Pernigotti Maestri Gelatieri Italiani

What Pernigotti Maestri Gelatieri Italiani does

Pernigotti Maestri Gelatieri Italiani is an Italian B2B specialty ingredients supplier serving artisan gelato makers, HoReCa operators and pastry professionals. The company produces and distributes semi-finished products across bases, creams, pastes, variegates, decorations, chocolate, fruit products and finished kits, with a portfolio certified across Halal, Gluten Free, Vegan, Kosher and Palm Oil Free standards. Brand heritage dates to 1860, with gelato-specific operations active since 1936, supporting a 'Maestri Gelatieri Italiani' master-craftsman positioning.

Following the 2019 carve-out acquisition by Casa Optima Group, Pernigotti operates as a focused subsidiary within the VERCELLI MIDCO S.P.A. holding structure and is headquartered at Piazza Belgioioso 2, Milan. The go-to-market is a hybrid of direct B2B sales and a distributor channel, layered with a practitioner ambassador network covering Italy, the rest of Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East/Africa. Revenue mechanics are ingredient transactions supplemented by the Casa Optima School training program, which monetizes practitioner education and reinforces recipe-level product adoption across the long-tail customer base.

Name

Pernigotti Maestri Gelatieri Italiani

Legal name

Maestri Gelatieri Italiani S.r.l.

Website

https://pernigottigelatieri.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1860

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Pernigotti Maestri Gelatieri Italiani is an Italian B2B specialty ingredients supplier producing semi-finished gelato and pastry products (bases, creams, pastes, variegates, decorations, kits) for artisan makers, HoReCa operators and pastry professionals globally, operating as a Casa Optima Group subsidiary since 2019.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Gelato and Pastry Ingredients

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Gelato Manufacturing (AFAHAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing (AFAKAKAE)

Keywords

• Artisan gelato ingredients
• Semi-finished pastry products
• Gelato bases
• Spreadable cream variegates
• Professional pastry training

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. B2B Ingredient Sales: Sale of semi-finished products (bases, creams, pastes, variegates, toppings, decorations) to artisan gelato makers, pastry shops, and food service establishments
2. Training Services: Specialized training courses and workshops through Casa Optima School for gelato and pastry professionals

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pernigotti Maestri Gelatieri Italiani manufactures and sells semi-finished ingredients for artisan gelato and pastry, including bases (milk, fruit, vegan, complete), cream flavours, chocolate flavours, fruit preparations, ripples, kits, decorations, toppings, food service products, and improvers. The company serves professional gelaterias, pastry shops, and HoReCa businesses, supported by technical ambassadors and the Casa Optima School training program.

Product overview

Pernigotti Maestri Gelatieri Italiani is an Italian artisan gelato and pastry ingredients company offering semi-finished products for gelaterie and pastry shops. The product portfolio centers on two main divisions: Gelato (ingredient bases, cream and chocolate flavours, fruit preparations, yogurt options, ripples, decorative kits, food service solutions, and improvers) and Pastry (fillings, purees, Morettine variants, crumble, bases, and glazes). The company also provides professional services including product catalogs and Casa Optima School training courses. The Gelato category includes Milk Bases (50G, 100G, Complete, Best Seller lines including Pura e Ricca, Nuvolatte, Master), Fruit Bases, Vegan Bases, Cream Flavours (Hazelnut, Pistachio, Nougat, Classic Creams, Vanilla), Chocolate Flavours (Cocoa, Single Origin, Stracciatella, Gianduja), Fruit Flavours (Gelagel, Fruttapronta, Lemon, Fruit Pastes), Yoghurt Flavours, Ripples, Kits (regional Italian specialties, Kids, World flavors), Decorations, Topping, and Food Service (Soft Ice, Cremasempre, Granita). The company was acquired by Casa Optima Group in 2019 and has over 160 years of history dating back to 1860.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Casa Optima School: Training school dedicated to top gelato and pastry professionals offering courses, workshops and demonstrations
• Gianduiotto Cream
• Morettine
• Gelagel
• Profumi d'Italia
• Stracciatelle
• Stracciate
• Pura e Ricca Bases
• Master Bases
• Nuvolatte Bases
• Fragrances of Italy

