Gelato Messina has grown from a small, cult-favourite gelato shop into one of Australia’s most recognised food retail brands. As demand increased and new opportunities emerged, the business needed to grow quickly while protecting the creativity, quality and customer experience that defines the brand.
Since 2017, KPMG has been a trusted adviser for Gelato Messina, meeting the business exactly where it was at each stage of growth, including helping the company strengthen financial foundations, navigate complexity and pursue new ideas with confidence. From accounting support to restructuring guidance and R&D tax incentive advice, the relationship evolved as the organisation scaled.
Today, Gelato Messina operates 40 stores across the country, with smart governance and the financial confidence helping them meet their ambition of making the best gelato on the planet.
About the client
Client: Gelato Messina
Project: Scalable finance, tax and advisory support across rapid multi site growth, restructuring and R&D tax incentives
Location: Australia (national footprint), international expansion support
Sector: Food retail/hospitality
Services: Tax and accounting services, financial statement preparation, restructuring support, growth advisory, R&D tax incentive support, financing readiness
What was needed
What we did
Working closely with Gelato Messina, KPMG tailored its services to match each growth stage – balancing speed with discipline, governance and value. We focused on the organisation’s unique needs as an innovation-led food business, including:
- tax and accounting services and preparing financial statements
- providing trusted, accurate financials to help strengthen their credibility with lenders
- scaling our advisory services and providing specialist restructuring guidance to support local and international growth
- help to secure R&D tax incentives including across farms, specialty chocolate and new product development
- providing an approach built on a deep understanding of the business and its long-term vision.
What we delivered
- Credible financials and advisory support that strengthened confidence with lenders.
- Right-sized services that scaled from two stores to 40 locations.
- Access to R&D tax incentives that funded ongoing product innovation.
- Specialist restructuring and guidance matched to each phase of growth and long-term ambitions.
- Confidence to keep pushing food innovation through ongoing R&D support.
Support for ambitious businesses
Talk to KPMG about a right-sized, future-ready approach that’s possible for your organisation.
FAQs
KPMG supported the business across tax, accounting, restructuring, financial statements and R&D incentives. The relationship evolved in step with Messina’s growth, ensuring advice was right-sized and relevant, offering trusted advice that helped strengthen lender confidence and adapt as the business expanded.
As businesses expand, they face increased complexity, such as multisite operations, financing needs, reporting and governance. A reputable adviser helps standardise financials, reduce risk and unlock opportunities like government incentives, allowing the business to stay focused on quality, innovation and customer experience.
Gelato Messina grew quickly while keeping innovation central to its brand. KPMG provided tailored, credible support across finance, expansion and R&D, enabling disciplined growth without losing the creativity that defines the business.
No. While foundational services were critical, the partnership expanded to include restructuring advice, financing readiness and innovation support, helping Gelato Messina make informed decisions at every stage.
KPMG’s support helps the business keep innovating, driving real value through new products and operational efficiencies. Gelato Messina can continue pushing boundaries while staying disciplined on governance and focused on long-term value.
