Associazione Italiana Celiachia

What Associazione Italiana Celiachia does

Associazione Italiana Celiachia (AIC) is an Italian nonprofit patient association (Associazione di Promozione Sociale, APS) founded in 1979 in Genova, dedicated to supporting people with celiac disease and their families across Italy. The organization is the country's primary national celiac body, present through 20 regional/local associations and operating a comprehensive ecosystem that combines a proprietary food classification system (ABC della dieta dei celiaci, categorizing foods as 'VIETATI', 'A RISCHIO', or 'PERMESSI'), a continuously updated product database (Prontuario degli Alimenti, available in print, online, and via the AIC Mobile app on Android and iOS), and a registered certification trademark (Spiga Barrata / Crossed Grain) granted to food manufacturers and recognized across Europe via AOECS. AIC also trains and monitors a network of more than 4,000 restaurants, pizzerias, hotels, gelaterias, and artisan food shops under its Alimentazione Fuori Casa (AFC) program, and funds scientific research through an annual grant cycle (€400,000 committed in the 2026 Investigator Grant call).

AIC's revenue model is consistent with its nonprofit status and is composed of individual membership dues across its regional chapters, receipts from Italy's 5×1000 tax designation program (Codice Fiscale 11359620157), and voluntary donations. The association is governed by a Scientific Committee and works closely with the Italian Ministry of Health on policy — including Law 123/2005, which mandates gluten-free meals in school and hospital canteens and access to NHS-funded substitute products — as well as with the Istituto Superiore di Sanità on research. Its go-to-market is community-led: recruitment of members through celiachia.it, the 'Diventa associato' call-to-action, volunteer and tutor programs, and the annual Settimana Nazionale della Celiachia awareness campaign; onboarding of food companies and restaurants is conducted via the spigabarrata.it portal and the AFC program, with named channel partners including Autogrill, MyChef, Trenitalia, Grom, and multiple meal-voucher providers.

Name

Associazione Italiana Celiachia

Legal name

Associazione Italiana Celiachia APS

Website

https://celiachia.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Associazione Italiana Celiachia (AIC) is an Italian nonprofit patient association founded in 1979 that supports the country's ~200,000 diagnosed celiac patients through Spiga Barrata food certification, a 4,000+ restaurant AFC network, dietary guidance, and advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Celiac Disease Patient Support

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Nutrition & Malabsorption (Celiac/Short Bowel) (HLAKAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA), Accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) – ISO 22000/FSSC 22000/BRCGS/SQF (AFALACAA), Witness Audits, Office Assessments & Certification Governance Services (AFALACAG), Supplier Approval, Verification & Food Safety Risk Management (GFSI-aligned) (AFALADAH), Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) & Food Safety Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAF)

Keywords

• Celiac disease support
• Gluten-free certification
• Patient advocacy services
• Food safety classification
• Nonprofit health association

Headquarters

HQ city

Genova

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: AIC generates revenue through membership fees paid by individuals who join the association via local AIC chapters across Italy. Members receive support, information, access to resources, and advocacy representation.
2. 5×1000 Donations: AIC collects donations through Italy's 5×1000 tax designation program (Codice Fiscale: 11359620157). Citizens can allocate a portion of their income tax to AIC at no personal cost, supporting the association's activities.
3. General donations and contributions: AIC accepts voluntary donations and contributions from members and the public to fund research grants, awareness campaigns, and operational activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Associazione Italiana Celiachia (AIC) is a nonprofit patient association that supports people with celiac disease in Italy through a portfolio of services centered on gluten-free food safety. Its core offerings include the proprietary ABC della dieta dei celiaci food classification system, the continuously updated Prontuario degli Alimenti food database (available in print, online and via mobile app), the Spiga Barrata certification trademark for gluten-free products, and the Alimentazione Fuori Casa (AFC) program that trains and monitors more than 4,000 partner food establishments across Italy. The association also funds celiac disease research, advocates for patient rights under Italian Law 123/2005, and operates a network of 20 local associations.

