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Gelato 51Gelato 51

Gelato 51 · Method and innovation

Consulting for gelato shops and software solutions for a winning gelateria

We support artisan gelato businesses with professional consulting, balancing software, gelato shop management software, and high-performance product solutions.

About us

About us

Our group was born from the friendship among colleagues who, after competing on the stage at Longarone in the Coppa d’Oro, chose to turn that confrontation into a path of collaboration and professional growth.

Over the years we have shared studies, research, experiments and skills, tackling in practical terms the main issues that arise every day in running a lab and a retail shop. From that exchange came operational solutions that allowed us to optimize processes, timing and ways of working.

We have developed professional technical bases for different product types, designed to achieve perfectly balanced gelato and, at the same time, to build a rational, replicable and efficient work system.

After years of experience gained directly in the field, as gelateria owners, gelato makers and trainers, we decided to make this know-how available to other professionals.

We have supported numerous openings and reorganizations of gelaterias in Italy and abroad, guiding entrepreneurs and gelato makers in building a concrete and sustainable work model.

Today we put at your disposal not only our experience, but also the formulations we have developed and tested over the years: structured bases ready to be used according to the Gelato51 Method.

Gelato51 therefore comes from field experience, from exchange among professionals and from the will to turn knowledge into a concrete, simple and replicable working method.

Founder

Barbara Bettera

«Understanding how every ingredient behaves means turning an intuition into a precise, stable and repeatable result.»
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Barbara Bettera brings a solid scientific background to the world of gelato, developed through studies in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, which allows her to see gelato not only as an artisan product, but as a complex system of ingredients, temperatures, balances and transformations.

After experience in the family bar, in 2013 she opened Il Gelato di Barbara in Rivolta d’Adda, building her path through study, experimentation and constant attention to the quality of raw materials, recipe stability and nutritional characteristics.

During her career she has twice won the prestigious Coppa d’Oro della Gelateria: in 2019 with hazelnut and in 2022 with Malaga. Her gelateria has also earned Two Cones from Gambero Rosso and was listed among Italy’s best gelaterias by the guide Il Golosario.

Her approach starts from the scientific understanding of ingredients and their interactions: sugars, fats, proteins, fiber and water are analyzed and balanced to determine structure, creaminess, shelf life and taste perception.

Alongside these skills she combines analytical and communicative ability, turning complex problems into clear, applicable solutions.

For several years she has trained and advised gelato makers in Italy and abroad through the Bettera Method, an approach that integrates scientific knowledge, method and practical application.

Within Gelato 51 she brings scientific rigor, analytical capacity and clarity in teaching, contributing to research and product formulation.

Understanding how every ingredient behaves means turning an intuition into a precise, stable and repeatable result.

Founder

Andrea Cabano

«Technology is truly useful only when it simplifies work and leaves the gelato maker more time to create value.»
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Andrea Cabano brings together two experiences that only seem distant: information technology and artisan gelato. Before becoming a gelato maker he worked for many years in technology as a programmer and entrepreneur, developing a deep ability to analyze processes, spot inefficiencies and turn complex problems into simple, concrete solutions.

In 2014 he chose to change life and dedicate himself fully to Gelateria Stella Marina in La Spezia, bringing into the lab the same method used in software development: observe, measure, experiment and continuously improve.

His gelato path led him to third place at the 51st Coppa d’Oro della Gelateria with a Monterosso lemon sorbet, and to Stella Marina’s inclusion in the Gambero Rosso Guide to Italian Gelaterias. In 2026 he was also selected among the master gelato makers of the Sherbeth International Artisan Gelato Festival.

For Andrea a gelateria is not only a lab where a good product is created, but a system of recipes, people, production, stock, costs, organization and daily decisions. Every step can be studied and improved to reduce errors, limit waste and make quality constant and replicable.

From this vision Alfredo 51 was born, the management software he conceived and developed from the real needs of his own gelateria. A tool that integrates recipes, balancing, production, food cost, traceability, inventory, shifts, training and economic analysis, turning everyday work data into useful decision-making information.

Within Gelato 51, Andrea mainly brings his competence in process analysis and organization, business management and applying new technologies to the gelato maker’s work.

Because innovating does not mean replacing the artisan with a machine, but freeing them from repetitive tasks and giving them better tools to express their talent.

Founder

Roberto Coletti

«An excellent product truly becomes a success only when the customer can perceive its value.»
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Roberto Coletti has worked in gelato for over 30 years. For 24 years he was owner of Roberto Gelato in the Netherlands, a project built from scratch that grew through new flavors, innovative ideas, events, communication and marketing, becoming a reference point in the Dutch gelato scene.

