Ten years of business in Italy, over €200 million invested since 2016, and a new €100 million plan for the next three years. These are the numbers Froneri uses to summarize its first decade in the Italian packaged ice cream market, confirming the country's strategic role within the international group.
The company, founded in 2016 as a joint venture between Nestlé and R&R, closed 2025 with a turnover of over 380 million euros, up 43,4% compared to 2017. This result reflects the expansion of the market and the ability to capture the new consumer habits of Italians.
According to Froneri, one of the main drivers of growth is the snacking phenomenon. The progressive transformation of households and the deconstruction of traditional meals have favored the consumption of premium, convenient products that can be enjoyed at any time of day. In this context, multipacks have come to represent over 70% of the sector's total sales.
The company has capitalized on this evolution, doubling its sales in the multipack segment between 2016 and 2025. Over the same period, Froneri brands have reached over 8 million Italian households, representing a 43% growth compared to ten years ago.
Among the leading brands, Maxibon stands out, having recorded an average annual growth of 16,5% over the last three years. By 2025, the brand had been purchased by over 4,5 million households, and the Classic variant had established itself as the best-selling product in the retail market by number of units.
Nuii, launched in 2019, has also made a significant impact. In just six years, it has become the second-largest brand in the premium ice cream stick segment. Today, it has approximately 3,5 million households and is a stable presence among the top-performing products in the category.
Coppa del Nonno, a historic coffee ice cream brand, continues to maintain a prominent position and remains among the best-selling products on the entire Italian packaged ice cream market.
Among the new developments for 2026 is the debut of Baci Gelato, marking the entry of one of the most iconic brands in the Italian chocolate tradition into the ice cream category, with the aim of transferring the typical consumption experience of the famous chocolates to gelato.
On the industrial front, Froneri confirmed the centrality of its production hubs in Ferentino and Terni. To strengthen production capacity, technological innovation, and plant quality, the company has launched an investment plan of approximately €100 million, to be completed by 2029. The resources will be allocated both to industrial development and to supporting its portfolio of brands.
"The growth of recent years is the result of a path built on significant investments in innovation and brand development," said Quirino Cipollone, CEO of Froneri Italia. "In light of the results achieved, we have decided to further accelerate this process to support the growth of the gelato category."
The Italian company is part of a global group operating in 25 countries, with a consolidated turnover of €5,5 billion in 2024, 30 manufacturing plants, over 390 production lines, and approximately 12.000 employees. This international ecosystem continues to see Italy as a key market for the company's future development.
