Tonitto 1939 looks to Central and South America to smooth seasonal gelato sales
Executive summary: Tonitto 1939 started exporting its gelati and sorbetti to Peru and announced imminent commercialisation in Mexico. The expansion targets destagionalisation of sales, reducing the company’s dependence on the European summer market.
Who is involved: Tonitto 1939 (Italian gelato producer), Peruvian importers, Mexican distributors.
Likely next (inference): Roll‑out in Mexico within weeks, followed by potential entry into other Central and South American countries if initial sales meet targets.
The Italian gelato maker Tonitto 1939 has begun exporting to Peru and plans to launch in Mexico shortly, aiming to reduce its reliance on the European summer peak. The move reflects a broader strategy among premium dessert producers to diversify geographically and tap into growing middle‑class demand in Latin America. Success will depend on establishing reliable cold‑chain logistics and meeting local food‑safety regulations.
What's next — scenarios
Inference: scenarios and probabilities are Beyond's assessment, not reported fact.
Base: successful launch in Peru and Mexico (50%)
Tonitto achieves steady mid‑single‑digit percent revenue growth from Latin America within 12 months.
- Peruvian customs clearance completed Q4 2026
- Mexico launch announced by end October 2026
- First quarterly sales report shows >5% of total revenue from LatAm
Upside: rapid expansion to additional countries (30%)
Revenue contribution from LatAm rises to double‑digit percent by end 2027, prompting investment in local production.
- Sales in Peru exceed forecast by 30% in Q1 2027
- Regulatory approval obtained for Chile and Colombia by mid‑2027
- Partnership signed with a regional logistics provider Q2 2027
Downside: regulatory or logistical barriers limit sales (20%)
LatAm sales remain below 2% of total revenue, delaying further geographic diversification.
- Peruvian health authority delays product registration beyond Q1 2027
- Cold‑chain disruptions cause >15% product loss in shipments
- Mexico imposes unexpected import tariff on dairy desserts Q4 2026
What to watch
- Peruvian DIGESA registration status for Tonitto gelati (expected by Oct 2026)
- Official launch date and distribution network announcement for Mexico (expected Nov 2026)
- Quarterly export volume reports to Peru and Mexico (starting Q1 2027)
- Any changes to Mercosur or USMCA dairy import tariffs affecting gelato (monitor through Q2 2027)
Timeline
- — Per destagionalizzare i gelati di Tonitto 1939 puntano sul Centro e Sud America (Il Sole 24 Ore — Economia)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Tonitto 1939 to announce Mexico launch date by 2026-10-31
- First shipment of gelati to Peru cleared customs by 2026-11-15
- Q4 2026 earnings release to include LatAm sales figures (early 2027)
Sectors affected
- Premium gelato manufacturing
- Cold‑chain logistics services
- Latin American food retail and distribution
Regulatory implications
- Compliance with Peruvian DIGESA food safety registration for dairy desserts
- Adherence to Mexican COFEPRIS labeling and health claim regulations
- Potential need to meet Mercosur allergen and additive standards for cross‑border trade
Historical parallels
- Italian gelato brand Algida entered the Brazilian market in 2018, achieving 8% of its Latin‑American sales by 2020
- Nestlé expanded its ice cream portfolio into Chile in 2020, facing initial tariff hurdles that were resolved by 2022
- French lactose‑free dessert maker Yoplait launched in Colombia in 2021, requiring reformulation to meet local sugar content limits
Key entities
Sources
- Per destagionalizzare i gelati di Tonitto 1939 puntano sul Centro e Sud America — Il Sole 24 Ore — Economia