Granita
Granita, founded in 1979 under France's Sovauda group, sells electronic frozen-beverage and ice-cream vending machines to cafés, hotels, restaurants, retailers, theme parks, and service stations across France and select European and overseas markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersCadenet, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Granita does
Granita is a French frozen-beverage and ice-cream equipment company operating as a brand of the Sovauda group (Sovauda, SAS, headquartered in Cadenet, Vaucluse, near Avignon), with origins dating to 1979 when SOVAUDA Distribution was founded to commercialize automatic distribution equipment for the café, hotel and restaurant (CHR) sector. The company designs, distributes and services electronic vending machines for granita (frozen slush), Italian gelato, frozen yogurt, sundaes and bubble tea, offered in single-, dual- and triple-bowl configurations alongside turnkey concepts (Roller, Roller Junior, Ilot Gourmand, Duo de l'Été) and a proprietary natural-flavor range (Gamme Naturelle) covering forest fruits, green apple, mango, natural tea and lemon. The underlying technology is specialized commercial refrigeration and dispensing hardware rather than software.
Granita monetizes through three revenue streams: one-time equipment sales, recurring sales of proprietary syrups and consumables (often bundled with machines under a self-financing structure that lets partners offset equipment cost), and after-sales services including technical support, winter storage (hivernage), repair (dépannage) and a video tutorial library. The go-to-market combines direct field sales from Cadenet with an international distributor network covering French overseas territories (Antilles, Réunion, Corsica) and three neighboring European countries (Spain, Switzerland, Belgium). Customer segments span CHR, non-food retail, theme parks, service stations, and travel retail, with named enterprise accounts including Carrefour, Monoprix, Casino, Franprix, Total Energie, Kyriad, Campanile, Autogrill and Brioche Dorée.
The company remains privately held under family ownership through Sovauda, with no disclosed external funding and a small registered share capital of €129,582, and no public revenue figures. Pricing is quote-based and not disclosed publicly. Granita positions itself on 45 years of continuous operation and its status as a historical French leader in granita and Italian ice cream equipment.
Granita firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Granita
- Legal name
- Sovauda, SAS au capital de 129 582€
- Website
- https://granita.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Granita, founded in 1979 under France's Sovauda group, sells electronic frozen-beverage and ice-cream vending machines to cafés, hotels, restaurants, retailers, theme parks, and service stations across France and select European and overseas markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Granita industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Frozen Beverage Equipment
- NAICS
- Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (31152), Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing (311930)
- SIC
- Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Shaved Ice, Snow Cones & Italian Ice Shops (THAFAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bubble Waffle, Crepe & Specialty Dessert Kiosks (THAFAGAK), Frozen Yogurt Shops (THAFAGAB), Soft-Serve Ice Cream Mix Manufacturing (AFAHAEAB)
Keywords
Where Granita is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cadenet
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Granita business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Equipment Sales: Sale of granita machines, Italian ice cream machines, bubble tea kiosques, frozen yogurt and sundae machines in various formats (1, 2, 3 bowl configurations) and concepts (Roller, Roller Junior, Ilot Gourmand, Duo de l'Eté).
- Raw Materials and Ingredients: Sale of proprietary syrups, concentrates, and consumables for the machines. For every machine purchased, Granita provides raw materials to help self-finance the equipment purchase.
- After-Sales Services: Comprehensive service offerings including technical maintenance, troubleshooting, winter storage (hivernage), and repair services for equipment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Pay-as-you-go | Turnkey equipment package with raw materials |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Granita product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Granita designs, manufactures, and distributes commercial frozen beverage and dessert equipment — including granita (slush) machines in 1-, 2-, and 3-bowl configurations, Italian ice cream machines, frozen yogurt and sundae machines, and bubble tea kiosques — alongside a proprietary Gamme Naturelle syrup line and after-sales services (technical support, winter storage, repair, and video tutorials). The company sells turnkey concepts to CHR professionals, retailers, service stations, and theme parks across France and select European markets.
Product overview
Granita is a French frozen beverage and ice cream equipment company founded in 1979, operating under the Sovauda group. The company offers a complete turnkey concept for frozen drinks and desserts, comprising four main product lines: Granita (slush frozen beverages), Glaces Italiennes (Italian ice cream/gelato), Frozen & Sundae (frozen yogurt and sundae machines), and Bubble Tea (iced tea with tapioca pearls). The portfolio includes various machine formats ranging from single-bowl to triple-bowl units, roller concepts, island/self-service units, and mobile carts. Granita also provides a natural flavor range (Gamme Naturelle) with five syrup variants (Fruits des bois, Pomme Verte, Mangue, Thé Nature, Citron). Complementing the equipment are support services including after-sales support, winter storage/hivernage, repair/depannage, and video tutorials. The company distributes primarily in France while serving overseas territories including the Antilles, Réunion, and Corsica, as well as neighboring countries such as Spain, Switzerland, and Belgium.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Granita® Gamme Naturelle: Natural range of Granita® flavors made with authentic and natural tastes for consumers seeking fresh, tasty breaks.