During his career Roberto earned first, second and fourth place at the Coppa d’Oro della Gelateria, one of the sector’s most prestigious competitions, and brought his business repeatedly to the attention of media and major national TV networks.

In 2026 Roberto Gelato was transferred to new management, marking the start of a new chapter in Roberto’s life.

Today his focus goes beyond product quality alone. Making excellent gelato is essential, but a gelateria must also know how to sell, communicate and create value in the customer’s mind.

His work and research concentrate on the relationship between real quality and perceived quality, on image, communication and neuromarketing applied to gelato, also exploring the new possibilities offered by Artificial Intelligence.

Because the best product is not always the one the customer perceives as such.

Founder

Roberto Galligani

«Quality comes from nature, but it is the gelato maker who gives it an identity.»
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Roberto Galligani entered the world of gelato almost by chance. In 1988 he accepted a seasonal job in a lab, without imagining that experience would become his profession and a fundamental part of his life.

Just one year later he opened Casa del Gelato in Albenga, turning a newly discovered passion into a family business he has run since 1989 with his wife Anna, their children and collaborators.

In more than thirty-five years Roberto has developed a precise idea of artisan gelato: a product must be technically balanced and pleasant, but it must also have its own identity, recognizable through ingredients, territory and the choices the gelato maker makes every day.

His research starts from selecting raw materials and working directly with small producers and artisans. Roberto does not expect nature to return identical fruit every year: he accepts variability, studies it and adapts recipes to make the most of what each season offers.

For this reason, in his gelateria seasonality is not a slogan but a concrete choice. Flavors follow nature’s calendar and also become a way to tell customers about ingredient origins, producers’ work and the research behind every tub.

His ability to interpret the territory also emerges in more original creations. From Ingauno, a macadamia cream with berries, to the gastronomic gelato with Albenga spiny artichoke, Roberto uses gelato to create new links between local tradition, cuisine and experimentation.

During his career he has earned important awards: in 2014 he won “Mille idee per un nuovo gusto – Gelato of the Year” with Etrusco; in 2017 he took third place at the Sherbeth Festival with Ingauno; and in 2021 he finished second at the 51st Coppa d’Oro della Gelateria with lemon. Casa del Gelato also earned Two Cones from Gambero Rosso for seven consecutive years.

Despite his experience, Roberto keeps the desire to compare, experiment and keep learning. He sees the gelato maker’s craft as a profession with strong social value: work that builds relationships, tells a territory’s story and gives people a moment of serenity.

Within Gelato 51, Roberto brings his deep knowledge of raw materials, sensitivity to seasonality and the ability to turn an ingredient into a flavor with a precise identity.

Because truly artisan gelato does not come from an immutable formula, but from the ability to observe, taste and understand what nature provides.

Founder

Giuseppe Zerbato

«Hands realize what the palate imagines: when experience and sensitivity meet, every ingredient can become extraordinary.»
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Giuseppe Zerbato has worked in artisan gelato since 1990, when he opened his first gelateria, Il Gelataio, in Valdagno. Since then he has built a path of daily experience, continuous training and the search for the fullest natural expression of taste.

His knowledge passes first of all through the hands. Giuseppe has that artisan sensitivity that is hard to teach: he recognizes the right texture, senses a balance and turns simple raw materials into products that surprise. Gelato, sorbets, semifreddos and pastry creations become precise, elegant and immediately recognizable in his hands.

Alongside this extraordinary manual skill he has a particularly refined palate, able to distinguish ingredient nuances and build balanced pairings. His research never aims at effect for its own sake, but at creating a full, intense and persistent taste in which every element has a precise function.

In 2017 Giuseppe won the 48th Coppa d’Oro della Gelateria with almond. In 2023 he also won the first World Cup of Panettone Summer Edition, impressing a jury chaired by Iginio Massari with a creation judged for taste, structure, serving temperature, clean cut and aesthetics.

These awards perfectly tell his way of working: Giuseppe does not stop at making something good; he cares for every detail so that flavor, texture and presentation speak the same language.

His gelateria in Piazza Roma, Valdagno, with an open production lab, expresses this philosophy of transparency and authenticity: showing the work, valuing raw materials and letting customers see how much competence is behind every product.

Within Gelato 51, Giuseppe brings more than thirty-five years of experience, extraordinary practical skill, refined taste and an innate aesthetic sense. He is the reference who can observe a creation, taste it and immediately understand what it needs to become truly special.

