Anita Gelato

Anita Gelato, also known as Anita la Mamma del Gelato, is an Israeli frozen-dessert company founded in Tel Aviv in 2002 by brothers Nir and Adi Avital. The brand takes its name from their mother, Anita Avital, whose home experimentation with ice-cream flavors helped establish the family business. The company’s roots reach back to the 1990s, when Anita and Nir developed frozen-dessert recipes at home in Netanya. Nir began selling the products from a cart at local food fairs in 1998, creating an early direct-to-consumer presence before the company had a permanent shop. In 2002, Adi joined the venture and the first Anita Gelato store opened in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood of Tel Aviv. The business subsequently developed beyond retail shops. A manufacturing facility opened in Ra'anana in 2010, supporting production for the company’s stores and its broader product and ingredient activities. Anita’s range includes gelato, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ingredients supplied for use in the ice-cream industry. The brand states or is reported to offer more than 170 flavors, including flavors developed specifically for Anita Gelato. The company has also used a multi-brand approach in Israel. In 2012 it launched Golda Glida, a related ice-cream sub-brand that later expanded throughout Israel. Anita Gelato itself began international expansion in 2014 with its first overseas store in Sydney, Australia. Additional locations followed in Spain, Cyprus, and Puerto Rico, and the brand later entered the United States. Its first American location opened in New York City in 2020, followed by stores in Los Angeles and Miami. In 2022, Anita opened a location in London’s West End, extending its presence into the United Kingdom. Anita Gelato’s identity is built around made-in-store or centrally supported Italian-style gelato, broad flavor variety, and a family-origin story connected to Anita Avital. Its international footprint includes company or branded locations in Israel, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Spain, Cyprus, and Puerto Rico. Public reference material does not establish the company’s precise ownership structure, revenue, employee count, complete store count by country, or current executive roster beyond the founding Avital family members. Accordingly, financial and corporate governance details are not included here.

Anita Gelato originated in the Avital family’s home experimentation with frozen desserts in Israel during the 1990s. Anita Avital and her son Nir Avital worked on ice-cream flavors in Netanya, and Nir began commercializing the products in 1998 by selling them from a cart at food fairs. This informal retail activity provided the initial route from family recipe development to a consumer-facing business. The formal company and retail brand emerged in 2002, when Adi Avital joined Nir and the first Anita Gelato shop opened in Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv. The brand’s name honors Anita Avital, who is identified as the mother of the co-founders. The early shop established the company’s focus on Italian-style gelato and helped create a recognizable local retail format centered on a wide variety of flavors. Anita expanded its production capabilities with the opening of a manufacturing facility in Ra'anana in 2010. This represented a move beyond an individual shop operation toward a larger production and supply platform. The company’s activities came to include gelato, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ingredients intended for the ice-cream industry. In 2012, the company introduced Golda Glida, a separate but related ice-cream sub-brand. Golda subsequently expanded across Israel, giving the wider business an additional domestic retail identity alongside Anita Gelato. The main Anita brand began overseas expansion in 2014, when it opened its first international shop in Sydney, Australia. International growth continued with locations in Spain, Cyprus, and Puerto Rico, followed by entry into the United States. Anita’s first U.S. store opened in New York City in 2020. The brand later added stores in Los Angeles and Miami. In 2022, it opened a London location in the West End. Reference material identifies further activity in New Zealand and other listed markets, although it does not provide a complete chronology for every opening. The company is associated with a range exceeding 170 flavors, including products developed specifically for the brand. Its assortment spans conventional gelato as well as frozen yogurt and sorbet. The business also manufactures or supplies ingredients for the ice-cream sector, making it more than a purely storefront-based retailer. Publicly available reference material does not provide verified revenue, funding, valuation, ownership percentages, detailed corporate structure, or a comprehensive list of current directors and executives.

• 2022

  London West End location opens

  [1]Anita Gelatoen.wikipedia.org

  The company opened a store in London’s West End, extending its European presence into the United Kingdom.

• 2020

  First United States location opens

  [1]Anita Gelatoen.wikipedia.org

  Anita Gelato entered the U.S. retail market with a store in New York City.