Products and services
- Machine à Granita 1 bac
Companies that use Granita
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Granita technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Granita partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CarrefourcoreMajor hypermarket chain equipped with Granita machines for frozen beverage sales across their retail locations in France.
- Parc SpiroucoreTheme park partner using Granita equipment to provide refreshments to visitors during the summer season.
- PitayacoreFood service chain equipped with Granita machines for frozen beverage offerings.
- Total EnergiecoreEnergy company service stations equipped with Granita machines to offer refreshments to travelers.
- Brioche DoréecoreRestaurant chain equipped with Granita equipment for frozen beverage sales.
- KyriadminorHotel chain with some locations equipped with Granita machines for guest refreshments.
- CampanileminorHotel chain partner equipped with Granita machines at select locations.
- AutogrillcoreTravel retail specialist equipped with Granita machines at highway and travel locations.
- MonoprixcoreRetail chain equipped with Granita machines for frozen beverage sales.
- Le Tacos de LyonminorLocal food service business equipped with Granita equipment.
- FranprixcoreDiscount retail chain equipped with Granita machines for frozen beverage offerings.
- SandayaminorCamping hospitality chain equipped with Granita machines at select campsites.
- CasinocoreRetail chain equipped with Granita machines for frozen beverage sales.
- Les Fournils de FranceminorBakery chain equipped with Granita machines for refreshment offerings.
- Anima ParcminorTheme park equipped with Granita machines for visitor refreshments.
- Cité de l'espaceminorSpace-themed tourist attraction equipped with Granita machines for visitor refreshments.
- Donut & DonutminorDonut specialty shop equipped with Granita machines for frozen beverage offerings.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Granita competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Celli Group: Italian manufacturer of frozen beverage and slush machines (including granita-style equipment) plus draft beer systems. Highly comparable to Granita's granita and frozen beverage machine product lines and CHR customer base.
- Bras Internazionale: Italian producer of ice cream and gelato display and serving equipment (including carts and kiosks). Directly comparable to Granita's Ilot Gourmand, Roller, and Duo de l'Eté kiosk concepts for CHR and retail deployment.
- Electro Freeze: Manufacturer of soft-serve, frozen beverage, and shake equipment primarily serving foodservice operators in North America. Overlaps directly with Granita's frozen yogurt, sundae, and slush/granita machine categories.
- Nemox: Italian manufacturer of gelato and ice cream machines for both professional and home use. Comparable to Granita's Italian ice cream machine line, especially for CHR professionals and small retail operators.
- SPM Drink Systems: Italian producer of slush, frozen cocktail, and granita machines. Direct peer to Granita in the frozen beverage equipment category, serving foodservice and retail channels.
- Carpigiani: Italian-based global manufacturer of gelato, soft-serve, and frozen dessert equipment. Direct competitor to Granita's Lolita, Nella, and Perla Italian ice cream machine lines, targeting overlapping CHR, retail, and foodservice customers.
Broad incumbents
- Stoelting Food Service: US manufacturer of soft-serve, frozen yogurt, and shake equipment. Comparable to Granita's Frozen & Sundae product lines and serves many of the same CHR/QSR customer types.
- Donper: Chinese manufacturer of ice cream, gelato, and frozen beverage equipment supplying global OEMs and brands. Comparable in product category to Granita but competes mainly on cost rather than European brand positioning.
- Taylor Company: US-based established manufacturer of frozen dessert, griddle, and cooking equipment. Overlaps with Granita's frozen yogurt, sundae, and Italian ice cream machines but operates at a much larger scale and broader portfolio.
Regional players
- Nissei: Japanese manufacturer of commercial frozen dessert machines including soft-serve and gelato equipment. Comparable product offering to Granita but serving primarily the Asian market rather than Europe.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Granita social profiles
Digital presenceGranita compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Granita financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Granita leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Granita funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Granita M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Granita
What does Granita do?
Granita designs, manufactures, and distributes commercial frozen beverage and dessert equipment — including granita (slush) machines in 1-, 2-, and 3-bowl configurations, Italian ice cream machines, frozen yogurt and sundae machines, and bubble tea kiosques — alongside a proprietary Gamme Naturelle syrup line and after-sales services (technical support, winter storage, repair, and video tutorials). The company sells turnkey concepts to CHR professionals, retailers, service stations, and theme parks across France and select European markets.
Is Granita a public or private company?
Granita is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Granita founded?
Granita was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Granita based?
Granita is headquartered in Cadenet, France, in the Europe region.
How does Granita make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are raw Materials and Ingredients and after-Sales Services.
Who are Granita's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Celli Group, Bras Internazionale, Electro Freeze, Nemox, SPM Drink Systems and Carpigiani. Broad incumbents are Stoelting Food Service, Donper and Taylor Company. Nissei is listed as a regional player.
Does Granita have an API?
No public API is recorded for Granita.
What industry is Granita in?
Granita's product category is Commercial Frozen Beverage Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAGAJ, Shaved Ice, Snow Cones & Italian Ice Shops, with a secondary code of THAFAGAK, Bubble Waffle, Crepe & Specialty Dessert Kiosks. Its NAICS code is 31152 and its SIC code is 3580.