EUROPEAN DAY
ARTISANAL ICE CREAM
24
MARCH
TAKE PART IN GELATO DAY ON 24TH MARCH EACH YEAR
European Artisanal Gelato Day, which has been celebrated every 24th March since 2013
The idea took shape in March of 2009.
The application to set up a European Artisanal Gelato Day was officially presented to the Strasbourg Parliament by MEP Iles Braghetto, after being contacted by Longarone Fiere president Giovanni De Lorenzi and director Paolo Garna, following a campaign by Artglace President José Luis Gisbert Valls.
Unfortunately, they were unable to get enough signatures (half plus one) from their fellow Europarliamentarians.
Decisively, over the years, a number of Europarliamentarians with an interest in promoting Artisanal Gelato then started to come on board, including such MEPs as Giancarlo Scottà in 2010 and Antonio Cancian in 2011.
In 2012, five MEPs presented the Declaration: Sergio Silvestris and Paolo De Castro (Italy), Eva Ortiz Vilella (Spain), Ewald Stadler and Andreas Molzer (Austria).
Once the quorum was finally reached, on 5 July 2012, with 387 votes in favour, thanks mainly to the efforts of MEP Sergio Silvestris, the European Parliament officially established European Artisanal Gelato Day, underlining, among other reasons, that: “of all fresh dairy products, artisanal gelato is a product of excellence in terms of food quality and safety, raising the profile of agri-food products in each individual Member State”.
From 2010 to 2012, the event was run by Fausto Bortolot of Artglace, whose capacity and timely, invaluable resoluteness helped overcome all bureaucratic obstacles and rules, enabling them to hand out artisanal gelato within the European Parliament building itself.
THE NUMBERS OF ARTISAN GELATO IN EUROPE
In 2023, sales of artisan gelato in Europe surpassed the threshold of 10 billion euros for the first time, reaching 10.9 billion, with an 11% increase compared to 2022, when they stood at 9.83 billion. This marks significant progress from 8.7 billion in 2021.
Europe continues to be a key player in the global artisan gelato landscape, with around 65,000 gelaterias spread across the continent. The leading producing countries are Italy, Germany, Spain, and Poland, but artisan gelato is also gaining popularity in countries like Austria, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
In 2023, the number of gelaterias in Europe increased slightly, with a 1% rise compared to the previous year. The points of sale exceed 65,000 units, supported by around 300,000 employees in the sector. Among the main countries, Germany stands out with 9,000 points of sale, including 3,300 pure gelaterias, followed by Spain (2,200), Poland (2,000), Belgium (1,200), England (1,100), and Austria (900), along with Greece (700) and France (500).
In terms of volume, sales of artisan gelato also saw a slight increase, with a 1% rise compared to 2022. These results highlight not only the resilience of the sector but also the unconditional love of Europeans for artisan gelato, a true symbol of quality and tradition.
THE NUMBERS IN ITALY
In Italy, the revenue from gelato grew by 11% compared to 2022, nearing 3 billion euros across gelaterias, pastry shops, and bars offering gelato. In 2022, the revenue was 2.7 billion, while in 2021 and 2020 it stood at 2.3 billion and 1.85 billion, respectively.
The tourism sector experienced variable trends, influenced by climatic factors and the international economic situation. Italian tourism recorded modest growth in 2023, characterized by a decrease in purchasing power and spending capacity. However, foreign tourist flows increased, with a 4% rise during the summer season and a 13% increase over the year. The average spending on gelato by foreign tourists was over 2.5 euros per person, thanks to the rise in visitor numbers starting in August.
In 2023, the per capita spending on gelato in Italy was approximately 43 euros, up from the previous year, in addition to the spending by foreign tourists.
Italy has over 9,300 pure gelaterias (+0.3% compared to 2022), 12,000 pastry shops, and about 18,000 bars offering artisan gelato, totaling over 39,000 points of sale.
Nationally, the artisan gelato production laboratories are primarily concentrated in Lombardy (2,120 locations), Sicily (1,610), Campania (1,564), Lazio (1,453), Veneto (1,305), and Emilia Romagna (1,235).
PRESIDENT
Domenico Belmonte
THE FLAVOURS OF THE "DAY" FROM 2013 TO TODAY
Since 2015, the Artglace Assembly has decided to create a project aimed at enhancing the typical products of each nation adhering to the Confederation; therefore, every year, the official flavor of the "Gelato Day" is dedicated to one of the 7 participating nations.
2013 | Europe
Fantasy of Europe
Fiordilatte variegated with chocolate and caramelized almonds
2014 | Europe
Stracciatella of Europe
Fiordilatte and blood orange juice, variegated with chocolate
2015 | Austria
Chocolate from Austria
Variegated chocolate with apricot jam
2016 | Belgium
Poire Royale
Variegated pear ice cream with pear sauce and speculoos biscuits
2017 | France
Framboise Melba
Variegated raspberry sorbet with peach sauce
2018 | Germany
Black Forest
Variegated chocolate ice cream with sour cherries
2019 | Italy
Tiramisu
Mascarpone ice cream with coffee, ladyfingers and cocoa
2020 | Holland
Strawberry variegated yoghurt
2021 | Spain
Mantecado
Antique vanilla cream ice cream, variegated with orange sauce and dark chocolate shavings
2022 | Europe
Sweet Symphony
Chocolate and hazelnut ice cream with fresh ricotta and figs in rum syrup
2023 | Austria
Apfelstrudel
White-based ice cream with apple pulp, flavoured with rum and lemon oil
2024 | Belgium
Gaufre de Liège
Neutral-based ice cream flavored with vanilla and cinnamon, variegated with salted butter and accompanied by a Liège waffle wafer