about us

Glacio, Crafted for Connoisseurs

Operating on a global scale, Glacio specialises in premium ice cream and refined dessert concepts for high-end foodservice, catering, and on-the-go consumption.

Each creation is thoughtfully developed for chefs and hospitality professionals who value excellence, creativity, and consistency in every dessert moment.

MISSION
&VISION

Inspired by our vision? Let’s explore new ice cream dessert possibilities together.

Mission

We are committed to creating ice cream specialties that combine quality and refinement with passion, craftsmanship, and a touch of innovation. By using carefully selected ingredients and creative designs, we aim to delight our consumers worldwide with new taste sensations.

Vision

At Glacio, we strive to be recognized as a global brand that surprises connoisseurs with premium ice cream specialties. Drawn on our Belgian roots, we bring European dessert traditions to the world and create unique ice cream experiences that surprise and inspire.

Sweet Glacio history

1972

Where it all began

In a small town in Belgium called Beerse, our story starts in 1972 with Frans De Vrieze, our founding father.  

Frans was a typical hard worker with big and sweet ambitions. He started making top notch ice cream and sold it in his van under the brand Pinti. His dedication to exceptional taste and top-quality ingredients quickly earned Pinti a reputation as luxurious ice cream.  

What began as a local passion soon grew into something much larger. Today Pinti ice cream is sold under the name Glacio and we proudly continue to uphold the values that made our success: hard work, ambition, taste, top notch ingredients, and a relentless pursuit of perfection.

1972

1982

European growth

The production facilities of Pinti kept growing under the umbrella of Mövenpick. Thanks to the high quality, innovative flavours, high-tech and rapid changing technologies, the production site in Beerse quickly became the European centre of excellence in the 1990’s.

1982

2001

stepping into Asia

As our presence in Europe strengthened, Glacio began expanding beyond its home markets, looking for new opportunities to share its craftsmanship worldwide. Since 2001, Glacio Ice Cream Japan has been dedicated to bringing premium Belgian ice cream expertise to the Japanese market, combining European craftsmanship with Japanese precision and service.

Over the years, a strong local presence was established, with a Sales Office in Japan working in close collaboration with Glacio’s HQ to ensure that every product meets the highest quality standards, from production to delivery.

Today, Glacio’s Japanese operations reflect the brand’s continued international growth, operating through a dual distribution model that combines direct deliveries from strategically located warehouses with a network of trusted external distributors across the country. This hybrid approach allows Glacio to serve a wide range of clients, from gourmet retailers and fine dining restaurants to luxury hotels, while ensuring consistent quality and service nationwide. Through carefully selected partnerships, Glacio has achieved strong nationwide coverage while preserving the excellence and craftsmanship that define the brand.

2001

2004

a new name, same passion

A new chapter began in 2004. Under fresh leadership, and with renewed commitment to creativity, diversity, and unmatched quality, we rebranded as Glacio. The new name and the recognizable hummingbird symbolized the precision, lightness, and craftsmanship that define our work, while honouring the heritage that shaped us.

2004

2013

becoming part of B.I.G.

In 2013, Glacio joined the Belgian Icecream Group (B.I.G.), reinforcing our roots and enabling further growth worldwide. This partnership strengthened our ability to innovate and expand while staying true to our Belgian expertise.

2013

2017

expanding into China

By 2017, our continued growth opened new opportunities in China. This expansion allowed us to share our crafted desserts with a broader audience seeking premium, authentic ice cream experiences.

2017

2026

a fresh branding for the future

In 2026, we embraced a refreshed brand identity. In an ever changing world where consumers seek for renewed luxury, and indulgent experiences, and where chefs search for inspiration and support, we developed a new personality and purpose for Glacio. While our look evolved, our essence remains unchanged: authentic flavours, Belgian craftsmanship, and unwavering dedication to quality.

Glacio continues to stand for hard work, ambition, and premium ice cream created to bring enjoyable moments to people around the world who value great taste and quality.

2026

Belgian Quality

Belgium is known worldwide for its culinary masterpieces: chocolate, waffles, pastries, but also Belgian cheese and beer are renowned for their flavour palette and craftsmanship. Glacio proudly joins this list with an exceptional range of Belgian ice cream creations.

Our team combines traditional recipes with contemporary creativity to create ice cream specialties that reflect refined Belgian and European traditions: creamy, elegance, and irresistibly delicious.

Our philosophy is simple: the purest and best ingredients — from fresh cream to juicy strawberries and rich Belgian chocolate — are used to create Glacio ice cream and sorbets.

Together with our international partners, we bring our premium Belgian ice cream products to connoisseurs all over the world through hotels, restaurants, and retail.

International Quality Standards

At Glacio, quality is not a target, it is a standard. For years, our Belgian manufacturing facility has been investing in the highest standards of hygiene, safety, and product quality.

We not only comply with European directives, we go one step further. We also take into account regulations in markets such as Japan and China, which have additional safety and allergen management requirements. This allows us to guarantee the same reliable premium quality worldwide.

Thanks to the dedication of our entire team, all Glacio products hold key quality certifications such as HACCP, FSC 22000, and IFS. These certifications are proof of our focus on safety, hygiene, and quality, ensuring that every scoop of ice cream is as reliable as it is delicious.

Innovation and Expertise

Innovation is as fundamental to Glacio as craftsmanship and quality.

Our ice cream masters, consisting of chefs, food technologists, work daily on developing new flavours, compositions, and creative dessert concepts. By combining in-depth technical expertise with a genuine passion for taste, we continuously push boundaries: from the creation of marble ice cream to unexpected flavour pairings that inspire chefs and delight consumers.

Beyond ice cream, Glacio also develops elegant, ready-to-use individual ice cream desserts, offering practical and high-end solutions for restaurateurs, caterers, and food professionals. Innovation at Glacio is an ongoing journey, allowing us to continuously stand out in the world of premium ice cream specialties.

In addition, we offer tailor-made solutions. From initial briefing to final delivery, our teams work closely together to create custom developments that seamlessly align with the needs of chefs, concepts, and consumers.

Sustainability

At Glacio, sustainability embodies the same great taste as our ice cream: genuine, mindful, and with a positive outcome for the future. We are committed to sustainable choices every day, from sourcing ingredients to processing and packaging.

Our recipes are made with 100% natural, non-GMO ingredients and follow a clean label philosophy without artificial additives. We work with fresh cream from local farmers and use Rainforest Alliance-certified Belgian chocolate. This allows us to combine refined taste with respect for people and nature. 

Our packaging also contributes towards a greener future: FSC-certified, sustainable, and plastic-free where possible, replaced by recyclable paper and mono-materials. In addition, we aim to be a palm-free factory by 2027. 

Sustainability also entails responsibility in energy consumption. With over 3,000 solar panels, we save 359 tons of CO₂ annually. Thanks to energy-efficient production lines, smart waste recovery, and our own solar energy, we are gradually moving towards CO₂-neutral production.