What Geneglace does

Geneglace SAS, headquartered in Les Sorinières near Nantes, France, is a specialized industrial equipment manufacturer dedicated exclusively to flake ice production, storage, and dispensing systems. The company traces its origins to Frigofrance (founded 1978) and operates today as an independent, privately-held entity under director Serge Vidal, who acquired the business from GEA Group in December 2017. Its product range spans flake ice generators (500 kg to 50 tons/day), automatic and manual ice dispensers (DAGE), orbital and static silos, plug-and-play Pack/Splitpack units, ice compactors, containerized ice plants, and supporting handling/weighing/conveying systems. Core technologies include the proprietary Genecoat cylinder coating, patented orbital silo FIFO architecture, and a multi-refrigerant portfolio covering CO2 (R744), R449A, R407F, R134A, and NH3, with ASME certification covering North America and a 'Made in France' label covering all products.

The company serves a horizontally diversified customer base across fishing and maritime (the primary vertical), fish processing, supermarket retail (e.g., Carrefour), bakery, concrete/construction, hospital catering, and leisure/snowmaking applications. Geneglace goes to market primarily through 80+ channel partners across 5 continents, complemented by direct sales for major enterprise and government accounts (e.g., Nestle Serbia, Malta Food Agency, MERICQ, Omarsa Morocco, Ministry of Fisheries Oman). Revenue is generated through project-based hardware sales, a recurring spare parts business (with same-day shipping for orders before 14:00), and a growing preventive maintenance and technician training service offering. The business model is high-engineering, project-based industrial equipment sales with long service-life aftermarket economics, supported by a workforce of 11–50 employees, four consecutive years of distributor training meetings, and active presence at Chillventa, SIFA, and Kylmadagen trade shows.

Name

Geneglace

Legal name

Geneglace SAS

Website

https://geneglace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Geneglace SAS, based near Nantes, France, is an independent manufacturer specializing in flake ice production, storage, and dispensing systems (500 kg to 50 tons/day). It serves global customers in fishing, food processing, retail, construction, and healthcare through 80+ channel partners across 5 continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Ice Making Equipment

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Machine Installation, Cleaning & Repair (HSAOAJAH)

Keywords

• Flake ice machines
• Industrial ice generators
• Ice storage silos
• Refrigeration equipment
• Food preservation cooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Les Sorinières

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ice Machine Sales: Direct sales of flake ice generators, ice packs, orbital silos, and related equipment ranging from 500 kg to 50 tons/day production capacity. Machines include Premium, Premium+, Industrial, and Marine ranges.
2. Spare Parts: Sale of spare parts including Serenity and SerenityPlus emergency maintenance kits. Parts ordered before 14:00 shipped same day with express delivery worldwide.
3. Service and Maintenance: After-sales service including preventive maintenance contracts, on-site supervision, and technician training sessions in French and English throughout the year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Geneglace manufactures flake ice generators, ice packs, orbital silos, and related equipment used for rapid cooling and preservation of perishable products. The portfolio spans production capacities from 500 kg to 50 tons per day, with a complete offering of ice production machines (Premium, Industrial, Premium+, and Marine ranges), storage silos (orbital and static), automatic and manual dispensers, ice compactors, containerized ice plants, and handling/conveying systems. Made in France, the equipment serves food preservation, fish/seafood, supermarket, concrete cooling, and industrial applications globally.

