Rita's Water Ice

Rita's Italian Ice is a specialty frozen dessert company founded in 1984 by Bob Tumolo in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania. Named after his wife, Rita, the company has grown to over 500 locations across 20 U.S. states and internationally, including China. Rita's is known for its unique Italian ice recipe, which features real fruit and enhanced flavors, setting it apart from traditional water ice.

The product lineup includes Italian ice made fresh daily, frozen custard, frozen drinks, and other sweet treats. Rita's emphasizes freshness by discarding unsold products after 36 hours and focuses on providing a delightful customer experience with friendly service and community engagement. Operating primarily through a franchise model since 1989, Rita's has expanded its reach with support from various private equity firms. The company is also recognized for its community-oriented promotions, such as giving away free Italian ice on the first day of spring.