Rita's Italian Ice

Ice Custard Happiness!
Overview
At Rita's Italian Ice, we serve two core products in creative combinations: Italian ice and frozen custard. That alone makes us unique among all the frozen dessert and ice cream franchises out there; no one else offers what we offer.

But even apart from the product offerings that have generated legions of loyal brand fans since we first opened our doors in 1984, we offer so many advantages as a franchise concept that we have carved out a singular space in the business world, too.

Additionals
And unlike ice cream franchises, which have become so common that they're now commoditized, Rita's maintains a unique position in the $28 billion frozen desserts industry. Our product isn't sold in stores, and we're often the only outlet in the market selling Italian ice. We maintain high standards for our products. We make our ices and frozen custard fresh in stores daily, so our guests are assured of freshness. They're made with real fruit and our dairy and eggs are sourced from a single farm, where we know their standards for quality match ours.

Why Our Franchise?
With Italian ice and frozen custard comprising a portion of virtually everything we sell, that helps keep our food costs really low, says Lauriena Borstein, Executive Vice President of Operations. A Rita's franchise also doesn't require many employees, and you'll save a lot of money on labor during the off-season.

"It is a simple business to operate, and those two things really allow us to be a very profitable business," Borstein says. "Another piece of it is the ability to operate outside your store – to utilize mobile events, to generate additional lines of revenue, but not have the fixed expenses of a brick-and-mortar store."

With four core models to choose from – a walk-in store, a walk-up store, mobile or special venue – we offer a range of accessible initial investments and make it easier for investors who want to grow quickly.