Italian gelato brand Sammontana is officially entering the U.S. market, thanks to a partnership with Investindustrial, the private equity firm that owns Eataly USA.
The brand’s American debut is set for June 29 at the 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York, the country’s most prominent food trade event, where Italy is featured as this year’s partner nation. Starting in July, Sammontana’s signature Barattolini — single-serving gelato cups that have been a staple in Italian households for over 80 years — will be available at 11 Eataly locations across the United States.
“This launch brings Italian style, know-how and taste to this country. We are ready to share the unmistakable quality of our products — lighter, more digestible, and made with a more refined recipe — with the American public,” said Alessandro Angelon, CEO of Sammontana Italia, during a press briefing at the United Nations.
To mark the U.S. rollout, Sammontana will stage a large-scale promotional event on Tuesday, July 1, at Eataly’s Flatiron location in Manhattan. A massive container outfitted as a gelateria will serve up the company’s classic flavors in an open-air setup. In partnership with Madison Square Park Conservancy, the brand will also kick off a campaign called “Gelati all’ombra,” featuring branded umbrellas, signage, and pop-up tastings aimed at evoking the feel of a traditional Italian piazza.
The expansion is part of a five-year strategic plan aimed at securing a long-term position in the U.S. market. Sammontana will leverage the established presence of Bindi — its sister brand with a 30-year footprint in the U.S. — as well as Investindustrial’s extensive global reach. The firm’s American offices were also instrumental in brokering the acquisition of La Rocca Creative Cakes, a top-tier Canadian dessert producer, highlighting the group’s broader push into North America.
For Sammontana’s leadership, the move represents both innovation and a homecoming of sorts.
“My grandfather managed to build the machinery needed to make ice cream using tools that came from the United States,” said Leonardo Bagnoli, president of Sammontana Holding. “And in the 1980s, my cousin came here to New York to meet Milton Glaser — the artist behind ‘I ❤ NY’ — to design our new brand identity.”
That logo would become a hallmark of Sammontana’s style, reflecting its effort to carve out a distinct identity in the Italian gelato landscape. “What set us apart wasn’t just the quality of the product,” Bagnoli noted, “but also the slogan, Gelati all’italiana, which was meant to highlight exactly those differences.”
