irca Group is an Italian-founded B2B manufacturer of semi-finished chocolate, pastry, cream and gelato ingredients, with €1 billion revenue, 2,400+ employees, 22 plants worldwide and backing from Advent International since 2022.
irca Group is a B2B manufacturer of semi-finished ingredients for pastry chefs, chocolatiers, gelato makers and industrial food manufacturers. Founded in 1919 by the Nobili family and headquartered in Italy, the group reports annual revenue of approximately €1 billion, employs more than 2,400 people and operates 22 production facilities across Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific, serving customers in more than 100 countries. The product portfolio spans chocolate and couvertures, creams, pastry mixes, decorations, inclusions and gelato ingredients, sold under brands including IRCA Since 1919, Joygelato, Dobla, Cesarin, Ravifruit and Domori.
The group has been backed by Advent International since 2022, a period in which it has pursued growth through bolt-on acquisitions alongside organic expansion. The brand architecture segments the portfolio by customer type and price tier, from premium chocolate through Domori and Dobla to professional gelato and pastry ranges, while manufacturing and R&D capabilities cover chocolate processing, mix and cream formulation, and ingredient innovation across multiple end markets - pastry and bakery, chocolate and confectionery, gelato, and food manufacturing.
Scale and geographic distribution provide a broad commercial footprint: 22 plants across three regions, dual exposure to artisan professionals and industrial food manufacturers, and a customer base spanning more than 100 countries. The combination of a century-long operating history in Italian food ingredients, multi-brand positioning, and a deliberate acquisition programme forms the strategic backdrop against which the group is being developed under private equity ownership.
