Unilever has acquired premium Italian gelato maker Grom, in a move that it has said will strengthen its ice cream portfolio and help it to further capitalise on the growth of the premium gelato maker.

The acquisition, terms of which have not been disclosed, will complement Unilever’s existing portfolio of ice cream brands, including Magnum, Carte D’Or and Ben & Jerry’s. It will also bolster its presence in the premium gelato segment, after the London-headquartered company acquired gelato and sorbetto brand Talenti last December.

Grom, which operates more than 60 gelato shops both in Italy and worldwide, will continue to run as a standalone unit; co-founders Federico Grom and Guido Martinetti will stay on to manage the business from its headquarters in Turin.

Unilever president refreshment category Kevin Havelock said: “Unilever and Grom share the same passion for gelato and have aligned values in areas such as the sustainable sourcing of raw materials. Grom consumers will continue to enjoy the same taste and flavours they have always loved, while Unilever’s scale will give access to new markets, helping Grom to fuel growth.”

Unilever Italy general manager Angelo Trocchia added: “Unilever has deep roots in Italy, we started our operations here 50 years ago and have a beautiful portfolio of well known and loved brands, as well as four factories and 3,000 employees. I am sure that such Italian heritage, together with our knowledge of the ice cream category, will help us work with Federico and Guido to unlock new opportunities for Grom.”

Source: http://www.foodbev.com/news/unilever-acquires-premium-italian-gelato-maker-grom/