Gelato Love

What Gelato Love does

Gelato Love is a privately held artisan Italian gelato producer and retailer headquartered in Carlsbad, California, founded in 2015 (originally as Gaia Gelato, rebranded in 2018) by Paola Richard. The company handcrafts small-batch gelato, sorbets, gelato cakes, and specialty lines using Allulose as a sweetener and traditional gelato machines imported from Italy to its Carlsbad Gateway Center production lab. The product portfolio spans over 20 gelato flavors with gluten-free and dairy-free options, plus co-branded collaborations including ProduceLove (upcycled fruit with ProduceGood), CaliFino tequila-infused flavors, and the Fabbri GelatoLove Gift Box distributed nationally via Amazon.

The company operates a multi-channel distribution model: two retail storefronts (flagship Carlsbad Village store and a second location inside Rovino The Foodery in East Village San Diego, opened July 2021), local e-commerce with next-day delivery, regional wholesale to restaurants/cafés/bakeries/markets across Southern California, event catering with a mobile gelato van covering San Diego-Orange County-Los Angeles, and a recurring subscription service (GelatoLove Club) priced $38-$100 per cycle. Named wholesale accounts include Rancho Valencia Resort, Campfire Restaurant, Seaside Market, Baker & Olive, and Jensen's Point Loma.

Customer concentration is spread across individual consumers, B2B foodservice partners, and event/corporate clients. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed; the company is bootstrapped with no institutional funding disclosed, employs 11-50 people, and is led by a founder-CEO with a 70% women workforce. Brand recognition includes TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice (2020) and three consecutive Best Gelato Certificates of Excellence (2017-2019).

Name

Gelato Love

Legal name

Gelato Love

Website

https://gelato.love

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gelato Love is a Carlsbad, California-based artisan Italian gelato producer and retailer. It handcrafts small-batch, Allulose-sweetened gelato, sorbets, and cakes sold via two retail stores, regional wholesale, catering, subscriptions, and Amazon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Gelato

NAICS

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

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream & Gelato Shops (THAFAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts Wholesale (AFAIAHAC), Plant-Based Frozen Desserts Processing (Non-Dairy Ice Cream, Gelato, Novelties) (AFAHAJAE)

Keywords

• Artisan gelato production
• Handmade Italian desserts
• Low sugar frozen desserts
• Gelato catering services
• Wholesale gelato supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlsbad

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Store Sales: In-store sales of gelato, desserts, and espresso at flagship Carlsbad Village location and East Village San Diego location at Rovino The Foodery.
2. Online Direct Sales: E-commerce platform for ordering gelato, cakes, and desserts for home delivery. Next-day delivery service covering San Diego county and beyond.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Bulk sales to restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and markets throughout Southern California. Products sold in gallon containers, restaurant pans, single portions, or pints.
4. Catering and Events: Gelato catering services for corporate events, weddings, birthdays, and public events. Services include gelato bars with baristas, setup, cleanup, and transportation.
5. Subscription Service: Monthly and weekly subscription service delivering 4-10 pints of gelato monthly or 4 pints weekly to subscribers' doorsteps with free delivery and member pricing.
6. Amazon Marketplace: Fabbri collaboration products available on Amazon for nationwide USA delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Gelato Love manufactures and sells authentic Italian-style gelato, dairy-free sorbets, and gelato cakes that are sweetened with Allulose, a natural low-calorie fruit sugar, producing a dessert with 80% less sugar and half the fat of regular ice cream. Products are handcrafted daily in small batches at the Carlsbad Gelato Lab using Italian-imported gelato machines and house-made nut and oat milks, and are sold through retail stores, e-commerce delivery, wholesale supply, a subscription club, catering, and Amazon.