Products and services

• Gelato Ingredients (Bases, Cream Flavours, Chocolate Flavours, Fruit Flavours, Yoghurt Flavours) Semi-finished products for artisan gelato production including milk bases (50G, 100G, Complete, Best Seller), fruit bases, vegan bases, cream flavours (hazelnut, pistachio, nougat, vanilla), chocolate flavours (cocoa, single origin, stracciatella, gianduja), fruit flavours (Gelagel), and yoghurt flavours for professional gelaterias.
• Pastry Products (Fillings, Purees, Morettine, Crumble, Glazes, Semifreddo Bases) Premium products for high-quality pastry including traditional pastry (fillings, purees, pastry Morettine), modern pastry (crumble, bases, glazes), and semifreddo chilled desserts for pastry professionals.
• Gianduiotto Cream (Gianduja Paste) Gianduja paste with 53.3% hazelnuts and 16.5% low-fat powdered cocoa, made with Piedmont Hazelnuts PGI from Langhe; palm oil free and vegan. Designed for use in artisan gelato and pastry preparations.
• Morettine Line (Spreadable Cream Variegates) Spreadable creams for artisan gelato that revolutionize traditional variegation, including Classic, White, Hazelnut, Caramel, Republic Dominican, Light, Pistachio, Pepita, Snack, Pecan Nut Nugget, Pistachio Nugget, and regional specialty variants.
• Gelagel Fruit Line High fruit content products for sorbets, Sicilian-style granita, slush ices, ice lollies, smoothies, and pastry, with fruit pieces and purees already balanced for gelato use (variants include Purple Fruits, Exotic, Red Fruits, Tropical Passion, Peach Melba, Coconut Indonesia, Prickly Pear Sicily, Strawberry Italy, Lime South America, Mango South America, Pear Italy).
• Stracciatelle Line Cocoa-based products for stracciatella flavour including classic stracciatelle and crystal variants (Lemon, Salted Butter Caramel with Salt Crystals, Dark with Mint Crystals, White with Coconut and Mango, Fondente Salted Crystals, Pistachio Salted Crystals), plus Stracciatella in a Bottle.
• Stracciate Line (Dried Fruit Pastes) Toasted dried fruit pastes with rough textures and savory notes that add fullness and depth, including Salted Roasted Peanut, Roasted Salted Pistachio, Salted Roasted Hazelnut, and Roasted Salted Almond.
• Hazelnut Pastes Complete range of hazelnut pastes including Maestro Hazelnut Paste (97.84% hazelnuts), Piedmont Hazelnut PGI of the Langhe Paste, Dark Hazelnut Paste, Light Hazelnut Paste, and Traditional Hazelnut Paste (100% Mortarella variety).
• Pistachio Pastes Skilled processing of raw pistachios with careful toasting and modern technologies, including Maestro Pistachio Paste, Pistachio Puro Natura, Platinum Sicilian Pistachio Paste, Green Pearl Paste, and Roasted Salted Pistachio Stracciata.
• Ripples Key products for decorating artisan gelato including Fruit Ripples 4.0, Amore Ripples, and Classic Ripples for syrup-based variegation.
• Kits (Regional and Specialty Gelato Kits) Practical easy-to-use kits for rich and delicious gelato including Kit Dei Campioni 2026, Specialities from Piedmont, All Kits Line, Profumi d'Italia Line, Kids, Kit From Around The World, Abbraccio Siciliano Kit, and Grisbì Chocolate Kit.
• Food Service Products (Soft Ice, Cremasempre, Granita Slush Ices) Premium-quality products with high service content for ice cream parlours, coffee shops, bars, and restaurants including Soft Ice, Cremasempre, and Granita Slush Ices for HoReCa use.
• Improvers (Neutrals, Powdered Milk, Stabilisers) Structure improvers and integrators including Neutrals, Powdered Milk, and Stabilisers to enhance flavours, creaminess, scoopability, and shelf life of gelato.
• Toppings Colourful and delicious toppings, including creamy sauces with intense and velvety flavour for decorating gelato creations.
• Decorations (Sprinkles and Fillings) Carefully selected premium ingredients for decorating and garnishing desserts and gelato, adding crunchiness, including Sprinkles and Fillings.
• Product Catalogs (General Catalog 2026, Morettina, Gelagel, Variegati, Cioccolati, Modern Pastry Recipe Book) Product catalogs including General Catalog 2026, Corte degli Agrumi, Basi, Morettina Line, Gelagel Frutta, Variegati 4.0, Variegati Amore, Cioccolati, and Modern Pastry Recipe Book, accessible via registered customer portal.
