"Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is making waves in the quick-service restaurant industry, entering 2026 with unprecedented momentum that has food and beverage industry leaders taking notice. The Philadelphia-based brand just crossed a major milestone: 600 locations worldwide: while posting double-digit year-over-year growth that's reshaping how we think about seasonal dessert concepts. The Numbers Don't Lie: Rita's Record-Breaking 2025 The frozen treat giant closed 2025 with impressive metrics that would make any food service industry executive envious."
"Here's where Rita's strategy gets particularly interesting for food and beverage directors: drive-thru locations are delivering over 30% higher performance compared to traditional storefronts. This performance gap isn't just about convenience: it's about fundamentally reimagining how seasonal concepts can operate year-round. Linda Chadwick, CEO of Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, explains the strategic thinking: "Our focus in 2025 was building smarter, not just bigger. We leaned into formats, incentives and markets that help franchisees open faster, operate more efficiently and perform stronger over time.""
Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard reached 600 locations worldwide while posting double-digit year-over-year growth. The brand opened 35 new shops systemwide in 2025, achieved a 10% increase in U.S. openings, and saw new unit signings grow nearly 10%. Placement on Restaurant Business's Top 500 (#211), QSR's "16 Best Franchise Deals for 2025," and Franchise Times Top 400 (#232) reflect operational strength. Drive-thru locations deliver over 30% higher performance than traditional storefronts, enabling seasonal concepts to operate year-round. The brand prioritized building smarter by leaning into formats, incentives and markets that help franchisees open faster, operate more efficiently and perform stronger over time.
Read at Food & Beverage Magazine
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