Gelato on the rise: growing markets, new formats and a global vision

Italian gelato remains a driving force in international business, growing beyond seasonal fluctuations and seizing new opportunities in global markets. From 16 to 20 January 2026 at Rimini Expo Centre, SIGEP World – The World Expo for Foodservice Excellence, a B2B event curated by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), will shine a spotlight on this pillar of Italian foodservice, alongside pastry, chocolate, coffee, bakery and pizza.

In 2024, the turnover of artisan gelato in Italy reached nearly €3 billion, growing 0.5–1% compared to the previous year, confirming Italy as a leading European market. The outlook for 2025 is equally positive: the SIGEP Observatory reports summer consumption of artisan gelato increased by approximately 3% compared to summer 2024, which accounts for over 70% of annual turnover.

Across Europe, the industry includes over 65,000 outlets and approximately 300,000 employees (UIF – Italian Food Union, Gelato Products Group). Italy alone is home to around 39,000 businesses, including ice cream shops, bakeries and bars. According to ACOMAG (National Association of Manufacturers of Ice Cream Machines, Furnishings and Equipment), the entire supply chain — ingredients, machinery, display cases and equipment — generated over €4 billion in revenue in 2024, with exports playing a major role. Ingredients account for 67% of turnover abroad, while machinery and technology sales exceed 70% internationally.

Within this landscape of growth and transformation, SIGEP World 2026 introduces innovations designed to strengthen dialogue with global foodservice operators.

Gelato Meets Chains is a strategic project targeting international restaurants, hotels, coffee shops and bakery chains. It provides guidelines, insights and operational tools to integrate Italian gelato into global menus, helping businesses add value, differentiate offerings and increase profitability. The project includes webinars, business meetings and matchmaking opportunities between companies and international buyers.

The initiative is complemented by the international campaign “What is Gelato?”, created to showcase the identity of Italian-made gelato to a global audience of investors and decision-makers. Launched with a Madrid roadshow and the “Gelato Means Business” webinar, the campaign culminates at SIGEP World, transforming the fair into a cultural and strategic platform for gelato’s international positioning.

SIGEP World 2026 highlights the importance of major competitions in promoting innovation, excellence and professional development.
The Gelato World Cup, now in its 11th edition, is the world’s most prestigious international team competition for professionals in gelato, pastry, cooking and chocolate. Twelve teams — each comprising a gelato maker, pastry chef, chef and team manager — will compete in the Gelato Arena (Hall A7) across nine highly technical and creative challenges for the title of World Champions.
Competing nations include Argentina, Belgium, China, Ecuador, France, Japan, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Peru and Singapore. Teams earned their places through official selection stages, including the Gelato Europe Cup at SIGEP World 2025, SIGEP China 2025, and qualifying events in South America and Singapore. National competitions include SIGEP Gelato d’Oro, which selects Italy’s top professionals for future European contests, and the Italian final of Gelato Festival World Masters, which brings leading gelato makers together to compete for the world final.

Training the next generation is also a priority, with the Gelato Competition for Hospitality Institutes, dedicated to students from vocational schools and designed to introduce young people to artisanal gelato as a career opportunity.