Because some professionals correctly apply a technique. Giuseppe, instead, has the rare talent of giving light to everything that passes through his hands.

Gelato 51

Our services

Gelato shop consulting

Service

Gelato shop consulting

Gelato 51 is a group of expert gelato makers with many years of experience. We specialize in helping aspiring gelato makers start their own gelateria or improve an existing business. Thanks to our experience with optimized and technologically advanced production processes, we help clients achieve immediate productivity and success. At Gelato 51 we understand the complexity of the sector and the importance of offering high-quality products.

Our expert team is dedicated to sharing knowledge and providing complete customer support. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced gelato maker, we offer tailored solutions that match your specific needs and goals. Trust Gelato 51 to guide you toward a thriving gelato business.

Lab design

Service

Lab design

Operational efficiency depends on a well-organized lab that is technologically suited to the products you offer. With particular attention to optimized and advanced production processes, we provide practical solutions to help you achieve immediate results in the competitive gelato sector.

Recipe creation

Service

Recipe creation

Recipes are the true heritage of every gelateria. Building new recipes and pairing multiple flavors takes time, knowledge, money and energy. We create a complete recipe book for you based on your flavors and connected to your territory.

Our products

Service

Our products

Our products were created by us for our gelaterias and are now available for you.

Staff training

Service

Staff training

A gelateria grows when the team shares method, language and quality standards. We design training paths for owners, gelato makers and counter staff, focusing on lab procedures, recipe balancing, hygiene, customer service and daily work organization.

Courses can take place on site, in the lab or in a blended format, with practical coaching and operational materials. The goal is not only to teach techniques, but to make staff autonomous, consistent and able to maintain stable results even in the busiest periods.

Marketing strategy

Service

Marketing strategy

An excellent product becomes a success only when the customer recognizes its value. We support you in defining positioning, communication and marketing actions suited to your gelateria: brand image, flavor storytelling, digital presence, loyalty and point-of-sale promotion.

We work on the relationship between real quality and perceived quality, helping you build a clear and coherent identity. From the opening phase to later campaigns, we turn sector expertise and contemporary tools — including artificial intelligence where useful — into concrete, measurable choices.

Gelato 51

Our products

Products created by us for our gelaterias, now available for you.

Classic line

gaLATTICA 51

gaLATTICA 51

Dosage: 9-11%

GALATTICA51 is a BASE 9-11 (usage dosage: 9-11%). It contains all the technical-functional ingredients needed to make MILK GELATO with excellent structure—full, soft and creamy—stable over time and suitable for storage. Thanks to the pre-weighed formula, you minimize lab operations while perfectly balancing every flavor, working with both the direct method and pasteurization/maturation. Make room for your creativity!

FRUTTY 51

FRUTTY 51

Dosage: 6-10%

FRUTTY51 is a BASE 6-10 (usage dosage: 6-10%). It contains all the technical-functional ingredients needed to make FRUIT SORBETS (dairy-free) with excellent structure—full, soft and creamy—stable over time and suitable for storage. Thanks to the pre-weighed formula, you minimize lab operations while perfectly balancing every flavor, working with both the direct method and fruit syrup. Make room for your creativity!

Vegan line

FRUTTY 51

FRUTTY 51

Dosage: 6-10%

FRUTTY51 is a BASE 6-10 (usage dosage: 6-10%). It contains all the technical-functional ingredients needed to make FRUIT SORBETS (dairy-free) with excellent structure—full, soft and creamy—stable over time and suitable for storage. Thanks to the pre-weighed formula, you minimize lab operations while perfectly balancing every flavor, working with both the direct method and fruit syrup. Make room for your creativity!

LAS VEGAN 51

LAS VEGAN 51

Dosage: 18% (180 g/kg)

LASVEGAN51 is a BASE 18 (usage dosage: 180 g/kg of recipe, with few exceptions for special flavors). It contains all the technical-functional ingredients needed to make VEGAN GELATO with excellent structure—full, soft and creamy—stable over time and suitable for storage. Thanks to the pre-weighed formula, you minimize lab operations while perfectly balancing every flavor. Make room for your creativity!

UNIVERSO 51

UNIVERSO 51

Dosage: 32-36%

UNIVERSO51 is a BASE 32-36 (usage dosage: 32-36%). It contains all the technical-functional ingredients needed to make VEGAN GELATO AND SORBETS WITH NO ADDED SUGARS, with excellent structure—full, soft and creamy—stable over time and suitable for storage. Thanks to its technical completeness, you can make any recipe with few weighings while perfectly balancing every flavor.

