HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C., June 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pino Gelato has received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blue Ribbon Small Business Award. The company was chosen as one of the top 75 small businesses in the award category and honored at the America's Small Business Summit in Washington D.C. held May 21-23rd.
The gathering of business leaders and policy experts, held in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber's 100th anniversary, celebrated and promoted small business with a line-up of national speakers, business leaders, and members of Congress during the rally on Capitol Hill.
Ramona Fantini, chairman and CEO, attributes the top national honor to the company's core business values. "Pino Gelato sets itself apart by offering each customer 'an experience' and the genuine taste of Italy with every scoop," said Fantini, adding, "We have made a commitment to our company values of respect, integrity, quality, service, sustainability and community and the chamber's recognition on the national level is a tremendous honor."
The 2012 Blue Ribbon Small Business Award, part of the U.S. Chamber's DREAM BIG Small Business of the Year Award program, recognizes companies that exhibit excellence in the areas of strategy, service, employee development and community involvement. Through hard work and innovation, recipients of the Blue Ribbon Small Business Award are thriving small businesses, contributing to the vibrancy of American free enterprise.
"Scoop some happiness" is the Pino Gelato promise, and with all the flavor of traditional Italian 'gelato,' ice cream, in 24 artisan flavors, the 93% fat free, hand-whipped ice creams are fast becoming the signature indulgence for a deliciously healthy lifestyle.
Pino Gelato is simply "your dessert place" from fat free goodness to wonderfully decadent specialty desserts, such as rich cheesecake, Italian crepes, chocolate mousse, cappuccinos, iced lattes and more.
Nationally, Pino Gelato has grown to 12 locations across the country, a familiar sight to travelers passing through airports in Charlotte, NC and Savannah, GA, as well as shops in Ohio, Virginia, South Carolina and other markets. As the company celebrates eight years in business, it has announced further expansion into the southeast market, and will open three new locations in Tampa, FL this summer.
Unlike traditional franchise operations, Pino Gelato offers business partnerships, with full licensing and professional support. "It's our product, our name, your business," explains Fantini, adding, "Joining the Pino Gelato family isn't like other opportunities. We're a business designed to spread happiness one 'palletina' (spoonful) at a time."
Fantini's Pino Gelato is one of the country's small business success stories – a highly successful business that just keeps on growing. In today's economy, that's saying something.
This year, Fantini was also selected as the runner-up 2012 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Person of the Year for South Carolina "in recognition of Pino Gelato's outstanding staying power and innovation." She was honored at the SBA awards luncheon in May.
Pino Gelato, headquartered in Hilton Head Island, SC, was the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber Small Business of the Year recipient in 2010. For more information about Pino Gelato go to www.pinogelato.com.