Challenge with Gelateria La Romana: final event

The stage was set, the ideas were bold, and the atmosphere was electric as seven finalist teams took the spotlight to pitch their visionary concepts at the grand finale of the Gelateria of the Future Challenge. More than just a competition, this event celebrated creativity and explored how La Romana can shape the future of customer experience in the gelato industry.

The jury — comprising Massimiliano Zucchi (CEO of La Romana), Lucia Cappelli (Training and Operation Manager), Emma Gabrielli (Marketing & Communication Creative Designer) and Silvia Dell’Acqua (Head of International and Corporate Relations, H-FARM College) — evaluated each project on creativity, practicality, and its potential to impact La Romana’s business.

These pitches put the students’ skills to the ultimate test, combining strategic thinking, innovation, and the ability to apply academic insights to real-world challenges. Beyond competing, participants gained valuable experience in problem-solving and presenting ideas to industry leaders. The Challenge offered a dynamic learning opportunity, deepening their understanding of entrepreneurship and customer service while refining their communication and presentation abilities.

The seven finalists presented a diverse range of groundbreaking ideas:

• Team Gelateria DeeRoma: Dual Queue System to reduce waiting times and make the experience more engaging.
• Team Icy F.A.D.E: A reinvented gelateria experience with a fresh identity, innovative customer engagement strategies, and a smart web app.
• Team Scoop Squad: An app to streamline queues, integrating gamification to entertain customers whether they’re waiting or enjoying gelato.
• Team Stracciatella alle More: An NFC and AI-powered concept where each flavor “speaks,” transforming waiting times into immersive, story-driven experiences.
• Team Taste the Future with Lumina: A redefinition of La Romana’s customer experience by enhancing every touchpoint in the customer journey.
• Team La Casa del Gelato: An interactive boutique offering both delicious gelato and insights into how it’s made.
• Team NextGen: A trio of innovations — a La Romana app, digital payment kiosks, and tasting stations — to reinvent the customer experience.

“I would like to thank all the teams for the effort put into their projects. Choosing a winner wasn’t easy. Each of you contributed something, like many pieces of a puzzle.” said Massimiliano Zucchi (CEO of La Romana), before announcing the winners. 

After an intense and inspiring final event, Team Stracciatella alle More—Elena Barbieri Ripamonti, Arbias Mucka, Aslı Dönmez, and Carlo Alberto Sartori—claimed victory. Their groundbreaking AI-powered flavor assistant transformed waiting times into personalized, engaging storytelling experiences.

Two special mentions were also awarded:

• Team Icy F.A.D.E for their strong understanding of the brand.
• Team La Casa del Gelato for their creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.

As part of their prize, the winning team will visit La Romana’s headquarters in Rimini, tour the production facilities, and participate in the 2025 Company Meeting alongside Italian and international partners.

Congratulations to the winners and all the finalists for their exceptional work!