OUR ROOTS: THE I-SCREAM STORY
I-Scream’s roots go way back to 1985, and the youthful dream of the company’s Italian owner and gelato master, Paolo Predonzan.
Paolo’s dream was to let the world know about the true taste of traditional Italian handmade ice cream. He began crafting and selling gelato at the age of sixteen, working as an apprentice in his small hometown gelato shop during school summer breaks.
In 1988, at the age of nineteen, Paolo moved to Vienna, Austria. Here, he perfected his art, working side by side with his gelato guru, Arturo. Arturo was considered one of the top five gelato masters in Vienna’s 100+ ice cream shops. Under Arturo’s expert guidance, Paolo learned to create wonderful handmade gelato in the traditional way. These methods and recipes have been handed down from father to son by generations of Italian families.
By 2003, Paolo had spent years mastering the craft, and had developed serious ambitions – and a lifelong passion for this frozen treat. He decided to move to Asia to start a new venture in Hong Kong. Here, he launched I-Scream Ltd, one of the first authentic Italian gelato factories in Hong Kong.
In 2005, I-Scream opened its first retail outlet in Great Food Hall at Pacific Place, one of Hong Kong’s busiest locations. Thanks to the popularity and success of this store, a year later, a second outlet opened in IFC mall. This became our flagship store. Here, the people of Hong Kong, and tourists from around the world, could finally discover the true taste of handmade Italian ice cream. Since then, we’ve worked closely with many international chefs to create the perfect flavours for their restaurants – and to complement their signature dishes.”
Today, we serve the most prestigious catering & hospitality groups, top-tier hotels, and the finest restaurants in Hong Kong. In some cases, we’ve contributed to their international recognition – including awards by the world-famous Michelin guide.
I-SCREAM’S CORE PHILOSOPHY: ONLY THE BEST
We are committed to producing the best Italian gelato in the traditional way. We transform only the highest-quality ingredients into gelato, using handmade processes, patience, passion, care and devotion.
We don’t allow any artificial flavourings or colourings in our recipes. Everything we use is 100% natural, sourced from the best producers around the world. Quality, tradition, passion and innovation are evident in every product we make. Wherever you enjoy our delicious gelato, you’ll agree that we have been true to our philosophy.
OUR LOGISTICS: TOTAL PROFESSIONALISM
Our factory is located in Yau Tong. Here, we produce our unmatched gelato, and it’s from here that we deliver it throughout Hong Kong. The site covers 500 square metres in total. It consists of a production area, a warehouse, two large cold rooms at a controlled temperature of -30 °C, and our offices and adjoining hallways.
The production area is equipped with professional tools & mixers, and two combined pasteurisation & freeze-mixing lines of Italian technology. There’s a continuous cycle production line for soft ice cream, and several wall-mounted & countertop refrigerators and blast freezers.
We carefully monitor our supply and cold chains at every step, to ensure our products’ safety and consistency of taste over time. We run our own refrigerated trucks to guarantee short delivery times, and to maintain the required temperature throughout the entire process – from our factory to the destination.
100% COMMITTED TO FOOD SAFETY
We’ve self-imposed strict safety standards, based on HACCP principles, to ensure the quality consistency of our ice cream in every aspect. We pasteurise every batch we produce, and we cooperate with accredited laboratories to get our product regularly checked. This enables us to comply fully with the rigorous audits carried out periodically by institutions and our valued customers. We are in the process of applying for our ISO 22000 accreditation as further evidence of our commitment to food safety.
WORKING FOR SUSTAINABILITY
We want to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible. To this end, we outsource our raw materials from reputable suppliers who are committed to sustainability and the protection of the environment.
We deliver our product in washable, reusable packaging to reduce waste, and we’re constantly looking for greener solutions to apply to our processes.
Paolo Predonzan - I-Scream owner & Gelato Master
“When I arrived in Hong Kong, my perspective on making gelato changed completely. Hong Kong is a place where cultures meet and integrate. I work with Italian chefs from all Italian regions, and with French, Spanish, British, German, Swiss, American and South American chefs. Plus, there is the Asian planet of culinary culture; I also work with Chinese, Japanese and Thai chefs.
All this helps me improve my knowledge of foods, flavours and tastes every day – and increases my enthusiasm for offering something new to ice cream customers every day”