Amorino UK targets 100 gelaterias amid expansion drive

The UK-based master franchisor of French gelateria Amorino has set its sights on 100 locations nationwide by 2030.

The group recently opened its 36th store on London’s Tottenham Court Road and has seen strong trading in both the capital and across the regions, particularly in Marlow, Windsor, York, Cambridge, Bath and Canterbury.

By the end of the year, Amorino is aiming to have 45 UK gelaterias in operation, and added Scotland is “firmly on [its] radar”.

The pipeline includes sites in Lakeside, Newcastle, Oxford, Chelmsford, Wembley, Bromley and Henley.

In the year to date, Amorino UK has opened several stores across London, including in the Brunswick Centre, West Hampstead, Wimbledon and Knightsbridge.

Hubert Attali, owner at Amorino UK, said: “I made the leap into the gelato world 17 years ago, after a career in tech and finance, when Cristiano Sereni, a close friend and co-founder of Amorino, invited me to bring the brand to the UK. Since then, we’ve grown steadily, but the last three years have marked a real turning point.

“We’ve built a fantastic UK team – smart, passionate people who are now fully equipped to lead us into a faster-paced phase of growth. Of course, our friends in Paris continue to support us, but today it’s the UK operation that’s truly steering the ship.”

He added: “We’re actively looking for new franchise partners to join us on this journey. With strong brand momentum, a proven model and an increasing demand for high-quality experiences on the high street, we believe the best is yet to come.”

The group has also committed to eliminating single-use plastics by 2027 and making use of eco-friendly refrigeration to reduce waste.

Amorino was founded by childhood friends Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi in 2002 in Île Saint-Louis, Paris.

The brand became famous for serving gelato in the shape of a rose.

In 2006, Amorino started to open stores across France through franchising. Following the first international franchise in Barcelona in 2008, the group has grown to over 250 shops worldwide.