gelista
• Xx.com/gelistagelati
• Facebookfacebook.com/GelistaPremiumGelati
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gelista

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Gelista