Love Gelato

What Love Gelato does

Love Gelato is a Markham, Ontario-based Italian gelato cafe and food service operator founded in 2013. Its core product is artisanal gelato produced from a proprietary recipe originating in Rome over 35 years ago, using whole milk at 8-10% fat content and imported Italian ingredients. The product portfolio spans 31+ classic and seasonal flavours, keto and dairy-free/vegan SKUs, gelato cakes, Italian bombe donuts, Love Boxes (pre-packaged 9/18/32-cup gift boxes), and ancillary merchandise including branded apparel and digital gift cards priced from $5 to $100 CAD.

The business operates a multi-channel model: a flagship retail cafe at 116 Main St North in Markham; a Shopify-powered e-commerce site supporting pickup and GTA delivery; event catering services for corporate clients, weddings, golf tournaments, and private parties with gelato carts, ice sculptures, and affogato espresso bars; a turn-key retail pitstop wholesale program placing branded chest freezers at partner grocers (Summerhill Market, McEwan, Vince's, Vincenzo's, Concord Food Centre, Oomomo); and a community fundraising program for schools and charities. Marketing is conducted via organic social (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), email newsletter, and e-commerce content.

The company is privately held, founder-owned, and bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or parent entities. It employs 9 people and operates exclusively within Canada (Ontario, focused on Markham and the Greater Toronto Area). Love Gelato received the "Best Gelato in Ontario" recognition in 2019. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; pricing across the catalog is low-ticket unit-based ($3.99/cup to $127.99 for the largest Love Box), and customer relationships are predominantly transactional across a long tail of individual consumers, with testimonial enterprise mentions including MLSE and The Arlington Estate wedding venue.

Name

Love Gelato

Legal name

Love Gelato

Website

https://lovegelato.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Love Gelato is a privately held Markham, Ontario gelato cafe founded in 2013 that produces artisanal Italian gelato from a 35-year-old Rome recipe and sells it via flagship retail, Shopify e-commerce with GTA delivery, event catering, retail pitstop wholesale partnerships, and school/charity fundraising programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Gelato & Frozen Desserts

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream & Gelato Shops (THAFAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dessert Cafes (Coffee + Desserts) (THAFADAH), Cafe-Bakeries (Bakery + Coffee/Foodservice) (THAFAFAG), Gelato Manufacturing (AFAHAEAD)

Headquarters

HQ city

Markham

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Gelato Sales: In-store sales of artisanal gelato, gelato cakes, and Italian desserts at Markham cafe location
2. Online Ordering: E-commerce platform for gelato cup orders, Love Boxes, gelato cakes with pickup and delivery across GTA
3. Events Catering: Corporate events, weddings, golf tournaments, and private party gelato catering services with customizable packages
4. Retail Pitstop Partnerships: Turn-key fully managed retail partnerships where Love Gelato provides freezer equipment and regular restocks to retail partners
5. Fundraising Programs: School and charity fundraising programs with dedicated online fundraising pages and order fulfillment
6. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards available in denominations from $5 to $100 CAD

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Love Gelato is an artisanal Italian gelato cafe and producer founded in 2013 in Markham, Ontario, making gelato from a 35+ year-old authentic Roman recipe using whole milk and imported Italian ingredients. It sells gelato in 31+ classic, keto, and dairy-free flavors direct to consumers via its Markham flagship cafe, a Shopify e-commerce site with GTA delivery, and provides customizable gelato catering for corporate events, weddings, golf tournaments, and private parties.

Product overview

Love Gelato is a Markham, Ontario-based Italian gelato cafe and food service business established in 2013, offering artisan-made gelato products through both retail and wholesale channels. The core product portfolio centers on traditional Italian gelato available in classic, keto, and dairy-free varieties, sold individually by the cup or in curated Love Box multi-pack configurations. The business operates a dual model: (1) direct-to-consumer sales via its retail cafe and online ordering platform (Shopify-based e-commerce) with delivery and pickup options, and (2) event catering services including corporate events, weddings, golf tournaments, and home gelato parties featuring gelato carts, ice sculptures, and affogato espresso bars. Supporting product lines include gelato cakes, Italian bombe donuts, branded apparel, gift cards, and Italian specialty food products. The company also offers B2B retail partnership programs for wholesale gelato distribution and community fundraising services for schools and organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Love Gelato Events: Corporate events, weddings, golf tournaments, and gelato party catering services.
• Love Boxes
• Love Gelato Fundraising