Zero sugar line

UNIVERSO 51

UNIVERSO 51

Dosage: 32-36%

UNIVERSO51 is a BASE 32-36 (usage dosage: 32-36%). It contains all the technical-functional ingredients needed to make VEGAN GELATO AND SORBETS WITH NO ADDED SUGARS, with excellent structure—full, soft and creamy—stable over time and suitable for storage. Thanks to its technical completeness, you can make any recipe with few weighings while perfectly balancing every flavor.

ALIEN 51

ALIEN 51

Dosage: 22-24%

ALIEN51 is a BASE 22-24 (usage dosage: 22-24%). It contains all the technical-functional ingredients needed to make dairy GELATO WITH NO ADDED SUGARS with excellent structure—full, soft and creamy, practically indistinguishable from traditional gelato—and stable over time, also suitable for storage. Thanks to its technical completeness, you can make any recipe with few weighings while perfectly balancing every flavor. Its polyol content is below the legal threshold, so it is not necessary to state on the label that excessive consumption may have laxative effects. It was carefully designed so it can be enjoyed even in generous portions without discomfort.

MICS 51

MICS 51

Dosage: pari peso / up to 50%

MICS51 is an ingredient blend designed to replace sucrose at equal weight and make recipes of any type, reducing sucrose content by up to 50% and in any case not beyond 100 g/kg of recipe.

Semifreddo line

FREDDY 51

FREDDY 51

Dosage: 15-20%

FREDDY51 is a BASE 15-20 (usage dosage: 15-20%). It contains all the technical-functional ingredients needed to make delicious SEMIFREDDOS with excellent structure—full, soft and creamy—and stable over time, also suitable for storage. Thanks to its powdered formula, FREDDY 51 dissolves quickly in cream: just add your favorite flavor, whip everything in a planetary mixer, and give free rein to your creativity! With FREDDY 51 you can also create delicious “tub cakes” to offer in the low season as an alternative to classic gelato. Ideal for gelaterias, pastry shops and restaurants that want to offer unique artisan products.

HAPPY MOUSSE

HAPPY MOUSSE

Dosage: secondo ricetta

HAPPY MOUSSE is designed for light mousses and preparations with an airy, elegant and stable texture. Perfect for counter desserts, pastry and mid-season offerings alongside gelato.

Specialty line

NECTARIS 51

NECTARIS 51

Dosage: secondo ricetta

NECTARIS 51 is a specialty solution designed to enhance fruit-based flavors and intense aromatic profiles, with stable structure and simplified lab processing. Ideal for expanding the seasonal offer without compromising creaminess and shelf life.

FONDENTE 51

FONDENTE 51

Dosage: secondo ricetta

FONDENTE 51 is designed for chocolate gelato and preparations with full body, intensity and display-case stability. It supports consistent balancing and repeatable results even on rich, structured recipes.

HAPPY MOUSSE

HAPPY MOUSSE

Dosage: secondo ricetta

HAPPY MOUSSE is designed for light mousses and preparations with an airy, elegant and stable texture. Perfect for counter desserts, pastry and mid-season offerings alongside gelato.

Software and tools

GELATO AI

GELATO AI

GELATO AI is the digital tool that supports recipe creation and analysis: it helps evaluate balances, formulation scenarios and technical choices with greater speed and awareness.

ALFREDO 51

ALFREDO 51

ALFREDO 51 is the complete management software for gelato shops: recipes, balancing, production, food cost, traceability, inventory, shifts, training and economic analysis in one platform.

Alfredo 51

Software

To manage a gelateria from A to Z, we developed a complete management software platform: operational planning, data control, and faster decisions based on measurable performance. For more information, visit the dedicated site www.alfredo51.it.

FAQ — Gelato consulting and software

Quick answers to the most common questions about gelato shop consulting, balancing software, and gelato management software.

What does gelato shop consulting include?

Our consulting includes business analysis, lab optimization, recipe strategy and practical coaching to improve performance and profitability.

How does balancing software improve production?

Balancing software improves recipe precision and consistency, reduces waste and speeds up technical work in daily production.

Can I request a demo of the gelato management software?

Yes. You can request a software demo to evaluate its features, workflows and concrete operational benefits for your gelateria.

Contact us

Fill in the form to request operational support, eShop access, or a demo of the gelato management software.