Gnam Gnam Gelato

What Gnam Gnam Gelato does

Gnam Gnam Gelato is a privately held, Greensboro, North Carolina-based gelato bistro founded in 2009 by Selim Oztalay (with Denise White as co-owner). The company produces authentic Italian gelato and sorbetto on an Italian gelato machine, offering more than 100 flavors that include traditional European varieties such as Stracciatella, Nocciola, Fior di Latte, and Zabaione. Its core technology is the production process itself rather than software, with gelato positioned as a lower-fat, lower-calorie alternative to ice cream due to lower overrun and denser texture.

The business operates four revenue streams. A retail gelato shop at 2246 Golden Gate Drive in Greensboro sells gelato by the cup, cone, or hand-packed carton, with small cups priced at $3.25-$3.50. A catering division runs mobile gelato carts and gelato bars for events (weddings, corporate functions, graduations, fundraisers) on a minimum two-hour booking basis. A wholesale channel supplies gelato to 16+ named restaurants and hotels across NC and SC, including Tazza Kitchen, Aria Tuscan Grill, Barcelona Wine Bar, Grandover Resort, and the High Point University campus via Aramark and Harvest Table Culinary Group. A franchise and licensing program markets gelato cart, shop, and regional distribution opportunities to entrepreneurs.

The menu has expanded beyond gelato to include sandwiches, panini, soups, and tapas-style dinner items (with dishes in the $7-$12 range), and half-priced wines on Wednesday nights. Distribution is regional across North Carolina and South Carolina; franchise operations extend the brand to Columbia and Fort Mill, SC. Marketing relies on a WordPress website, organic social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), earned media in local publications (Rhino Times, Go Triad), community sponsorships (e.g., Wells Fargo Golf Championship), and fundraiser partnerships with schools and non-profits. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding, no public filings, and no headcount disclosure.

Name

Gnam Gnam Gelato

Legal name

Gnam Gnam Gelato

Website

https://gnamgnamgelato.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gnam Gnam Gelato is a privately held Greensboro, NC-based gelato bistro founded in 2009 that produces authentic Italian gelato and sorbetto across 100+ flavors. It serves retail customers, event caterers, wholesale restaurant and hospitality accounts across NC and SC, and franchisees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Italian Gelato & Dessert Catering

NAICS

Specialty Food Retailers (4452), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAFAGAA

Ice Cream & Gelato Shops

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Dessert, Ice Cream & Specialty Sweets Shops

SECONDARYAFAHAEAD

Gelato Manufacturing

Agriculture & Food Production/Dairy Processing/Ice Cream & Frozen Dairy Desserts Manufacturing

Keywords

• Italian gelato production
• Artisanal frozen desserts
• Event dessert catering
• Gelato wholesale supply
• Gelato shop franchise

Headquarters

HQ city

Greensboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Gelato and Sorbetto Sales: Direct sales of gelato and sorbetto to consumers at the retail shop location. Products sold by the cup, cone, or hand-packed carton for take-home.
2. Catering Services: Gelato cart and gelato bar catering for events including setup, server, cups, spoons, up to 6 flavors. Minimum 2 hours with additional toppings available.
3. Wholesale to Restaurants: Wholesale pricing to restaurants and businesses in the hospitality industry. Gnam Gnam Gelato appears on partner restaurant menus.
4. Franchise and Licensing: Franchise opportunities for gelato carts, small businesses, gelato shops, and regional distribution. Gelato cart opportunity marketed with profit potential over 300%.
5. Food Menu Sales: Additional food items including tapas-style offerings, sandwiches, panini, soups, and pasta dishes served at the retail location.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gnam Gnam Gelato produces and sells authentic Italian gelato and sorbetto with over 100 flavors at its retail shop in Greensboro, NC. The company also provides gelato cart and gelato bar catering for events, wholesale gelato to restaurants and hospitality businesses in North and South Carolina, and franchise/licensing opportunities for entrepreneurs to operate gelato carts and shops. A light food menu of sandwiches, panini, and tapas is served alongside gelato at the retail location.

