About Us
Starting with just a taste of her Grandfather’s handmade gelato, founder Cristiana Ginatta started her life-long romance with the Italian dessert at a young age. Growing up in Italy, everywhere she traveled led to new flavors – each region specializing in a unique recipe with local ingredients and techniques. As a young woman, she attended culinary school, focusing on the art of traditional gelato-making and perfected her skills in one of the finest family-run gelaterias in Turin, Italy.
| In 1997 Cristiana, her husband Ugo and his son Vincenzo moved to Dallas, Texas. The Ginattas soon found that what they missed most about the Old World was the wonderful flavors of Italy – the delicious gelati and the dark, rich espresso. They decided that in Dallas, their family’s mission was to share these incredible flavors with their new hometown. In 2000, with a lot of hard work and dozens of new gelato recipes Paciugo (an Italian word meaning “messy concoction”) was born. Over time, Paciugo spread to dozens of locations all over North America. From father to daughter, from the Old Country to the New World – The Ginattas want to share the gelato love with you and your family. |  |
When did Paciugo start franchising?
 | Paciugo received requests for franchising as soon as the Ginatta family opened the first gelateria in September 2000. Though all necessary documents and legal preparations were ready to start franchising in July 2001, the family decided to wait. They wanted to perfect an easy, error-proof and delicious way of making fresh gelato. Also, they needed to research the ideal real estate by experimenting with corporate stores in different types of locations, as well as perfect the training material, select the best equipment and negotiate advantageous prices. In 2004 they were finally satisfied, and began to franchise in August of that year. Long-time customers and former Paciugo employees who had eagerly waited for the chance to open their own gelateria became franchisees. Proving their own success, many of these first franchisees have contracted to open more stores – some, more than ten. For the last three years, new franchise owners have consistently bought into the franchise. Paciugo now fields franchising information requests daily. |
Welcome! If you believe in the power of gelato to move mountains (of taste buds) and cool the masses on a hot summer day then we should talk. We’re always looking for new family members to spread the good news of Paciugo.
