Joe Delucci’s has secured its first supermarket listing - agreeing a 12-month exclusive deal with Tesco for four flavours of its gelato.

It is launching 500ml tubs of its nocciolata, tiramisu, Madagascan vanilla and a limited-edition pistachio (all rsp: £4.99) in about 120 Tesco stores from September.

Nigel Langstone, who founded Joe Delucci’s with Richard Pierce in 2006, said the brand would compete on promotions with bigger ice cream players.

The business, which runs more than 20 sites across the UK selling imported Italian gelato, last month became the sole ice cream supplier to 270 Nando’s restaurants.