Frost Gelato

What Frost Gelato does

Frost Gelato is a privately held premium Italian gelato retail chain founded in 2005 in Tucson, Arizona by University of Arizona graduates Jeff Kaiserman and Stephen Ochoa. The company operates approximately 10+ company-owned and franchise locations across the United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, with planned entry into Nebraska in 2027) and 8+ franchise locations in Kuwait, with stated expansion intent across the broader Middle East. Each 1,300-1,800 square-foot shoppe produces gelato fresh daily in-store using proprietary recipes, Italian-imported ingredients and equipment, and a Corporate Chef-trained methodology developed by Master Gelato Chef Nazario Melchionda of Bologna.

The core product is authentic Italian gelato formulated with 3% milk (yielding 3-8% butterfat versus 10-20% for traditional ice cream) and limited to 20% air incorporation, producing a denser, more intensely flavored product. The portfolio spans 60+ gelato flavors and 25+ dairy-free sorbet flavors, extended with Frost Bites (chocolate-dipped gelato), gelato cakes, milkshakes, espresso-based beverages including Affogato and GeLatte, Spizzico mini cone trees, and bulk bucket orders. Catering is delivered via the FROST Anywhere mobile service featuring an Italian gelato cart, full staff, and per-person pricing of $6-$7.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: direct-to-consumer retail at shoppe locations, FROST Anywhere event catering, and franchise economics including a $42,500 one-time franchise fee and 5% of gross sales royalty (with a $1,000 monthly minimum) over a 10-year term. Total franchise initial investment ranges from $319,800 to $773,700 per location, and franchisees are trained at the Frost Gelato University facility in Tucson. The company has no publicly disclosed funding, no institutional investors, and remains founder-controlled after 20 years of operation.

Name

Frost Gelato

Legal name

Frost Gelato

Website

https://frostgelato.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Frost Gelato is a privately held premium Italian gelato retail chain founded in 2005 in Tucson, Arizona, operating company-owned and franchise shoppes across the US Southwest and Kuwait, with gelato produced fresh daily using Italian-imported ingredients and methods developed by a Bologna-trained master chef.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Frozen Desserts

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (31152)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream & Gelato Shops (THAFAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Gelato Manufacturing (AFAHAEAD)

Keywords

• Artisan gelato
• Italian frozen desserts
• Gelato retail stores
• Dessert catering services
• Gelato franchise

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Gelato and Sorbet Sales: Direct sales of gelato, sorbet, and related products (cones, toppings, drinks) to consumers at physical store locations. Products sold in various sizes (Piccolo, Medio, Grande) and formats including cones, cups, and specialty items.
2. Event Catering Services: FROST Anywhere catering provides gelato experience at events with standard package of $6.00 to $7.00 per person. Includes 6 flavors, serving up to 150 small servings, two hours of serving time with full staff, and authentic Italian gelato cart.
3. Franchise Fees and Royalties: One-time franchise fee of $42,500 per location plus ongoing royalty of 5% of gross sales or $1,000 minimum per month. Total initial investment ranges from $319,800 to $773,700 including franchise fee.
4. Bulk Product Sales: Pint and quart sales, bucket orders serving approximately 30 people, and gelato cakes (Piccolo serves 4-6, Grande serves 6-10) for special orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Frost Gelato manufactures and retails Italian-style gelato and sorbet through its own stores and franchised locations, offering scoops, gelato-based cakes, beverages, and event catering. Production is governed by proprietary recipes and traditional methods overseen by a Master Gelato Chef originally trained in Bologna, Italy, and the brand extends its reach through a franchise program operating domestically and internationally.

