Long-Time Friends Bring Top Frozen Dessert Franchise to Florida

Husband-and-wife team Antoine and Idalice Stokes and their longtime friend, Raafi Forde, couldn’t resist the opportunity to open a Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard Franchise in their own backyard of Valrico, Florida. On November 4, 2022, they invited the whole community to their Rita’s franchise grand opening, complete with a ribbon cutting, live music and a raffle for one free year of Rita’s for 50 lucky customers. Their story was even featured on Franchising.com.

Why Own a Rita’s Franchise?

What attracted the new Franchise Owners to this growing top frozen dessert franchise? “Rita’s has always been such a big part of our lives and our children’s lives, as it was the one treat we could all agree on—and with big families, that’s not always an easy task. When the opportunity to bring Rita’s to our community presented itself, we couldn’t pass it up because it’s always been a goal of ours to enter the franchising world,” says Idalice Stokes, franchise owner of Rita’s in Valrico.

What Makes Rita’s a Top QSR to Own?

As the Stokes and Forde can attest, Rita’s is a growing brand that treats both customers and Franchise Owners well. Customers simply can’t resist the Italian ice treats, gelatis, concretes, milkshakes and creamy frozen custard — a signature offering from Rita’s.

Franchise Owners receive training and ongoing support to help run their business successfully and profitably. That includes marketing support to help get the word out about their top frozen dessert franchise, including help staging a crowd-pleasing grand opening event like the November 4th event in Valrico, Florida. Also included are planning local marketing strategies and leveraging time-tested promotional materials designed to build and sustain interest in their shop.

Plus, the Rita’s brand name is well known, with approximately 550 locations in the U.S.. Customers seek out Rita’s because the brand is known to serve up delicious frozen treats. The company also offers a scalable business for growth-focused entrepreneurs, with multiple ways to reach guests and add revenue streams. And, with immediate market availability, the opportunity for growth is wide open.

If you’re a hands-on entrepreneur with a passion for growth, or a Franchise Owner looking for a smart multi-unit franchise opportunity, we invite you to come grow with us. Complete the lead form below to get in touch with our franchise development team.