• 2014

  International expansion begins in Sydney

  [1]Anita Gelatoen.wikipedia.org

  The first Anita Gelato shop outside Israel opened in Sydney, Australia.

• 2012

  Golda Glida sub-brand launches

  [1]Anita Gelatoen.wikipedia.org

  Anita introduced Golda Glida, a related ice-cream brand that later expanded across Israel.

• 2010

  Ra'anana manufacturing facility opens

  [1]Anita Gelatoen.wikipedia.org

  The company opened a manufacturing facility in Ra'anana to support production and its wider ice-cream-related operations.

• 2002

  First Anita Gelato shop opens in Tel Aviv

  [1]Anita Gelatoen.wikipedia.org

  Adi Avital joined Nir Avital and the first Anita Gelato store opened in Tel Aviv’s Neve Tzedek neighborhood.

• 1998

  First commercial sales from a cart

  [1]Anita Gelatoen.wikipedia.org

  Nir Avital began selling frozen-dessert products developed with Anita Avital from a cart at local food fairs in Israel.

An international Israeli gelato and frozen-dessert brand combining Italian-style products with a broad, frequently refreshed flavor assortment and a family-founded retail identity.

• Frozen dessert · 2002

  Gelato

  Gelato is Anita Gelato’s core offering and the product most closely associated with the brand. The company is reported to produce more than 170 flavors, including flavors created specifically for Anita. Its retail concept is built around displaying a broad selection of Italian-style gelato for customers to choose from in branded stores across Israel and international markets.

• Frozen dessert

  Frozen yogurt

  Frozen yogurt forms part of Anita Gelato’s broader frozen-dessert portfolio. It gives the company an offering distinct from traditional gelato and helps extend its product range across different taste and texture preferences. Public reference material confirms the category but does not provide a complete flavor list or detailed nutritional and formulation information.

• Dairy-free frozen dessert

  Sorbet

  Anita produces sorbet alongside gelato and frozen yogurt. Sorbet broadens the brand’s range with a fruit- and water-based frozen-dessert format that can serve customers seeking a dairy-free option. Available reference material does not identify the full set of sorbet flavors or specific launch dates.

• Food-service and industrial ingredients

  Ice-cream ingredients

  In addition to operating branded dessert shops, Anita Gelato produces ingredients for the ice-cream industry. This activity indicates a manufacturing and business-to-business component alongside the consumer retail network, although the public reference does not specify the ingredient categories, customers, or distribution model.

• Ice-cream sub-brand · 2012

  Golda Glida

  Golda Glida is a related ice-cream sub-brand launched by the company in 2012. It developed as a distinct Israeli retail identity and subsequently expanded across Israel. The available material does not provide enough information to detail its complete menu, store count, or current corporate relationship with Anita Gelato.

• 2022

  Expansion into London’s West EndStrategy

  Background

  Anita Gelato continued extending its international retail footprint after entering the United States and other overseas markets.

  Action taken

  The company opened a location in London’s West End.

  Aftermath

  The opening expanded the brand’s European presence into the United Kingdom.

  Source

• 2020

  Entry into the United StatesStrategy

  Background

  The company’s overseas network had expanded beyond Australia and into several other international markets.

  Action taken

  Anita Gelato opened its first U.S. location in New York City.

  Aftermath

  The brand added locations in Los Angeles and Miami, increasing its presence in the U.S. market.

  Source

• 2014

  Start of international store expansionStrategy

  Background

  After developing its Israeli retail and manufacturing base, Anita Gelato began pursuing overseas locations.

  Action taken

  The company opened its first international shop in Sydney, Australia, and subsequently expanded into additional markets.

  Aftermath

  The brand later entered Spain, Cyprus, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

  Source

• 2012

  Launch of the Golda Glida sub-brandStrategy

  Background

  The company had established Anita Gelato as its principal gelato retail brand and sought an additional ice-cream identity for the Israeli market.

  Action taken

  It created Golda Glida as a related sub-brand, which later expanded across Israel.

  Aftermath

  Golda Glida became a broader domestic retail presence, while Anita Gelato continued to develop as the group’s internationally oriented gelato brand.

  Source

1. 1Anita Gelatoen.wikipedia.org