Product overview

Associazione Italiana Celiachia (AIC) operates as a nonprofit patient association providing information, certification, and support services for people with celiac disease in Italy. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered around its core mission: helping celiac patients manage their condition through a strict gluten-free diet. The main offerings include the Prontuario degli Alimenti (a comprehensive food classification system available in print, online, and mobile app), the Spiga Barrata certification mark for identifying safe gluten-free products, the AIC Mobile App for on-the-go access, and the Progetto Alimentazione Fuori Casa (AFC) network of over 4,000 trained restaurants and food establishments. Supporting these are educational resources like the ABC della dieta del celiaco classification system, the Guida Pratica alla Celiachia, and school programs, plus annual awareness campaigns (Settimana Nazionale della Celiachia) and research funding programs (AIC Investigator Grant). The association also manages a 5×1000 fundraising program for ongoing support of celiac rights and research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prontuario degli Alimenti
• Marchio Spiga Barrata (Crossed Grain Certification Mark)
• Applicazione AIC Mobile
• Progetto Alimentazione Fuori Casa (AFC)
• Guida Pratica alla Celiachia
• Bandi AIC di Ricerca (AIC Investigator Grant Program)

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000+ restaurants and food establishments trained and monitored by AIC across Italy through the AFC program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015AIC funded a study by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità on mycotoxins in gluten-free cereals (particularly maize and rice), which found that celiacs are not at higher risk of mycotoxin exposure than the general population. AIC also funded a study on gluten-free beer safety conducted by the same institute.
• AOECS (Association of European Coeliac Societies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIC is the Italian member of AOECS, the European federation of national celiac associations. Through AOECS, AIC participates in the Spiga Barrata cross-border recognition program, shares scientific research, and collaborates on European food safety standards for celiacs.
• AutogrillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIC has a special collaboration with Autogrill as part of the AFC (Alimentazione Fuori Casa) project, enabling celiac travelers to find gluten-free options at Autogrill highway rest stops.
• MyChefminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIC collaborates with MyChef as part of the AFC program, providing gluten-free dining options at MyChef restaurant locations.
• TrenitaliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIC has a collaboration with Trenitalia as part of the AFC special projects, enabling celiac passengers to access gluten-free meals on trains.
• GromminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIC collaborates with artisan gelato chain Grom through the AFC program, providing celiac-safe gluten-free ice cream options.
• Meal voucher providers (Ticket Restaurant, Sodexo, Day S.p.A., Pellegrini, Yes!Ticket, Buonchef/RistoChef)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAIC's AFC program accepts meal vouchers from multiple providers including Ticket Restaurant, Sodexo, Day S.p.A., Pellegrini, Yes!Ticket, and Buonchef/RistoChef, allowing celiac workers to use vouchers for gluten-free meals at partner restaurants.
• Italian Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIC works with the Italian Ministry of Health on policy advocacy for celiac patients, including the annual Relazione al Parlamento sulla celiachia (Report to Parliament on Celiac Disease) and the regulatory framework for gluten-free food standards and public canteen access.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Celiac Disease Foundation: Leading US national celiac disease nonprofit offering patient education, advocacy, research funding and a healthcare provider directory. Direct cross-Atlantic mission peer.
• Coeliac UK: UK national celiac charity offering membership, food certification (Crossed Grain symbol), a food and drink directory, restaurant accreditation and advocacy. Directly comparable to AIC in mission, programs and operating model.
• Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO): Independent third-party gluten-free product certification body operating globally. Direct peer to AIC's Spiga Barrata certification on the B2B food-safety side.
• Deutsche Zöliakie Gesellschaft (DZG): German national celiac society running the Crossed Grain (Durchgestrichene Ähre) certification mark, member services and restaurant training. Direct peer with a comparable national-mission model.
• Association Française des Intolérants au Gluten (AFDIAG): French national celiac patient association offering membership, restaurant network accreditation and patient advocacy. Closest geographic and structural peer to AIC in continental Europe.
• Beyond Celiac: US nonprofit focused on celiac disease research funding, patient empowerment and advocacy. Comparable peer with a research-and-advocacy emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Dr. Schär (Dr. Schaer): Europe's largest dedicated gluten-free food manufacturer and a frequent partner / counterparty in the gluten-free ecosystem. Comparable because it operates the same consumer trust infrastructure (certification, labeling, brand) at commercial scale.

Others

• AOECS - Association of European Coeliac Societies: European federation of national celiac societies, of which AIC is the Italian member. AOECS coordinates the cross-border Spiga Barrata / Crossed Grain trademark recognition program across Europe.
• FACE - Federazione delle Associazioni Celiachia in Europa (merged into AOECS): Historical European celiac federation that consolidated into AOECS; relevant as part of the same European coordination ecosystem in which AIC operates.

Regional players

• Food Allergy Italia: Italian patient association focused on food allergies. Adjacent regional peer that shares the Italian patient-advocacy nonprofit model and could be a natural complement or competitor for donor attention.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat8 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVnWv2Htq86re6LHtsCUF2g
• Facebookfacebook.com/AIC.Associazione.Italiana.Celiachia
• Instagraminstagram.com/associazioneitalianaceliachia
• Xx.com/AIC_celiachia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associazione-italiana-celiachia-aps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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