Franco Cesare Puglisi – The new ambassador for GELATISSIMO: an era of change

We are delighted to confirm that Franco Cesare Puglisi has been appointed the official brand ambassador for GELATISSIMO. Puglisi is not only a key figure in the gelato industry, but also a driving force behind the communication, understanding and development of its craftsmanship for those involved.

The appointment of Franco Cesare Puglisi as the official brand ambassador for GELATISSIMO is not just the celebration of one individual, but also change, awareness and the power of communication in the artisanal ice-cream industry. Eleonora Spinosi, representative of GELATISSIMO at ITALCAM, presented the trophy on September 15, 2025, during the Scirubetta Festival—a highlight that brought together the international gelato community.

Who is this man, who has for decades shaped the face of gelato with his writing, understanding and vision?

Born in 1959, as a young journalist and later publisher at Editrade, Puglisi devoted his life from early on to what is now gelato, patisserie and sweet confectionery. Earning a doctorate in economics and communication sciences, he used this knowledge to combine solid theory with sound practice. He is a publisher, CEO and editor – however, also a teacher: he gives classes in marketing and communication, speaks at trade fairs and workshops, and shares his expertise on techniques, perceptions and market strategies.

Since the late 1970s, he has been actively involved with the trade press – consciously breaking new ground while reporting for Punto IT / Gelato & Bar Pasticceria, Punto Italy, SweetMood and other publications: topical content, trends, design and style advice, customer communication, sustainability and innovation. Content that not only benefits the production of gelato, but also its design, sales and public appeal. 

When it comes to the challenges, such as takeaways, deliveries, digital visibility and changing consumer behaviour, Puglisi is someone who doesn’t wait, he takes action. According to him, today’s gelato professionals need to learn how to tell a story with their product, as a chef does with a dish. Marketing is more than just fluff; it is a way and means.

In addition to his role as publisher, Puglisi is a member of the honorary committee for the Gelato World Cup, a moderator at international trade fairs such as SIGEP, and a driving force behind the Food Professional Network. His role as World Ambassador at SIGEP, his award at the Gelato World Cup for a 2020/2021 communications campaign, and his activities at the Food Professional Network show that Franco Puglisi is not stuck in the past, but leading this industry into the future.

Here’s why Franco Cesare Puglisi is the ideal ambassador!

Puglisi, with his passion, knowledge and tireless dedication, has played a pivotal role in shaping the close cooperation of Editrade and Messe Stuttgart for many years now, and has made a decisive contribution to both GELATISSIMO and the gelato industry. This title is our way of recognising his extraordinary commitment – and it marks the start of a new chapter in our shared success story.

To be appointed the brand ambassador of GELATISSIMO is not simply a display of appreciation. It sends a signal: for professional communication, the courage for innovation, the awareness that ice-cream is not just about taste – it also represents history, design, experience and connection. Franco Cesare Puglisi stands for these values like no other, and as an ambassador, he symbolises what the gelato trade has the potential to be – creative, visible and modern, and yet firmly rooted in tradition.