Product overview

Frost Gelato operates as a premium gelato and sorbet retail chain with a focus on authentic Italian gelato made fresh daily in-store. The core product line centers on Gelato (60+ flavors with 3-8% butterfat) and Sorbet (25+ dairy-free fruit flavors), supplemented by value-added offerings including Frost Bites (chocolate-dipped gelato), Coffee & Drinks (espresso-based beverages), Milkshakes, Gelato Cakes, Spizzico (mini cone trees), and Bucket Orders for events. The company differentiates through its FROST Anywhere Catering service featuring authentic Italian gelato carts, and an interactive Flavor Picker tool. The portfolio operates across US and Middle East locations, with ingredients and equipment imported from Italy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Artisan Italian Gelato Italian-style gelato produced under proprietary recipes and traditional methods, sold by scoop, cup, cone, pint, and related formats in company-owned and franchised stores. Targeted at walk-in consumers and event catering buyers seeking a premium frozen dessert.
• Sorbet Fruit-based, dairy-free frozen sorbet sold alongside gelato in stores and through catering. Serves consumers seeking a non-dairy frozen dessert option.
• Gelato Cakes Whole cakes built from gelato, sold as retail celebration items and used in catering orders. Aimed at consumers and event buyers wanting a premium dessert centerpiece.
• Gelato-Based Drinks Beverages incorporating gelato (e.g., shakes, floats, or similar preparations) sold in store. Targeted at in-store consumers seeking a beverage-form dessert option.
• Frost Gelato Catering Off-premise event catering service delivering gelato, sorbet, cakes, and related desserts to private parties, corporate events, and celebrations. Targets event planners, corporate buyers, and private hosts.
• Frost Gelato Franchise Program Franchise offering that grants third-party operators the right to open Frost Gelato stores under the brand, with recipe, training, and operational support. Targeted at prospective franchisees and multi-unit operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Voted Best Ice Cream/Gelato Shop for 10 consecutive years in Tucson
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cold Stone Creamery: Large US franchise chain of premium ice cream shoppes where customers watch product customized on a frozen stone. Closest comparable to Frost in store format (mall-based 1,300–1,800 sq ft), franchise economics, and direct-to-consumer scoop-and-toppings model.
• Marble Slab Creamery: Franchised premium ice cream shoppe chain with made-to-order concept. Comparable to Frost on franchise model, mall-based real estate footprint, and per-customization retail experience for a similar consumer occasion.
• GROM Gelato: Italian-founded artisanal gelato chain with retail shoppes in Italy, the US, Japan, and the Middle East. Directly comparable to Frost as a premium, authentic-Italian gelato concept with international franchise-style expansion and similar imported-ingredient differentiation.
• Amorino: European gelato chain with international franchise presence and signature rose-shaped gelato presentation. Closely comparable to Frost in authentic-Italian gelato positioning, multi-country franchise model, and mall-based premium retail experience.

Regional players

• Menchie's Frozen Yogurt: Franchise self-serve frozen-yogurt chain with international footprint including Middle East presence. Comparable to Frost on franchise structure, multi-country expansion playbook (US + Middle East), and mall-based retail real estate, though product category differs.
• Yogurtland: US franchise self-serve frozen-yogurt chain with locations concentrated in the Southwest and West. Comparable to Frost on franchise-led expansion, mall real estate strategy, and Southwest US geographic overlap, though category (froyo vs gelato) and customization model differ.

Emerging players

• Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: US premium artisanal ice cream scoop shoppe with national retail footprint and direct-to-consumer e-commerce. Comparable to Frost as an emerging premium frozen-dessert retail concept with strong brand differentiation and expanded product lines (e.g., baked goods).
• Salt & Straw: US premium artisanal ice cream shoppe chain with cult-brand positioning and rotating small-batch flavors. Comparable to Frost on premium, made-fresh, experiential scoop-shop model, though it competes primarily with home-grown ice cream rather than authentic-Italian gelato.

Broad incumbents

• Häagen-Dazs Shops: Established premium ice cream brand with dedicated shoppes globally under Nestlé. Comparable as a broader-incumbent premium frozen-dessert retailer offering sit-down scoop and beverage experience, though distribution also extends across grocery.
• Talenti Gelato: Mass-premium packaged gelato brand owned by Unilever, sold primarily through grocery retail rather than shoppes. Comparable as a consumer-facing authentic-Italian gelato brand that defines the at-home category against which shoppe concepts like Frost compete for share of stomach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/frostgelato
• Facebookfacebook.com/frostagelatoshoppe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frost-gelato
• Instagraminstagram.com/frostgelato
• Xx.com/FrostGelato

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 Frost Gelato