Product overview

Gnam Gnam Gelato operates as a gelato-focused food service business offering authentic Italian gelato and sorbetto as its core product, with over 100 flavors. The company has expanded from a gelato-only shop to a broader food service operation that includes a catering division (Gelato Cart and Gelato Bar for events), a food menu (sandwiches/panini and tapas-style offerings), fundraising programs for schools and organizations, and a franchise/licensing program for gelato cart operations and shop ownership. The various products and services are designed to serve both retail customers at the shop and event/catering clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Gelato is half the fat and half the calories of ice cream
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Tazza KitchencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant partner in Cary, NC featuring Gnam Gnam Gelato on their menu. Located at 600 Ledgestone Way, Cary, NC 27519. Phone: (919) 651-8281.
• Aria Tuscan GrillcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant partner in Charlotte, NC featuring Italian gelato. Located at 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202. Phone: (704) 376-8880.
• Barcelona Wine BarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant partner in Charlotte offering Gnam Gnam Gelato. Located at 101 W. Worthington Ave. Suite 110, Charlotte, NC 28203. Phone: (704) 741-0300.
• CicchetticoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant partner in Charlotte featuring Gnam Gnam Gelato. Located at 100 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC. Phone: (980) 299-0039.
• Crave Dessert BarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDessert bar partner in Charlotte. Located at 500 W. 5th St, Charlotte, NC. Phone: (704) 335-0588.
• La Belle HelenecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant partner in Charlotte featuring Gnam Gnam Gelato. Located at 300 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC. Phone: (704) 969-2550.
• Little Mama'scoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian restaurant partner in Charlotte. Located at 4521 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC 28211. Phone: (980) 209-0323.
• Mimosa GrillcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant partner in Charlotte. Located at 327 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC. Phone: (704) 343-0700.
• Fleet PlummercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant partner in Greensboro. Located at 2437 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408. Phone: (336) 282-6970.
• Grandover Resort HotelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHotel partner in Greensboro featuring Gnam Gnam Gelato. Located at 1000 Club Rd, Greensboro, NC 27407. Phone: (336) 294-1800.
• Imperial KoicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant partner in Greensboro. Located at 1941 New Garden Rd # 200, Greensboro, NC 27410. Phone: (336) 286-3000.
• AramarkmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFood service management partner at High Point University. Located at One University Parkway, High Point, NC 27268. Gnam Gnam Gelato served through campus food service.
• Harvest Table Culinary GroupmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCulinary management partner at High Point University campus. Provides food service including Gnam Gnam Gelato products.
• Rooster's KitchencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant partner in Winston-Salem. Located at 380 Knollwood Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. Phone: (336) 777-8477.
• Taco MolinocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant partner in Fort Mill, SC. Located at 1328 Broadcloth Street, Fort Mill, SC 29715. Phone: (803) 650-3760.
• Lisa and Paul Ramsey (Franchisee)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFranchisee operators of Gnam Gnam Gelato of Columbia, SC. Contact: [email protected]. Phone: (719) 310-9262.
• Sue and Scott (Franchisee)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFranchisee operators of Gnam Gnam Gelato of Fort Mill, SC. Contact: [email protected].

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Amorino: International Italian gelato chain with a global retail footprint and recognized authentic positioning. Comparable to Gnam Gnam in authentic Italian gelato method and premium flavor library, but with substantially larger scale and international reach.
• Capogiro Gelato: Artisanal Italian-style gelato shop with multiple retail locations and wholesale to restaurants. Comparable to Gnam Gnam in authentic gelato production, scoop shop retail, and restaurant supply.
• Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Artisanal premium ice cream scoop shop chain with multiple retail locations and strong brand. Comparable as a craft/premium dessert shop operator with retail, wholesale, and catering channels, though not specifically gelato.
• Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: Premium ice cream brand with retail scoop shops and grocery distribution. Comparable to Gnam Gnam as a craft dessert retailer expanding into wholesale and events, with a focus on premium positioning.
• Dolcezza Gelato: Authentic Italian-style gelato shop chain headquartered in Washington, DC with multiple retail locations and wholesale supply. Closest direct peer to Gnam Gnam in authentic gelato retail, catering, and wholesale to restaurants.

Broad incumbents

• Ben & Jerry's: Premium ice cream brand with scoop shops, catering, and wholesale foodservice supply. Comparable in product category and B2B foodservice model, with substantially larger scale and brand recognition.
• Cold Stone Creamery: National ice cream scoop shop franchise with catering and event services. Comparable as a frozen dessert franchise and event caterer, though focused on customizable ice cream rather than Italian gelato.
• Baskin-Robbins: Largest ice cream specialty chain in the US with broad franchise model and wide product assortment. Comparable to Gnam Gnam in the franchise scoop shop concept and product variety, though at dramatically different price positioning and scale.
• Talenti Gelato: National premium gelato brand now owned by Unilever, sold primarily through grocery and foodservice. Directly comparable as a gelato competitor, but at vastly greater scale and broader distribution than Gnam Gnam.
• Häagen-Dazs: Iconic premium ice cream/frozen dessert brand with retail shops and broad grocery distribution. Comparable to Gnam Gnam in the premium dessert category, though focused on ice cream rather than authentic gelato.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gnamgnamgelato
• Facebookfacebook.com/154938642951
• Instagraminstagram.com/gnamgnamgelato
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gnam-gnam-gelato-&-bistro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Gnam Gnam Gelato