What Mini Melts GmbH does

Mini Melts GmbH is the Vienna-headquartered European subsidiary of the global Mini Melts ice cream brand, founded in 1990 by Tom Mosey and Nick Angus, who developed and patented a cryogenic freezing method using liquid nitrogen at -196°C. The company licenses and supplies a uniquely shaped spherical ice cream product — produced as small balls with no air bubbles, natural ingredients, and natural food colorings — under the Mini Melts and Mini Melts Big sub-brands. The Austrian entity is led by Managing Director Dominik Milej and operates alongside production facilities in South Korea (global R&D and supply) and the Rūjienas Saldējums factory in Latvia (European manufacturing), which is described as having over 100 years of traditional ice cream experience.

The core technology is the patented cryogenic flash-freezing process, which freezes ice cream ingredients within fractions of a second to preserve natural flavor by preventing water crystallization. Product formats include the standard small-ball ice cream and Mini Melts Big (50x larger balls in milk and sorbet variants for retail freezer distribution). The company also supplies partner-facing sales infrastructure: a freestanding outdoor KIOSK (2.2m x 2.2m x 3.0m), a mobile COMPACT unit (710mm x 1,770mm x 2,170mm), indoor MINI and MINI GLASS stands (660mm x 1,060mm x 900mm and 660mm x 1,060mm x 1,400mm respectively), and a fully automated VERKAUFSAUTOMAT vending machine with 450-cup capacity.

Mini Melts GmbH generates revenue through franchise and partnership fees, equipment sales, product supply to distribution partners and retail outlets, and vending machine sales. Its go-to-market is primarily channel-partner driven, recruiting master franchisees for new markets and additional distribution partners at existing locations across Europe, with the brand present in 30 countries globally. End-use environments span amusement parks, zoos, children's play centers, mountain trails, seaside promenades, supermarkets, and shopping centers. Direct-to-consumer sales are conducted through the minimelts.shop e-commerce site, while marketing is executed via the company website and social channels (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook).

Name

Mini Melts GmbH

Legal name

Mini Melts GmbH

Website

https://minimelts.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mini Melts GmbH is the Vienna-based European subsidiary of a global cryogenic ice cream brand, licensing patented liquid nitrogen freezing technology and distributing spherical ice cream via franchise networks, vending machines, retail, and online channels across 30 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Frozen Desserts

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (31152), Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520), Packaged Frozen Food Merchant Wholesalers (424420)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Dairy-Based Frozen Novelties Manufacturing (Bars, Sandwiches, Cones) (AFAHAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ice Cream (Hard Pack) Manufacturing (AFAHAEAA), Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing (AFAKAKAE), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts Wholesale (AFAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Cryogenic ice cream
• Frozen desserts
• Franchise operations
• Vending machines
• Food manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Franchise and Partnership Fees: Mini Melts licenses its brand, equipment, and operating model to franchisees and partners. Partners receive fully equipped sales locations, accessories, logistics, marketing materials, and ongoing support. Multiple operational models are offered including franchise, kiosk, vending machine, and online sales.
2. Product Sales to Partners/Retailers: Mini Melts manufactures and supplies ice cream products to distribution partners and retail outlets. Manufacturing takes place in South Korea (for global markets) and Latvia (for Europe). Products are sold in multiple serving formats: paper cups (60g, 80g), PLA bio-plastic caps (80g), baggies (70g), and vending machine pre-packaged cups.
3. Vending Machine Sales: Fully automated vending machines dispense pre-packaged Mini Melts in hermetically sealed cups with spoons. Machine capacity is 450 cups.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mini Melts GmbH manufactures and distributes cryogenically frozen ice cream balls produced via patented liquid nitrogen flash-freezing at -196°C, sold in multiple serving formats (paper cups, PLA bio-plastic caps, baggies, vending cups). The company supplies franchisees, distribution partners, retail outlets, and end consumers through its own sales infrastructure (KIOSK, COMPACT, MINI, MINI GLASS, and VERKAUFSAUTOMAT vending machines) across 30 countries worldwide.

