- Last Year Rank: 260
- Investment Range: $315,233 - $770,542
- Initial Investment: $35,000
- Category: Restaurant
Company Description
This franchised chain of specialty restaurants was founded in 1984 when the first Rita’s store opened in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Rita’s is known for its dessert creations including Italian ice, milkshakes and frozen custard.
The company’s founder, Bob Tumolo, named the restaurant for his wife, Rita, who helped make the titular ice for the first store. The brand spread throughout the area surrounding Philadelphia when Tumolo began selling franchise agreements in 1989.
The company brought back its gummy bear Italian ice in 2025, first introduced in 2023.
Company Statistics
- Global Sales: $210,000,000
- US Units: 574
- International Units: 10
- Total Units: 584
- Percent Franchised: 99%
- % International Units: 2%
- US Franchised Units: 569
- International Franchised Units: 10
- Sales Growth %: 15.4%
- Unit Growth %: 4.5%
