Our Story
Our Antonelli Story
From Picinisco to Manchester
In 1884, Domenico Antonelli and his wife Cristina left their village of Picinisco for Manchester, settling there with their children, where the Antonelli family story began.
At the time, traditional “lip glasses” were disappearing due to hygiene concerns, creating demand for edible wafers and cones. Seeing the opportunity, Domenico and his family founded The International Wafer Company on Bridgewater Street in 1912, producing their popular “International Wafers” and “Sugaco®” cones for the rapidly growing ice cream trade.
As demand increased, the business expanded into the larger Progress Works bakery on Ayres Road, Old Trafford in 1926. The company later diversified into biscuit production and, by 1936, became known as the International Biscuit Co.
Surviving War & Building the Future
Both World Wars brought significant challenges to the industry. During World War II, many cone manufacturers struggled to survive. Although Domenico’s son Romolo was interned on the Isle of Man, the family continued working tirelessly, producing rations for troops while supplying rationed wafers and cones to ice cream vendors under government price controls.
“Cones for the Connoisseur”
In 1961, Romolo and his wife Eleonora supported their sons Ernest, Roland and Victor in establishing a new bakery on Weymouth Road, Eccles. The biscuit division and the original Progress Works site were sold, allowing the business to focus entirely on cones and wafers under the new name: Antonelli Bros Ltd.
Their vision was simple:
“The cone should be good enough to eat on its own, or it’s not good enough to serve your ice cream on.”
This philosophy became the foundation of Antonelli’s long standing slogan: “Cones for the Connoisseur.”
At a time when many saw the cone as simply a container, the Antonelli brothers believed it should be an important part of the entire ice cream experience – with the same quality as the ice cream itself.
Pioneers in Cone Innovation
Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Antonelli invested heavily in new cone technology from America and Italy as demand for premium cones continued to rise.
In 1969, the company installed its first fully automatic rolled sugar cone oven to produce the now-famous Twist® cone, followed by a second oven in 1977. Antonelli also produced cones for factory-filled supermarket products, including versions of the well-known “Cornetto®”-style cone.
As the business grew, new bakery space and a high-level warehouse were added to support increasing production. While many UK manufacturers focused only on wafer cones or turned to imports, Antonelli continued investing in British-made sugar and waffle cones.
Over the following decades, the company introduced a wide range of innovations including:
- Decorated cones
- Dipped cones
- Multi-coloured cones
- Cone printing technology
- One of Europe’s first mass-produced gluten-free cones
Today, Antonelli remains the only UK manufacturer producing wafer cones, sugar cones, waffle cones and Smoothy® waffle cones under one roof.
A New Generation
In the 1990s, the next generation of the family joined the business as Mark and David Antonelli brought experience from agriculture, engineering, the army and supermarket management into the company.
Together, they continued investing in UK manufacturing and innovation, believing that quality products made locally would always have long-term value. Their focus on diversity, added value and product development helped Antonelli continue growing while much of the industry consolidated or moved overseas.
Mark and David are supported in the business by their wives, Tracy and Julie, who also play an active role in the continued development of the company.
Beyond the Cone
As gelato culture expanded across the UK during the 2000s, customers increasingly looked for more variety, premium ingredients and expert support.
In response, Antonelli introduced a comprehensive range of ice cream and gelato ingredients at the 2008 ICA exhibition, allowing customers to source almost everything they needed from one trusted supplier.
Continuing our family’s commitment to quality, we work alongside world-leading Italian manufacturers Martini and Comprital and trusted family-run partners who share our values for craftsmanship, innovation and excellence. Combined with our continued in-house cone production, these partnerships allow Antonelli to offer one of the UK’s most comprehensive ice cream and gelato ranges.
Today, Antonelli supplies artisan gelaterias, independent ice cream parlours and industrial producers nationwide with:
- Over 280 cone varieties
- Hundreds of ingredients
- Packaging solutions
- Accessories and utensils
Rapid growth led to the opening of additional premises on Soapstone Way in 2016, creating expanded warehousing, administration offices and the home of the renowned Antonelli Gelato Academy.
The Antonelli Gelato Academy
With more than a century of industry experience, Antonelli is passionate about supporting the future of ice cream and gelato.
The Antonelli Gelato Academy was created to share knowledge, inspire innovation and help businesses grow – whether through technical expertise, product development or guidance on starting a gelateria business.
Our Mission
The Antonelli family business spans four generations, built on heritage, craftsmanship and a reputation we are proud to uphold. With over a century of experience, we continue to invest, innovate and progress while staying true to the values that shaped the company from the beginning.
We are proud to manufacture in Great Britain, producing cones and wafers using, wherever possible, British ingredients and expertise. Our knowledge of the ice cream and gelato industry enables us to help customers achieve their goals – whether that means building a brand, growing a business or creating exceptional products.
We continually review and improve our products and services to ensure we offer customers the very best. To support them in delivering on their goals, our mission is simple: