Rita's Ice Wants To Hit 600 Stores
It turns out that Rita's Ice is a big Philly export: the chain has spread as far as Texas (where they just opened store no. 556) and wants to open no. 600 by the end of the year. Since the franchise has already basically doubled in size since McKnight Capital Partners bought Rita's from the Tumolo family, this goal seems more than doable. What makes it possible? Apparently, "Cool University" Rita's Bensalem training center. Described in a lot of 30 Rock-worthy corporate-speak, Cool U is where Rita's franchise owners learn "the art of happiness" — that (not the public's appetite for water ice) is their recipe for success.
Rita's doubles stores under corporate owner [Philly Deals/Inquirer]
[Photo: Rita's Tangerine Ice via Mr. T in DC/Flickr]
By Brian Moore on 05/06/2009 at 12:47 PM