Product overview

Mini Melts GmbH offers a cryogenic ice cream product portfolio centered on uniquely spherical ice cream balls frozen using patented liquid nitrogen technology at -196°C. The core offering includes standard Mini Melts (cryogenically frozen ice pellets with intense flavors) and Mini Melts Big (50x larger balls in milk or sorbet variants for retail). The company also provides a range of sales infrastructure: KIOSK (freestanding outdoor kiosk), COMPACT (mobile unit with canopy), MINI and MINI GLASS (indoor stands for pre-packaged and open-cup sales), and VERKAUFSAUTOMAT (automated vending machine with 450-cup capacity). Flavors include Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Banana Split, Bubblegum, Cotton Candy, Lemon & Lime, and Cookies & Cream.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mini Melts Big: Ice cream balls 50 times larger than standard Mini Melts balls, available in milk or sorbet variants, suitable for retail sale in standard freezer units. Manufactured in South Korea.

Products and services

• Mini Melts (standard ice cream balls)
• Mini Melts Big
• KIOSK (sales kiosk)
• COMPACT (mobile sales unit)
• MINI (indoor sales stand)
• MINI GLASS (indoor sales stand)
• VERKAUFSAUTOMAT (Vending Machine)

Quantifiable outcome

• Flash-freezing within fractions of a second using liquid nitrogen at -196°C preserves natural flavor and prevents water storage in the product.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rūjienas Saldējums Factory (Latvia)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerThe Rūjienas Saldējums factory in Latvia produces Mini Melts ice cream for the European market. The factory has over 100 years of experience making traditional and natural ice cream from fresh milk and cream supplied by local farmers.
• South Korea Production and R&D CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Korea is the most advanced country in Mini Melts production globally. It houses the largest technological research center where new ice cream production methods with liquid nitrogen are tested and innovative recipes are developed. South Korea also manufactures Mini Melts Big milk and sorbet balls.
• Erste BankminorOthersErste Bank serves as Mini Melts GmbH's banking partner in Austria. Bank account: IBAN AT83 2011 1840 3204 8300.
• Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKO)minorOthersMini Melts GmbH is a member of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (Wirtschaftskammer Österreich).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dippin' Dots: Dippin' Dots is the most direct comparable — it pioneered flash-frozen 'beaded' ice cream using a cryogenic process similar to Mini Melts and is sold through franchise locations, vending, and retail. Same product format, same novelty positioning, same franchise GTM.
• Marble Slab Creamery: Marble Slab is an ice cream franchise concept focused on hand-mixed premium frozen desserts, with comparable mix-in style and franchise distribution model, making it a relevant peer for Mini Melts' franchise venues.
• Cold Stone Creamery: Cold Stone is a large ice cream franchise network selling premium customized ice cream through store and kiosk formats worldwide. Compares to Mini Melts on franchise-led GTM, premium positioning, and entertainment-venue placements.
• Bruster's Ice Cream: Bruster's is a US-based ice cream franchise chain specializing in small-batch ice cream sold at retail store locations with a similar premium, freshly-made product positioning to Mini Melts.

Emerging players

• Salt & Straw: Salt & Straw is an artisanal, premium ice cream scoop brand that sells through own-retail parlors and grocery. Compares on premium ingredient positioning and unique flavor innovation relevant to Mini Melts' clean-label and natural ingredient narrative.
• Frosty Bites: Frosty Bites is a smaller, niche branded beaded/slush ice cream concept positioned at amusement venues and vending — comparable to Mini Melts on novelty ice cream format and venue-based distribution, though with much smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• BJ's Restaurants / BJ's Ice Cream: BJ's is a broad foodservice/restaurant operator with in-house premium ice cream offerings. Relevant as a venue/retail operator that could be a Mini Melts partner or competitor for venue-based dessert sales.
• Unilever Ice Cream (Magnum, Ben & Jerry's): Unilever's ice cream division includes global premium and novelty brands like Magnum and Ben & Jerry's with broad retail and impulse-channel reach. Comparable as a broad incumbent competitor and channel partner in grocery retail.
• Nestlé Ice Cream (Häagen-Dazs, Mövenpick): Nestlé operates premium ice cream brands sold globally in retail and foodservice, including ice cream novelties. Overlaps with Mini Melts on premium ice cream in retail and the foodservice/café channel, though at vastly larger scale.

Regional players

• Ice Cream Vending Solutions / IVS Group: IVS and similar unattended vending operators run large vending networks across Europe including frozen treats. Comparable on the unattended/automated retail channel Mini Melts uses for its 450-cup vending machines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCI2ulqE3A6G3_l_MByKxblw
• Facebookfacebook.com/minimeltseis
• Instagraminstagram.com/minimeltseis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mini-melts-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Mini Melts GmbH