Rita's Water Ice Information & Rita's Water Ice Links at HealthHaven.com

Rita's Italian Ice
Type	LLC
Founded	1984
Founder(s)	Bob Tumolo
Headquarters	Trevose, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Website	http://www.ritasice.com

Philadelphia portal

Rita's Italian Ice is an East Coast regional chain based in Trevose, PA in Bensalem Township, selling mainly Italian ice, frozen custard, and Gelati (not traditional Gelati, see below), as well as its signature Misto, Blendini, and Ritaccino creations. There are over 550 locations in 18 states.^[1]

[edit] History

Rita's was founded in 1984 by former Philadelphia firefighter Bob Tumolo with a recipe that he purchased from an elderly neighbor that he then adjusted to enhance the flavors and include real fruit. By 1987 a second store was opened and by 1989 the family decided to franchise their business. Today there are over 550 locations and can be found in 18 different states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Texas, Massachusetts, as well as the District of Columbia. In May 2005, a new era in the evolution of Rita’s was ushered in with the sale of the company to McKnight Capital Partners, a private equity group with extensive franchise experience. Led by Jim Rudolph [1]] and his brother, Bill Rudolph, McKnight Capital Partners immediately recognized the organization’s tremendous growth potential. Jim Rudolph, a franchisee turned franchisor, took the helm of the largest Italian Ice concept in the industry. As the company’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Rudolph immediately set into place plans to take the company to the next level. ^[2]

In April, 2007 Rita's moved its Bensalem headquarters to the Trevose section of Bensalem Township. In January, 2009, Rita's began advertising the availability of franchises in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area.

As a tradition to kick off the arrival of the Spring and Summer months, Rita's Italian Ice gives out a free regular sized water ice on the first day of Spring. In 2009, the company marked its 17th year of this First Day of Spring promotion and gave away over 1.2 million cups in a ten hour period.

In 2009, Rita's launched its new Light Line of healthier treat options including Slenderita (fat-free soft serve) and expanded flavors of its sugar-free Italian Ice. ^[3]

Rita's will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2009.

Rita's opened its first locations in Tennessee and Texas in 2009.

[edit] Products

Italian Ice Ice is another name for water ice. Rita's Italian Ice is produced in a machine that combines water, fruits and flavors and then freezes the mixture within the machine. There is a 36 hour policy that applies to all ices: 36 hours after being made all unused ice is thrown out to ensure freshness. All Italian Ice is made fresh at each location every day. ^[4]

Frozen Custard, soft serve similar to soft serve ice cream but is much thicker and creamier. It is served in both cups and cones. Recently, it has become available in waffle cones alongside the standard cake cones. Standard flavors are Chocolate, Vanilla, and Choc-Van Twist, but Strawberry, Coffee, and Orange Cream flavors are also available at participating locations. Rita's also offers Slenderita, a fat-free soft serve.
Gelati, made by layering any flavor of custard, together with any flavor Italian Ice, with an extra swirl of custard on the top. This product is different from traditional definition of Gelati.
Misto, made with custard blended with any flavor water ice to produce a creamy milkshake type drink.
Blendini is a combination of Rita’s Frozen Custard, with either crushed Kraft Oreo cookie pieces, Kraft Nilla Wafer pieces, Snyder's pretzel pieces or M&M's Mini's, and Rita’s famous Italian Ice blended together into a frozen treat eaten with a spoon.
Ritaccino is a coffee drink that combines Rita's custard, Italian Ice and coffee flavor. Available in Moch and Cafe varieties.
Slenderita is a fat-free soft serve that can be added to a gelati or Blendini.

[edit] Italian Ice Flavors

Rita's produces over 40 flavors including but not limited to:
Blueberry, Cherry, Chocolate, Green Apple, Mango, Piña Colada, Strawberry, Tangerine, Watermelon, Kiwi-Strawberry, Passion Fruit, Raspberry Lemonade,RitaBerrious (the name of the 2009 Mystery Flavor), Root Beer, Twisted Melon, Tropical Punch, Pineapple, Blue Raspberry, Banana, Citrus Blast, Cotton Candy, Georgia Peach, Key Lime, Green Apple,Raspberry, Sweet Tea, Swedish Fish, Vanilla, Pina Colada, Strawberry Margarita, Vanilla, and Alex's Lemonade.

[edit] Cream Ice Flavors

Rita's also often takes flavors which are traditionally used as ice cream flavors and produces an Italian Ice with a creamy, silky texture that is much smoother than ice cream. Cream ice flavors include: Birthday Cake, S'mores, Caramel Apple,Cookies N' Cream, Fudge Brownie, Mint Chocolate Chip, Banana Split Cream, Orange Cream, Coconut Cream, and Pumpkin Pie.

[edit] Sugar Free Flavors

Rita's also offers sugar-free Italian Ice as part of its new Light Line of healthy treat options. Some flavors include: Cherry, Pink Lemonade, Root Beer, Tangerine, Mango Peach, Pineapple, and Chocolate.

[edit] External links

^ Quick Service Magazine, "Simply Successful," September 2009.
^ Quick Service Magazine, "Simply Successful," September 2009.
^ Restaurant Business Magazine, Entrepreneur of the Month, August, 2009.
^ QSR Magazine, Simply Successful, September, 2009.

[0] Quick Service Magazine, "Simply Successful," September 2009.

[1] Quick Service Magazine, "Simply Successful," September 2009.

[2] Restaurant Business Magazine, Entrepreneur of the Month, August, 2009.

[3] QSR Magazine, Simply Successful, September, 2009.

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