Product overview

Geneglace is a specialist manufacturer of flake ice production, storage, and distribution systems — operating as a single-product-line industrial equipment company with a modular, end-to-end portfolio. The core offering centers on flake ice (glace écaille) machines, which produce thin, flat ice flakes ideal for food preservation, concrete cooling, and industrial applications. The product range is organized into nine integrated categories: (1) Ice Generators — core flake ice production machines in Premium, Industrial, Premium+, and Marine variants, producing 500 kg to 50 tons/day with refrigerants including CO₂ (R744), R449A, R404A, R407F, R134A, and NH₃; (2) Automatic Ice Dispensers (DAGE) — automated production-storage-dispensing units for on-demand ice delivery; (3) Ice Packs and Splitpacks — plug-and-play production units for easy installation; (4) Orbital Silos (New Generation) — automated FIFO vertical storage in HDPE or stainless steel, 1–30 ton capacity; (5) Manual Ice Dispensers — combined production and storage units; (6) Static Silos — insulated vertical storage for smaller capacities; (7) Handling, Weighing and Conveying — conveyors, weighing systems, and delivery automation; (8) Ice Compactors and Containerized Ice Plants — block ice production and modular transportable plants; and (9) Services and After-Sales Service — spare parts, maintenance kits (Serenity/SerenityPlus), training, and on-site supervision. Together these form a complete from-source-to-delivery flake ice ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flake Ice Generator (Générateur de Glace Écaille)
• Automatic Ice Dispenser (DAGE) Automated system combining flake ice production, insulated storage (0.7T to 5T) and on-demand delivery, with average delivery rate of 80 kg/min and operating range 5°C to 35°C. Features automatic tank management and ice quantity display. Used in supermarkets and food service for effortless flake ice availability.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shelf life of fish considerably extended when immediately chilled at 0°C without break in cold chain
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KAPP (Iceland)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKAPP is a leading technology company specializing in refrigeration services, machine building, import and service of equipment for the fishing industry and aquaculture. They became the Geneglace ice machine specialists in Iceland, with partnership signed and formal visit completed with Pascal Billaudelle from Geneglace.
• Kylma Sweden (Beijer Ref Group)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKylma is a trading company (part of Beijer Ref group) selling compressors, condensers, evaporators, refrigerants, expansion valves, and Geneglace flake ice machines. Partnership developed for Swedish market with participation in Kylmadagen events.
• H. Jessen Jurgensen (Denmark)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDanish agent for Geneglace products, publishing product information through klimakatalog for 2024-2025.
• Crionovo BV (Benelux)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in Benelux that produced the first ice without a chiller using cascade system with natural CO2 and NH3 refrigerants. Installed at Ostend seafood auction house producing 23 cubic metres of flake ice in 24 hours.
• Hupfer (Germany)coreTechnology or IntegrationGerman partner that developed the N'Ice&Easy system for hospital meal distribution trolleys. Geneglace provides flake ice as an essential component in the cold chain for hospitals, retirement homes, hotels, and cafeterias.
• ITN with GEA Group (Serbia)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal partner in Serbia that installed Geneglace equipment (2 G100-CO2 and one AOS80M silo) for Nestle Serbia's alternative meat factory.
• Geneglace Network (80+ partners)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal network of over 80 partners across 5 continents providing sales, installation, and service support for Geneglace ice machines in all major markets.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ice-O-Matic: US-based commercial ice machine manufacturer producing cube, flake, and nugget ice equipment for foodservice, hospitality, and retail. Direct competitor in flake ice applications and the most analogous North American peer to Geneglace.
• ITV Ice Makers: Spanish manufacturer of industrial flake ice machines and refrigeration solutions, with strong presence in European fishing ports and seafood processing — directly overlapping with Geneglace's primary fishing industry and fish processing segments.
• North Star Ice Equipment: North American manufacturer specializing in ice-making equipment and refrigeration systems for fishing, seafood, and industrial applications. Direct peer in the fishing industry and fish processing customer segments where Geneglace is strongest.
• Brema Ice Makers: Italian manufacturer of commercial ice machines including flake, cube, and nugget formats. Competes with Geneglace in European foodservice and retail channels with similar vertical-integrated manufacturing approach.
• ISA (Ice System Applications): Italian ice machine manufacturer producing flake, cube, and nugget ice equipment for foodservice and retail. Comparable European competitor with overlapping product portfolio and similar target customers to Geneglace.

Broad incumbents

• Manitowoc Ice: US-based commercial ice equipment manufacturer with a long heritage and broad product range including cube and flake ice. Comparable to Geneglace in serving foodservice, hospitality, and retail customers with refrigeration-based ice equipment.
• Scotsman Ice Systems: Established global commercial ice machine manufacturer (part of Ali Group) with cube, flake, nugget, and gourmet ice offerings. Competes with Geneglace in foodservice and retail channels across Europe and North America.
• Hoshizaki: Japanese global leader in commercial ice machines and refrigeration equipment, with the broadest portfolio of ice formats and a strong foodservice/retail footprint. Competes with Geneglace in supermarkets and seafood display but operates at significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• Celfrost: Indian manufacturer of commercial refrigeration and ice-making equipment, primarily serving the South Asian market. Comparable product offering but limited overlap with Geneglace's geographic footprint.

Emerging players

• Kold-Draft: US-based niche commercial ice equipment manufacturer specializing in cube ice for foodservice. Adjacent competitor serving overlapping customer types but without Geneglace's flake ice specialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/geneglace

Compliance2 records

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 Geneglace