• Casa Optima School Training Program Training program dedicated to gelato and pastry professionals with courses, workshops, and demonstrations throughout the year, run by Casa Optima Group.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Casa Optima GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Casa Optima Group acquired the gelato business unit of Pernigotti S.p.A. in 2019, including the Pernigotti Maestri Gelatieri Italiani brand, original recipes, and product know-how. The acquisition enabled a relaunch of the brand in terms of commercial expansion, innovation, and product range expansion. Casa Optima Group operates the Casa Optima School for training gelato and pastry professionals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Giuso: Giuso manufactures semi-finished products (bases, pastes, decorations) for artisan gelato and pastry professionals, particularly in Italy and select European markets. Comparable B2B model and product portfolio targeting the same gelateria and pastry customer base.
• MEC3: MEC3 is a sister brand under Casa Optima Group, producing semi-finished products for artisan gelato and pastry with overlapping product lines (bases, pastes, variegates) and shared ambassador/school infrastructure. Most relevant as a portfolio-mate within the same parent group.
• Irca: Irca is an Italian manufacturer of specialty ingredients for gelato, pastry, and confectionery, including bases, pastes, decorations, and chocolate products. Directly comparable as a B2B supplier of premium Italian semi-finished ingredients to the same gelato and pastry professionals.
• Fabbri 1905: Fabbri is a historic Italian manufacturer of specialty ingredients (syrups, variegates, toppings, decorations) for gelato, pastry, and HoReCa. Overlaps with Pernigotti's toppings, ripples, and flavor pastes categories, serving similar artisan customers with comparable semi-finished products.
• Leagel: Leagel produces semi-finished gelato ingredients including bases, pastes, and flavorings for the artisan gelato and HoReCa markets. Comparable product category, customer base, and Italian heritage make it a relevant direct competitor in semi-finished gelato ingredients.
• Domino Food: Domino is an Italian producer of bases, pastes, and decorations for artisan gelato and confectionery. Directly comparable product range and customer base of gelato and pastry professionals in Italy and international markets.
• PreGel: PreGel is one of the largest global manufacturers of semi-finished products for artisan gelato, pastry, and coffee service. Directly comparable product portfolio (bases, pastes, variegates, flavors) and overlapping customer base of gelaterias, pastry shops, and HoReCa operators make it Pernigotti's most direct competitor.
• Comprital: Comprital is an Italian producer of semi-finished products and bases for artisan gelato, with comparable offerings across milk bases, fruit bases, pastes, and variegates. Targets the same gelateria and pastry professional customer base with similar B2B distribution model.

Others

• Casa Optima School: Casa Optima School is the in-house training arm of Casa Optima Group that delivers courses and workshops to gelato and pastry professionals. Included as a sibling ecosystem asset rather than a competitor — it amplifies Pernigotti's customer-acquisition funnel.

Broad incumbents

• Barry Callebaut: Barry Callebaut is the world's largest chocolate and cocoa products manufacturer, supplying B2B customers including gelato and pastry professionals. Comparable as a supplier of premium cocoa-based semi-finished inputs to artisan food producers, though at much broader scale and portfolio scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pernigottimaestrigelatieriitaliani
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pernigotti-maestri-gelatieri-italiani
• Instagraminstagram.com/pernigottimaestrigelatieri

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Pernigotti Maestri Gelatieri Italiani