Sales & service 0508 625 677
Official NZ importer of premium Italian brands / Auckland & Christchurch / Highly experienced team
How to Open an Ice Cream Shop
Everything you need to make, display and sell your own ice cream, from batch freezers and display cabinets to ingredients, packaging, training and finance, supplied and serviced by Majors Group across New Zealand.
Talk to a specialistBatch freezers
What you need to open an ice cream shop
An ice cream shop runs on a simple production line: make the mix, freeze it, harden and store it, then display and serve it.
How to open an ice cream shop, step by step
Plan your concept and site
Decide on your menu, price point and customer, then choose a location with strong foot traffic.
Size your production
Estimate peak-day servings and pick batch freezer capacity, cabinet size and storage to match.
Design the fit-out
Plan the counter, cabinet and production area, plus power, water and ventilation. See our shop fit gallery.
Build your menu
Choose your bases and flavours, add ripples and toppings, and cost every recipe.
Launch and promote
Open with branded cups and packaging and a menu your customers will share.
Technology other brands don't offer
The brands we represent engineer their own control systems and refrigeration, giving you features, functionality and efficiency you won't get from everyday equipment. Features vary by model, so ask us which machines include them.
Hard-O-Tronic®
Detects when gelato reaches the ideal texture and holds it there until the batch is extracted, so every batch is consistent.
Teorema remote diagnosis
Monitor the machine over the internet. Our technicians can see what the machine sees, for faster service and less downtime.
Crystal program
Semi-dense Crystal gelato for gelato cakes and take-away tubs, filled straight from the batch freezer with the Crystal dispensing door.
Self-pasteurisation
Soft serve machines that pasteurise their own mix, so full wash-downs can be spaced out to as long as 42 days.
Black-out protection
After a power or water outage the machine checks time and temperature, then resumes or re-pasteurises to keep the mix safe.
Scheduled start
Production, pasteurisation and storage programs run automatically, for example overnight, so you open ready to serve.
Direct expansion cylinders
Optimised refrigeration for quicker freeze-down, less product waste, higher quality and lower energy use.
Techfrost blast freezing
Gelato hardening from −10 °C to −18 °C in 15 minutes, and blast chilling from +90 °C to +3 °C in 90 minutes.
Backed by Majors Group from day one
With showrooms in Auckland and Christchurch, we deliver, install and service equipment across New Zealand, and support businesses of every size with equipment finance up to 100%.
Training
Hands-on training for you and your staff, including Carpigiani Gelato University courses.
Training →Marketing support
Help to launch and promote your business, from flavour ideas to custom-branded cups, spoons and packaging.
Branding & packaging →Experienced team & service
Backed by our highly experienced team: more than 100 people across the business, including our national service team. Genuine parts and qualified technicians across New Zealand. Service: 0508 625 677.
Book a service →Frequently asked questions
What equipment do I need to open an ice cream shop?
Most shops need a batch freezer, a display cabinet, a blast freezer and serving packaging. Many also add a pasteuriser to make mix from scratch.
How much does it cost to open an ice cream shop?
It depends on your fit-out, the size of your equipment and your location. We quote the exact equipment you need. Call 0508 625 677.
Can I make ice cream and gelato on the same machine?
Yes. The same families of batch freezers make ice cream, gelato and sorbet. The difference is mostly in the recipe and how much air is whipped in.
Can I finance my equipment?
Yes. Equipment finance up to 100% is available. See finance options or call 0508 625 677.
Do you offer training?
Yes. We train you and your staff on production and machine care, and offer Carpigiani Gelato University courses.
Who services the machines?
Our highly experienced service team, with genuine parts and qualified technicians across New Zealand. Call 0508 625 677 or visit the service department.
More business guides
Open a gelato shopOpen a frozen yoghurt shopOpen a frozen pastry storeFrozen pastry for pastry shopsFrozen desserts for cafésFrozen desserts for restaurantsQSR & chains