Amore Gelato, a small D.C. gelato company that has become a staple at the Palisades, H Street and Foggy Bottom farmers markets and on online grocery service
Relay Foods, is expanding to Whole Foods. Founder Donika Hristova is celebrating the expansion by adding four formerly seasonal flavors to the regular lineup, giving customers a choice of eight concoctions with which to get their gelato fix.
"Our four spring flavors—Chocolate Orange Dream, Coffee Kahlua Spark, Yogurt Mango Magic and Cherry Blossom Romance—are now part of our permanent line," Hristova says. Amore also offers Popcorn Caramel Affair, Nutella Hazelnut Hug, Citrus Devotion Sorbet and Chocolate Truffle Seduction. "Our flavors are polarizing. People either really love them or don't."
Amore Gelato will now be available in Whole Foods on P Street and at Foggy Bottom, in addition to the
Dupont Market and
The Streets Café and Market.
"Often times when we sell at farmers markets, customers ask us where else they can find our product throughout the week, so it would be wonderful to be able to direct them to more locations that carry our gelato regularly," Hristova says.
Hristova got into gelato after a career in finance. She spent a year managing a Bulgarian ice cream production company her firm invested in, and after the project concluded, she returned to the States, anxious to start her own business.
"I knew something about ice cream," she says. One business plan, one Cuisinart ice cream maker, and one auction for commercial ice cream equipment later, Amore Gelato snuck onto the scene, wooing customers with organic ingredients and interesting combinations like Cherry Blossom Romance, which contains green tea, pomegranate flowers, dried cherries and white chocolate.
The gelato is also stabilizer-free. That means a denser texture, Hristova explains, and icier sorbets. The product also has a shorter shelf life. "Every week, we're making fresh gelato."
Amore also donates 5 percent of sales to
Martha's Table and Hristova would like to work with organizations on fundraisers for low-income families.
Amore offers catering services via
Cater2.me, and sells gelato cakes. Hristova is also on the hunt for a new commercial kitchen.