Sphera Franchise Group expands its portfolio by introducing the Italian brand Cioccolatitaliani – Financial Finance

Sphera Franchise Group, the largest food service operator in Romania, expands its portfolio by adding the Italian franchise Cioccolatitaliani*, part of the Gioia Group. The brand is known for its chocolate-based products, including ice cream, pastries and coffee, according to a statement.

Sphera Group intends to develop the franchise in the Italian market and will establish the first Cioccolatitaliani unit in the first half of 2025, with an investment of around 500,000 euros. The group estimates about 4 new openings per year in the next 5 years, focusing initially on the northern regions of Italy, but also considering the Romanian market. The Sphera Group is already present in Italy with 18 licensed KFC units.

“In a dynamic industry like HoReCa, the ability to identify and capitalize on new growth opportunities is critical to long-term success. Our operational experience and business results in Italy, through our network of KFC franchises, represent a strong basis for diversification, allowing us to take advantage of existing synergies such as- Yes. Acquiring the Cioccolatitaliani franchise rights aligns with Sphera Group’s growth strategy, allowing us to expand into new consumer segments and grow in a healthy way by adding a profitable brand to our portfolio. This strategic move strengthens our leadership position and strengthens our presence in the market, addressing a new segment of customer needs, while meeting the expectations of our investors for continuous development and more profit.“, he announced Calin Ionescu, CEO of Sphera Franchise Group.

Cioccolatitaliani currently operates a network of 43 centers, most of which are located in Italy and a few in the Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa. In 2023, Cioccolatitaliani served more than 6 million customers with more than 4.5 million coffees, more than 350,000 chocolate bars and more than 3.7 million ice cream cones.

Over time, the brand has won several awards: from 2018 to 2020, it was named the winner of the “Best Managed Companies” award by Deloitte, which recognizes the best managed companies in Italy; it was named “Best Culinary Experience” at the Italian Food Service Awards in 2017 and “Best Export Format” at the Food Community Awards in 2018.

Founded in 2009 by the Ferrieri family, with over 40 years of pastry experience, Cioccolatitaliani has made a name for itself with its dedication to key ingredients, such as Cacao Fino de Aroma, one of the cocoa varieties rarest and most precious in the world. The product range of Cioccolatitaliani includes several items such as artisanal ice cream made with different flavors and high quality ingredients, chocolate bars, pralines and other options made from the famous Cacao Fino de Aroma. The brand also offers gourmet coffee with a selection of drinks such as espresso and cappuccino, freshly baked Italian pastries, pancakes and waffles served with chocolate flavored ice cream and various toppings.