The Story of PreGel
An Italian Story
PreGel was founded in 1967 by Luciano Rabboni, the world-renowned gelato authority credited with perfecting yogurt-flavored gelato and creating Stracciatella. As a young boy, Rabboni closely observed his aunt’s process of making gelato and benefited from the stories told by his uncle, a chemist. Outside of the home, Rabboni noted that many people attempted to sell gelato out of street carts, but were unable to maintain a suitable cold temperature for the product. It would melt too quickly – creating waste and little profit from their efforts. A natural innovator, Rabboni began working on ways to ensure that the gelato could last longer and maintain freshness. Unfortunately, the onset of international wars created hard times, during which a focus on culinary pleasures, beyond basic necessities, was simply not possible.
Nevertheless, Rabboni personally maintained his family’s devotion to high-quality gelato. By the 1950s, as people began to resume normal daily living, gelato regained its popularity, offering four basic flavors: cream, lemon, strawberry and chocolate. Rabboni continued to experiment with the best ways to make gelato, and in 1967 succeeded in creating the first semi-finished gelato product. With the support and hard work of his family, Rabboni’s small company, PreGel, slowly gained momentum over the next 10 years. The company experimented with different flavors and new ways to prepare gelato, including the addition of artisanal elements to make it a more inviting and visually appealing final product. PreGel created a powdered gelato base comprised of natural ingredients, to which only sugar, milk and/or water would be added, allowing for a more simplistic and efficient gelato-making process, without any sacrifice of texture or taste. This innovative development gave PreGel greater reach and increased the appeal of gelato. PreGel took this technology to the masses in Europe, setting a standard of excellence by offering only the highest quality gelato.
Now 41 years later, PreGel remains privately owned by its original founder and stands globally as the largest manufacturer of specialty ingredients. Headquartered in Reggio Emilia, Italy, PreGel today has a presence on every continent. PreGel distributes to over 85 countries and has nine subsidaries including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Poland, Holland, Mexico, Canada and the United States. In an Italian market with approximately 37,000 gelato stores and more than 250 gelato ingredient companies, PreGel has a firm grip on the future.
PreGel AMERICA
Continuing on the path set by Rabboni, in 2002, PreGel set up a North American sales and distribution center in Charlotte, N.C. In combination with the construction of a warehouse in California and expansion into Canada and Mexico, the company has established a firm presence in North America and enjoyed steady growth stimulated by a continuous series of advancements in its sales force, customer service, specialized support and merchandising solutions.
PreGel AMERICA is far more than a provider of Gelato ingredients. The company has an unwavering commitment to its customers, and strives to differentiate itself by offering free training classes – ensuring that store owners and staff members are fully educated on the production of the highest quality gelato and specialty desserts. PreGel AMERICA has a vested interest in its customers’ success, evident by the additional services and resources the company offers, including liaisons with equipment companies, business and marketing strategies, creative recipe and decorative ideas, and advice concerning types of products to offer and how to properly display, serve and store its products.
PreGel AMERICA serves a wide variety of customers, including Gelato cafés, coffee shops, frozen yogurt stores, bakeries, restaurants, hotels, resorts and grocery stores. PreGel AMERICA has more than 1,000 gelato store customers alone – a number expected to more than double over the next few years.
In 2008, the construction of a new, high-end facility in Concord, N.C., a half-hour northeast of Charlotte, solidified its commitment to the North American market. Having one centralized location allows PreGel not only to continue to provide its customers with unparalleled service, but also set the standard for gelato in the U.S. market.
The new state-of-the-art facility will house administrative offices, a training center, warehouse space, research and development departments, and a model of the ideal gelateria. The new facility is a strong reflection of PreGel’s passion for the gelato business and ongoing dedication to establishing itself in North America.
Products and Services
Continual research and stringent quality controls have contributed to global recognition and the undisputed superiority of PreGel products. The decision to use PreGel indicates a firm commitment to the finest artisanal gelato and highest quality desserts. PreGel products are versatile and easy to use, all the while ensuring consistency and quality over time.
PreGel has a long history of successes and novelties worldwide, consistently leading the market with innovative product lines and varied offerings such as:
- Yoggi, the first and most famous frozen yogurt flavor
- Zabaione, the first traditional Italian flavor of eggs and wine
- Gran Stracciatella, chocolate chips
- Fortefrutto®, the first concentrated fruit pastes for flavoring gelato, sorbetto, custard, mousse, etc.
- Tiramisù Tirapone®, used to create a mascarpone dessert
- Zuppi, non-alcoholic soaks for sponge cakes
- Pastaroma, concentrated flavorings for bakery products
- Arabeschi®, fillings that are enriched with nuts, fruit pieces, etc, to add a whole new flavor perception
- Pannacrema, exclusive flavors for pastries
- HappyTorte®, a new dessert that is not as cold as gelato and is similar in texture to mousse
- The Wellness Line, containing products with Splenda® Brand Sweetener, a no-calorie sweetener that is made from sugar, Beneo®, a fiber-rich product that aids digestive health, and various dietetic options such as soy
- Products used in the art of decoration, such as mirror icings and transparent icings (devised to cover the surface and edges of Gelato)
It All Boils Down to Unparalleled Service
Service and consulting are recognized strengths of the company – technicians and qualified experts continually follow up with customers, and always are available to advise on specific issues or to stimulate creativity.
PreGel has always been a hub of innovation and research, maintaining a leadership position by anticipating trends and establishing various applications for new technologies.
