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FORT WALTON BEACH − On Tuesday, one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of gelato, sorbetto and non-dairy frozen desserts, G.S. Gelato, announced it is nearing the completion of a 25,000-square-foot addition to its Fort Walton Beach complex.
As the business continues to flourish, the expansion will bring the company to 65,000 square feet. The new space will include dry and frozen warehouse storage to increase production, capacity and efficiency. When the project completes, G.S. expects to add 30 jobs to the Fort Walton Beach economy.
G.S. Gelato was founded by Simona Faroni and Guido Tremolini. The two lived in Italy, visited the Emerald Coast in 1995, and fell in love with the area. By 1996, they moved here, without speaking English, and pursued the American Dream.
The couple then purchased Italian equipment used to create genuine gelato. Assured by the manufacturers in Italy that the machines would work in America, they continued to press on.
During the final inspection by the Department of Agriculture, they were denied approval for the equipment. The machines were not used in the United States and thus had no code guidelines to follow.
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With failure looking them dead on, the couple decided to press ahead, attending English classes at night and getting their equipment up to code. The hard work was rewarded, and the manufacturing license was issued on June 12, 1997. They became the first authentic, artisanal gelato and sorbet manufacturer in the United States.
“When we came here from Italy in 1996, we knew in our hearts that one-day gelato would be the evolution of the ice cream industry,” Faroni said. “We began with just 1,000 square feet, and when business rapidly grew, we chose a new location with plenty of space to ensure room for future growth. The expansion will enable us to meet the growing demand for our products successfully and to better serve our customers around the nation.”
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