1929 Gaetano LoScerbo, an Italian landowner and farmer, begins to experiment with making ice cream from the fruit and dairy products produced on his farm in Amato, Italy. His son, Costantino, helps with the production and delivery to local customers. The first Amato Gelato Cafe is born.

1950 Mario LoScerbo, Costantino's son, as a young boy of seven, learns the secrets of ice cream-making from his father and grandfather. Little does he know that these secrets will one day become his passion.

1959 Young Mario leaves southern Italy to learn the skills of Italian cuisine by studying as a chef in Milan, and as a pastry chef in Switzerland. Following his training, he practices his craft in restaurants, hotels and cruise ships in Europe.

1962 Mario emigrates to Canada, first to Winnipeg, Manitoba, then to Vancouver, B.C., where he soon opens a restaurant.

1976 While creating desserts for his restaurant customers, Mario begins to remember the old recipes of his youth. He finds that the delicious gelati are a big hit with his retaurant customers and he decides to go into ice cream in a big way! Initially, he has a small ice cream machine in the back of his retaurant, but finds the space restrictive. As Mario is working with the recipes learned in his youth, his son, Costantino, is fascinated by the production of ice cream, and soon develops a very discerning palate and a desire to make the perfect product.

1988-1998 Mario opens a small plant at Fifth Avenue and Main Street and begins to produce ice cream on a large scale. Soon Costantino joins him, and together they build up a business which supplies 80% of the hotels and restaurants in Vancouver. Near the end of the nineties, this plant too, becomes too small, and because of the commitment to the business shown by Costantino, the LoScerbos decide to expand.

1989 Mario and Costantino discover that their willingness to create new flavours, in particular, flavours which appeal to Vancouver's large Asian community, has made them the foremost providers of ice cream products to Asian restaurants throughout western Canada.

1998 The beautiful new plant at First Avenue and Quebec Street in Vancouver, B.C. is opened. The large plant area can now cope with expansion of the business, and the retail outlet, Amato Gelato Cafe, showcases the huge variety of flavours available for purchase.

1998 Mario's Gelati is asked to come up with a custom order of Stilton gelato for one of Vancouver's larger hotels. They later find out that their new gelato has been created for the lavish dinner prepared in honour of Prince Charles.

1999 Villa Amato, the 600 seat ballroom, opens atop the new building. Weddings in the sumptuous room soon begin to feature ice cream buffets, and, now, almost all patrons request the delicious selection of gelati and sorbetti for their guests.

Today With four generations of gelato production under their belt father and son have made Mario's Gelati a household name. The family business has continued to grow to include an ever expanding client base that ranges from hotel and restaurant chains to international airlines. You can now find the Mario's name accross North America, Asia and South America. However, if you live in the lower mainland you don't have to travel very far to find your favourite product. Amato Gelato retail locations are now located throughout the Vancouver area and even as far as Alberta. You can also purchase the product at speciality stores and supermarkets.

The family pride and tradition, combined with the constant desire for innovation will take the company forward well into the years ahead.