The East Coast frozen dessert chain, Rita’s Italian Ice Cream & Frozen Custard, is continuing to add new unites to its development pipeline.
Operating more than 600 locations nationwide, the business has said it is on track to double its 2026 new shop signings, experiencing a 100 per cent increase in ownership inquiries compared to last year.
Rita’s is also expanding outside its core East Coast and Mid-Atlantic markets into new regions. While multi-unit developer Disrupt Foods, a 40-plus unit franchisee, announced plans to open three new locations in Brockton, Massachusetts and Clifton and Newark, New Jersey, franchisee Jim Myers opened multiple Ohio locations in the first half of the year, with two additional shops planned for the Cleveland market this year, bringing his total to nearly 10 units.
Franchisee Kyle Wiborg opened his first location in North Richland Hills, Texas and has three additional shops under construction along with plans to open 10 total throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
“We’re seeing tremendous interest from entrepreneurs who want a proven franchise backed by a recognisable brand and an operating model designed for long-term growth,” said Lawrence Brown, Chief Development Officer of Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard. “Combined with smaller kitchen footprints, low cost of goods sold, no fryer requirements and staffing efficiencies, the model’s real estate flexibility allows franchisees to enter and adapt to local markets while benefiting from a straightforward business operation built to scale.”
