This past January, after Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard CEO Linda Chadwick appeared on an episode of CBS’s award-winning series UNDERCOVER BOSS, millions of people got to learn about our incredible business and see firsthand how our Franchise Owners inspire our guests every day. Show
Donning an “earthy, Bohemian” disguise that included lots of beaded bracelets, big glasses and a brown frizzy wig, Linda became “Marcy Morgan” and set out to see how our franchisees were implementing her new initiatives. A unique perspective and opportunity to learnDuring her stint as “Marcy” working undercover at three Rita’s locations across the country, Linda was able to get a first-hand, behind-the-counter view into how these Rita’s shops were operating and learn more about the people running the businesses. “Being offered a once-in-a-lifetime experience like this, you want to make the most of it.” – Linda Chadwick, CEO Her undercover adventure embedded her in the everyday life of a franchisee. In the episode you’ll see some inspiring franchise stories and see her working alongside:
Learning from our franchisees – both the good and the bad – is paramount to the success of Rita’s Italian Ice as one of the nation’s premier QSR Ice cream franchise opportunities. The experience was both enlightening and extremely helpful for the featured Franchisees AND our CEO. “Going undercover showed me our franchisees are really engaged, want to run their shops effectively and are passionate about ‘serving up happiness’ to guests. We plan to apply the lessons to find more ways to help franchisees uphold brand standards, run successful shops and create a stronger bond with their local communities.” – Linda Chadwick, CEO See for yourself, what makes owning a Rita’s the ideal frozen treat franchiseAfter our recent appearance on CBS’s Emmy Award winning original series UNDERCOVER BOSS, interest in Rita’s has never been higher. That makes now the best time to consider adding Rita’s to your portfolio. We’re a proud lifestyle brand with 470 franchisees operating nearly 600 units nationwide and the perfect franchise to own if you’re looking for:
What could be better than that? We have immediate growth markets near you – contact us today to capitalize on the demand in your market Want to learn even more? Take a look at Rita’s in the news:Franchise TimesIf you are interested in owning a Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard and joining our team of passionate owners, fill out the form below to download our Franchise Report and speak with our Franchise Development team.
Linda Chadwick is queen of the fast food empire. She may be the President & CEO of the famed Rita’s Italian Ice & Custard currently, but she had very humble beginnings. With a lot of hard work and perseverance, she quickly worked her way up the fast food ladder to now overseeing one of the biggest names in the industry. Get to know Linda better with these five facts. 1. Linda graduated with her Bachelor’s of Arts in Management from Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, VA. She graduated cum laude. 2. Before Linda started her venture with Rita’s Italian Ice, she was with the Burger King Company for over 20 years. She actually began flipping burgers at 18 years old. However, she quickly moved up the line. She held position of a company business manager, then franchise business leader role and then Vice President Franchise Operations, Southeast Division before she left in 2013. 3. Linda is currently the President and CEO of Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard since 2017 to the present day. A Philadelphia firefighter, Bob Tumolo started the company in 1984 with his mother’s water ice recipe. He started by selling four flavors of ice on his porch. It was so popular, the brand just began to grow exponentially. 4. Rita’s Italian Ice has opened more franchises in 2020 than they ever have, according to the CEO Linda Chadwick. Curious what it takes to open one of these franchises?
5. When she was in her 40’s, Linda became a single mom. She had to juggle raising two kids and balance her career at the same time. She admits it was “hard” but when she was told she couldn’t do it, it made her want to prove her naysayers wrong. Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard will be featured on season 11 of CBS’s Undercover Boss. Chadwick told the Biz Journal she is going undercover in her franchises to, “see how her new initiatives are working and to help franchisees become more profitable.” Get a Sneak Peek into Undercover Boss with Rita’s IceUndercover Boss airs on CBS Fridays at 8pm EST and you can catch past episodes on CNBC. Related 5 Facts About Omar Soliman of College Hunks Hauling 5 Facts About Nick Friedman of College Hunks Hauling 5 Facts About CCO of Bowlero Corp Colie Edison For many of us, summers are marked by barbecues, beaches, and baseball. Nothing pairs better with each than a tasty treat like Italian Ice or frozen custard — especially after a Phillies win. As President and CEO of Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, I have a front-row seat to watching kids, families, and entire communities make those lasting memories. Our passion for serving up happiness has led to growth for our brand. What started as a front-porch business founded by a retired Philadelphia firefighter in the spring of 1984 now has over 550 shops nationwide and is 100% franchised. This means that the national brand owns no shops, and all Rita’s locations are owned by individual entrepreneurs. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to appear on CBS’s Undercover Boss to get an inside look at three of our Rita’s franchise locations around the country — even serving up smiles and many Italian ices, frozen custards, and gelatis myself. But as I visited these local franchise businesses, I quickly discovered something I didn’t expect. Rita’s is more than just the delicious creamy custard and tart Italian ice we serve. We are a community of people, a franchise community, passionate about the local businesses we represent in cities and towns across the nation. Owning a franchise can be life-changing. Take Hezrron Gonzales, an immigrant from the Philippines who started with us as a Treat Team member, proved himself and climbed the ladder fast, then became the owner of his own Rita’s in Tom’s River, New Jersey. I met Stefani Nieves, too — a single mother — who used franchise ownership as a vehicle to improve her family’s life in Holland, Michigan. Chip Byers and Andrew Collins, franchisees devoted to creating a more inclusive society in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, showed me what it means to be committed to your community by hiring individuals with disabilities and autism. While each local franchise owner I met was different, they all left me in awe. I am proud to be a part of a franchise that works to help people of all backgrounds, genders, and abilities earn a living, provide for their families, and chase their dreams. The franchise industry offers this same opportunity to Americans every day. When someone opens their own store, they are largely on their own. But when a person buys a store that’s part of a franchise, they have access to support, resources, and guidance from brands. As a result, franchises help make owning a business accessible for many aspiring entrepreneurs. In fact, nearly one-third of all local franchise business owners say they would not be able to own a business without the franchise model. The support of the franchise business model has been especially valuable for entrepreneurs who may face bigger hurdles, like women and people of color. The International Franchise Association estimates that 26% of franchises are owned by people of color, compared with 17% of independent businesses. Evidence suggests that the franchise model is a helpful tool to encourage higher rates of entrepreneurship among women, too.
Business ownership has never been more important. With the economy slowly rebounding from the turbulence caused by the global pandemic, our local franchise owners face challenges finding workers and planning for the future. Fortunately, the franchise model means that no small business owner has to tackle these challenges alone. The support of a proven business and a franchise network means that our local franchise owners are in business for themselves — not by themselves. As the International Franchise Association’s “Open for Opportunity” Roadshow rolled into Philadelphia last week, it facilitated a conversation about diversity in franchising at Thomas Jefferson University, a discussion around supporting franchisees at CertaPro in Audubon, and an event featuring local franchisees and elected officials to discuss the state of the franchise sector at our headquarters in Trevose. It’s a great time to pay attention to the many unique stories that the franchising industry has to offer — stories like that of Hezrron, Stefani, Chip, and countless others. Franchise businesses like Rita’s offer our communities more than just sweet treats. We offer the opportunity to make any American Dream a reality. Linda Chadwick is President and CEO of Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC headquartered in Trevose, Pa. |