Product overview

Gelato Love is a homemade artisan Italian gelato company operating as a single unified brand with multiple product lines and services. The core product is handcrafted gelato and sorbet in over 20 flavors, all sweetened with allulose (a natural low-calorie sugar). The product portfolio includes: (1) Core Gelato & Sorbet offerings available for retail and wholesale; (2) Custom Gelato Cakes (build-your-own starting at $56); (3) Specialty sub-brands including ProduceLove (food-waste reduction partnership with ProduceGood), Fabbri collaboration flavors (available on Amazon nationwide), and Tequila-infused gelato (with CaliFino); (4) GelatoLove Club subscription service for recurring deliveries; (5) Catering and Events services; and (6) Barini Coffee partnership. The company operates a flagship Carlsbad Village store, a production facility (Gelato Lab), and distributes through wholesale partners throughout Southern California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gelato (Various Flavors) Handcrafted artisan Italian gelato sweetened with allulose, available in over 20 flavors including Pistachio, Stracciatella, Tiramisu, and innovative options like Velvet Dubai Chocolate. All flavors are gluten-free and made with high-quality ingredients such as Belgian chocolate, Sicilian pistachios, and local California produce. Sold retail in stores, online for delivery, through wholesale, and via subscription.
• Sorbet (Dairy-Free) Fruit-based gelato made without dairy. Includes Sorrento Lemon Sorbet (30 calories per serving), Mixed Berries Sorbet (45 calories per serving), and Mango & Lime Sorbet (45 calories per serving). All sorbets are fat-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free, for consumers seeking lighter and vegan-friendly options.
• Gelato Cakes Custom layer cakes featuring a gluten-free cake base with 2 layers of gelato. Available in pre-designed varieties (Espresso Chocolate, Chocolate Vanilla Bean, Strawberry Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Hazelnut) at $56 each or build-your-own configurations starting at $58. Decoration styles include Italian Meringue, Chocolate, Fresh Fruit, Macarons, and Cookies. For celebrations and gifting occasions.
• GelatoLove Club Subscription Weekly and monthly subscription service delivering fresh homemade gelato to subscribers' doorsteps. Options include 4 pints per week at $38/week (GelatoFan/GelatoLover), 6 pints per month at $60 (GelatoAficionado), or 10 pints per month at $100 (GelatoPassionate). Includes free delivery, special member pricing, store discounts, first access to new flavors, and tasting room event invitations.
• Catering and Events End-to-end gelato catering service for events of any size, from single-serve containers to full Authentic Italian Gelato Bar Stations staffed by two expert baristas. Includes setup, cleanup, transportation, and supplies. Serves San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles areas for corporate events, weddings, birthdays, and public events, with a mobile gelato van and corporate Zoom-meeting gelato delivery.
• ProduceLove Gelato Line Special gelato line created in partnership with ProduceGood that uses recovered fruit from San Diego orchards to make desserts such as Crema al Limone (Lemon Custard) and Lemon Sorbet. Proceeds support ProduceGood gleaning programs, which rescue around 10 tons of edible produce monthly to feed the hungry.
• Tequila-Infused Gelato Six tequila-infused gelato flavors created in partnership with CaliFino: Sicilian Pistachio with Blanco Tequila, Mexican Chocolate with Anejo Tequila, Amarena Cherry Vanilla with Tequila Blanco, Carlsbad Strawberry with Reposado Tequila, Italian Espresso with Anejo Tequila, and Mint Leaves Chip with Blanco Tequila. Available at the East Village San Diego location and via catering.
• Fabbri GelatoLove Gift Box Collaboration gift box with Fabbri 1905 featuring three gelato flavors sweetened with allulose: Dark Chocolate & Amarena, Lemon Cream & Ginger, and Strawberry Cheesecake. Available for nationwide USA delivery via Amazon. For gift-givers and consumers outside GelatoLove's Southern California delivery radius.
• Gift Cards Digital gift cards available in denominations of $10, $20, $30, $50, and $100. Free delivery on orders of $30 or more. Cards never expire and can be used for in-store purchases and online orders.
• Barini Coffee Italian espresso and coffee beverages featuring Barini Coffee, an Italian roaster with 50 years of experience based in Verona. Served at the Carlsbad Village and East Village San Diego locations and available for online purchase as whole beans, with the East Village site serving as the first US retail location for Barini Coffee.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% less sugar than regular ice cream