Products and services

• Our Gelato (Classic Flavors) Artisan-made Italian gelato made from whole milk and an authentic Roman recipe, available in 31+ classic and seasonal flavors sold by the cup or 1 LB tub to individual consumers in-store and via online ordering.
• Dairy-Free Gelato 100% vegan, fruit-based gelato including Passion Fruit, Mango, Strawberry, Lemon, Raspberry, and Coconut flavors, sold by the cup to consumers seeking dairy-free dessert options.
• Keto Gelato Keto-friendly, low-carb gelato available in 1 LB tubs at $54.99 CAD and single servings in Nutella, Nocciola, Pistachio, Coffee, Stracciatella, and Chocolate flavors.
• Love Boxes Customizable gelato gift boxes in 9-cup ($35.99), 18-cup ($71.99), or 32-cup ($127.99) configurations, packaged in hand-decorated boxes with personalized messages for special occasions and gifting.
• Gelato Cakes Frozen cakes made from gelato, including Custom-Made ($42.99 CAD), OREO, Biscotti, Strawberry, Mango, Vanilla Bean, Yoghurt Frutti Di Bosco, Pistachio, Biscoff Cookie, and Strawberry Cheesecake Gelato Pie varieties.
• Bombe Italian Donuts Italian-crafted dessert pastries that are fluffier and airier than American doughnuts, filled with Crema or Nutella, sold in boxes of 6 ($22.50 CAD) or 12 ($37.50 CAD).
• Gift Cards Digital gift cards in CAD denominations of $5, $10, $25, $35, $50, $65, and $100 for recipients to purchase gelato orders.
• Apparel Branded merchandise including Love Gelato Hoodies (70% Cotton, 30% Poly, $49.99 CAD), Heart Snapback ($19.99 CAD), and Love Gelato Snapback hats featuring the company logo.
• Love Gelato Events (Corporate Catering) Catering service providing gelato experiences for corporate events, featuring gelato carts, ice sculptures, affogato espresso bars, and fully customizable setups with professional staff, delivery, and setup included.
• Wedding Gelato Catering Wedding dessert catering with traditional gelato bars, custom ice sculptures, gelato carts, Lavazza espresso bars, and unlimited affogato service, including professional staff and setup.
• Golf Tournament Gelato Experience Gelato catering specifically designed for golf tournaments, featuring affogato golf love bars and mini gelato bars with self-serve options, with custom vinyl wraps available for branding.
• Gelato Party (Mini-Bar Experience) At-home or office gelato party service delivering stand-up mini bars with gelato cups, dry ice, and everything needed for parties starting at 100 cups, including hand-packing, delivery, setup, and pickup.
• Community Fundraising Program Fundraising program for schools, charities, and organizations providing dedicated Shopify-powered fundraising pages, discounted gelato orders, additional donations per order, and full financial reporting.
• Retail Pitstop Partnerships Turn-key retail pitstop program where Love Gelato provides chest freezers with branded (or co-branded) wraps, delivers fresh gelato in 100g individually wrapped containers, and handles regular restocks for retail partners.
• Italian Biscotti & Specialty Foods Italian specialty food products including Chocolate, Cinnamon, and Hazelnut Biscotti (Pack of 5), Gluten-Free Pandoro, Italian Sodas, and various imported Italian food items.

Quantifiable outcome

• Best Gelato in Ontario 2019

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• CARMA FARMSminorOthersLocal farm partner featured in Love Gelato's Our Partners section
• Colangelo BrothersminorOthersPartner brand featured in Love Gelato's Our Partners section
• Concord Food CentreminorOthersLocal food centre partner featured in Love Gelato's Our Partners section
• Summerhill MarketminorOthersPremium grocery market partner featured in Love Gelato's Our Partners section
• McEwan Fine FoodsminorOthersFine foods retailer partner featured in Love Gelato's Our Partners section
• Vince's MarketminorOthersLocal market partner featured in Love Gelato's Our Partners section
• Vincenzo'sminorOthersItalian food retailer partner featured in Love Gelato's Our Partners section
• MIMI FOODSminorOthersItalian food brand partner featured in Love Gelato's Our Partners section
• The Italian EateryminorOthersItalian restaurant partner featured in Love Gelato's Our Partners section
• Pingles Farm MarketminorOthersFarm market partner featured in Love Gelato's Our Partners section
• Willowtree FarmminorOthersLocal farm partner featured in Love Gelato's Our Partners section
• OomomominorOthersAsian grocery partner featured in Love Gelato's Our Partners section
• BrooksminorOthersPartner brand featured in Love Gelato's Our Partners section
• The Arlington EstateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWedding venue partner where Love Gelato provides gelato catering services for wedding events

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• BoMe Food Co. Canadian artisan dessert and gelato producer with both retail and wholesale distribution. Comparable in offering artisanal frozen desserts through diversified channels including online and retail partnerships.

Direct peers

• Mario's Gelato: Long-standing GTA Italian gelato cafe and manufacturer with multiple locations, offering similar artisanal gelato products and cafe experience. Most direct comparable in product and business model.
• Ed's Real Scoop: Toronto-area premium ice cream and frozen dessert shop with multiple locations. Comparable artisanal frozen dessert cafe model with strong local brand recognition.
• Sweet Jesus: Toronto-based specialty dessert shop offering premium ice cream and desserts in a cafe setting. Comparable in operating a high-experience dessert cafe with strong social media presence.
• Cows: Canadian premium ice cream chain with multiple locations, known for branded apparel and tourist-oriented retail. Comparable in combining frozen dessert with branded merchandise and cafe experience.
• Gemma Gelato: Toronto-based artisanal gelato shop offering traditional Italian gelato in a similar cafe format. Direct competitor in the authentic Italian gelato category serving the same GTA market.
• Bar Gelato: Toronto-based gelato shop offering Italian-style gelato in a casual cafe environment. Direct competitor in the authentic gelato category serving the same GTA metropolitan market.

Broad incumbents

• Baskin-Robbins: Global ice cream chain with franchise locations across Canada. Competes in the same frozen dessert category but with mass-market positioning rather than artisanal specialty focus.
• Kawartha Dairy: Established Ontario dairy and ice cream manufacturer with regional retail distribution. Comparable in producing premium frozen dairy products with broader geographic reach than Love Gelato.
• Häagen-Dazs: Premium global ice cream brand with retail distribution and shop locations. Competes for premium frozen dessert occasions but with a much larger scale and broader product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lovegelatomarkham
• Instagraminstagram.com/love_gelato
• TikToktiktok.com/@@lovegelatocafe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lovegelato

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Love Gelato