FRONERI: 10 YEARS OF INNOVATION AND €100 MILLION IN NEW INVESTMENTS TO DRIVE GROWTH IN THE ITALIAN ICE CREAM MARKET

More than €200 million invested over the past decade and a further €100 million planned over the next three years: this marks a significant acceleration in the company’s growth strategy, alongside 2025 revenues exceeding €380 million, up 43.4% compared to 2017. These are the figures with which Froneri approaches its tenth anniversary in Italy, laying the foundations for the final balance of a decade that will be fully assessed at the end of the season. The company continues to demonstrate a solid industrial and commercial trajectory, driven by continuous innovation and the strong performance of leading brands such as Maxibon, Nuii and Coppa del Nonno, joined in 2026 by the launch of Baci Gelato.

“The growth achieved in recent years is the result of a strategy built on significant investments in innovation and brand development, supported by continuous research and development, as well as ongoing improvements in quality and manufacturing technologies at our production sites in Ferentino and Terni,” commented Quirino Cipollone, CEO of Froneri Italia. “In light of these results, we have decided to accelerate further by launching a new three-year investment plan aimed at strengthening our manufacturing capabilities and supporting the continued growth of the ice cream category.”

SOCIAL TRENDS ARE RESHAPING THE MARKET: SNACKING SALES HAVE DOUBLED

One of the key drivers behind the company’s performance has been its ability to anticipate and respond to evolving social trends. Changes in household structures and the gradual breakdown of traditional meal patterns have significantly transformed Italian consumption habits, shifting demand toward more premium formats with greater attention to quality. Today, the snacking phenomenon has become the true engine of growth for the category.

Within this trend, multipacks have emerged as a leading format, now accounting for more than 70% of total sales. Capitalizing on this shift, the value of Froneri’s multipack sales doubled between 2016 and 2025, with the company’s brands reaching more than 8 million Italian households in 2025—an increase of 43% compared to 2016.

THE MAXIBON EFFECT (+16.5%) AND THE RISE OF NUII: HOW THE MARKET IS EVOLVING

The company’s performance is supported by one of the strongest brand portfolios in the category. Leading this growth is Maxibon, which has become the fastest-growing ice cream brand over the past three years, recording an average annual growth rate of 16.5% between 2022 and 2025.

Purchased by more than 4.5 million households in 2025, the brand saw its Classic variant become the best-selling product by units across the entire retail ice cream market. At the same time, Maxibon successfully expanded consumption occasions and attracted new consumers through the exclusive recipes of its premium snacking range, The Special.

Meanwhile, Nuii has become one of the industry’s standout success stories since its launch in 2019, representing a truly unique case in the recent history of the ice cream market.

The brand has built a distinctive positioning by tapping into consumers’ desire for adventure and exploration through a journey of exotic and carefully selected ingredients, placing premium-quality raw materials at the heart of its proposition. In just six years, Nuii has climbed the market to become the second-largest premium stick ice cream brand, with approximately 3.5 million purchasing households, while consistently ranking among the Top 10 premium stick products in terms of retail turnover with its most iconic products.

At the same time, Coppa del Nonno continues to demonstrate its enduring strength. The iconic coffee-flavoured ice cream, which has been part of Italian family traditions for over 70 years, ranks as the fifth best-selling product across the entire retail ice cream market.

THE ARRIVAL OF BACI GELATO IN THE PACKAGED ICE CREAM CATEGORY

This established portfolio was further strengthened in 2026 with the launch of Baci Gelato.

The project represented both a technical and emotional challenge, born from the ambition of bringing one of Italy’s most iconic chocolate brands into the packaged ice cream category. With the new range, the company successfully preserved the identity of the original brand through a clear product promise: faithfully recreating the Baci experience by combining smooth gianduia ice cream, crunchy hazelnuts and the unmistakable intensity of cocoa.

The result is a compelling answer for consumers looking for an authentic and deeply satisfying indulgent experience.

ITALY’S STRATEGIC ROLE FOR FRONERI: €100 MILLION OF NEW INVESTMENTS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS

From an industrial perspective, Italy represents a strategic hub for Froneri, thanks to its two production sites located in Ferentino and Terni, in Central Italy.

The strength of this manufacturing network has enabled the company to launch a new €100 million investment plan over the next three years. These resources will serve a dual purpose: further strengthening manufacturing capacity, technological innovation and product quality on one hand, while supporting the continued development and enhancement of the company’s brand portfolio on the other.

THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION: A GLOBAL ECOSYSTEM WITH €5.5 BILLION IN REVENUE

The Italian business forms part of a much broader international organisation. Froneri, the world’s second-largest ice cream manufacturer, operates in 25 countries, with consolidated revenues reaching €5.5 billion in 2024.

This global commercial strength is supported by a manufacturing network of 30 factories worldwide, more than 390 production lines, and approximately 12,000 employees.

For further information: Spencer & Lewis for Froneri.