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Fabbri 1905majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Century-long Italian pastry tradition collaboration. Fabbri GelatoLove Gift Box features three exclusive gelato flavors: Dark Chocolate & Amarena, Lemon Cream & Ginger, and Strawberry Cheesecake. Available on Amazon for nationwide delivery.
• CaliFinominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2021Carlsbad tequila company partnered to create tequila-infused gelato flavors. Launched first Tequila Gelato Bar in the World at Rovino The Foodery. Six flavors: Sicilian Pistachio with Blanco Tequila, Mexican Chocolate with Anejo Tequila, and others.
• Rovino The FooderycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 July 2021Second GelatoLove retail location opened July 30, 2021 at 969 Market Street in East Village San Diego. Features 18 homemade flavors plus full Italian coffee bar with Barini Coffee's US debut.
• Barini CoffeecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 January 202150-year Italian artisan coffee roaster from Verona, Italy. Partnership brings Barini Coffee's US debut to GelatoLove locations. Coffee served at Carlsbad Village and East Village San Diego locations. Products available for online purchase.
• Zafferano Eccellenza ItalianaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2020Dessert creative collaboration with Chef Max Farina's culinary platform. Offers traditional Italian pastries including Tiramisu, Cannoli, Cassata Siciliana, Mousse Cakes, Sicilian Almond Cookies, Panna Cotta, and Tarts alongside gelato.
• ProduceGoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20193-year partnership to present ProduceLove, a special gelato line using recovered fruit from San Diego orchards. Proceeds benefit ProduceGood gleaning programs which rescue 10 tons of edible produce monthly. Partnership supports food waste reduction and food insecurity relief.
• Hollandia DairycoreOthersLocal partner based in San Marcos, CA providing fresh milk and cream. Company is Certified Humane with ethical treatment of animals. Supplies non-treated California milk and cream as base for dairy gelato flavors.
• Aviara FarmscoreOthersLocal Carlsbad farm providing fresh seasonal strawberries for gelato and sorbet flavors. Also hosts open air market where GelatoLove products are available.
• Specialty ProduceminorOthersSan Diego-based produce supplier collaborating with GelatoLove for fresh ingredients.
• Red Oven Mobile PizzaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMobile pizza company partnership for pizza and gelato party combinations.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Coolhaus: Los Angeles-based artisan ice cream maker with scoop shops, pint shipping, and architecturally creative flavor positioning — comparable geographic anchor, retail format, and disruption-led brand story.
• Sweet Rose Creamery: NYC-based artisan ice cream shop with multiple retail locations, pint subscriptions, and wholesale — comparable in small-batch retail, e-commerce, and subscription motions.
• Ample Hills Creamery: Brooklyn-based artisan scoop shop with multiple retail locations, wholesale accounts, and signature flavor storytelling — directly comparable shop-and-wholesale D2C model.
• Salt & Straw Ice Cream: Portland-born artisan scoop shop with multiple retail locations, rotating small-batch flavors, D2C shipping, and brand-led catering — directly mirrors Gelato Love's flagship-shop-plus-wholesale-plus-events model.
• Gelato Fiasco: Portland-based small-batch gelato maker with retail scoop shops, pints, and wholesale — most direct U.S. small-batch gelato peer on product format and shop distribution.
• Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Jeni's operates a chain of artisan scoop shops, a robust pint-shipping business, and a Jeni's Club subscription — the closest U.S. analog to Gelato Love's shop + subscription + nationwide shipping stack.
• Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: Premium artisan ice cream brand with retail stores, grocery distribution, and vegan/special-dietary lines — comparable in craft positioning, multi-format distribution, and allergen-friendly menu emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Grom Gelato: Authentic Italian gelato chain with global retail expansion, positioning Gelato Love's craft-Italian narrative against an established international incumbent.
• Talenti Gelato: Unilever-owned mass-market gelato brand sold through grocery and foodservice — sets the scale and price benchmarks Gelato Love competes against in wholesale and consumer takeaway.
• Häagen-Dazs: Iconic premium ice cream brand with national distribution and scoop shops — the broad-incumbent reference point for taste, brand, and premium pricing in the category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/gelatolovecalifornia
• Facebookfacebook.com/GelatoLoveCalifornia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gelatolove

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Love