Rita's Italian Ice

Rita's Franchise Company, LLC
Rita's Italian Ice
Company typePrivate
IndustryDessert shop
GenreQuick Service
FoundedMay 4, 1984; 40 years ago (1984-05-04)
FounderBob Tumolo
Headquarters
Number of locations
570
Area served
31 U.S. states, mainly in the Mid-Atlantic
Key people
Kirk Griswold,
Chairman
Linda Chadwick,
President & CEO
ProductsItalian ice
frozen custard
frozen treats
RevenueIncrease US$51 million (2019)
Owner
    • Argosy Private Equity (50%)
    • MTN Capital (50%)
Number of employees
5,000 (2021)
Websiteritasice.com

Rita's Franchise Company, LLC, doing business as Rita's Italian Ice (originally and now informally known as Rita's Water Ice), is a privately owned and operated American quick service restaurant chain originating in the Philadelphia metropolitan area that expanded throughout and now operates primarily in the Mid-Atlantic United States. The chain is known for its Italian ice or "water ice"[1] and frozen custard,[2] but also offers multiple types of frozen treats and specialty creations.[3]

Rita's opened its first restaurant in 1984 in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania, a township outside of Philadelphia, and the company gradually expanded throughout the Philadelphia region before eventually opening locations beyond the Philadelphia area. The company is currently headquartered in Trevose, Pennsylvania. As of August 1, 2024, the chain had 574[4] restaurants in 31 states, mostly located in the Mid-Atlantic.

  1. ^ Rita's Franchise Company. "Rita's Franchise Company - Cool Treats - Menu - Italian Ice". Archived from the original on 2010-01-05. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  2. ^ Rita's Franchise Company. "Rita's Franchise Company - Cool Treats - Menu - Custard". Archived from the original on 2010-02-09. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  3. ^ Hartford, Jamie (September 2009). "Rita's Water Ice Celebrates 25 Years of Success - QSR Magazine". QSR Magazine. Archived from the original on 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  4. ^ "Number of Rita's Italian Ice locations in the United States in 2024". ScrapeHero. Retrieved 2022-02-20.