Rita's Italian Ice has awarded an area franchise development agreement for Orange County, California, to Reggie Scales who plans to develop 40 outlets for the brand throughout six years.
"Rita's brand is perfect for Orange County and we are proud to welcome Reggie as our newest Area Developer," said Jonathan Fornaci, chief executive officer of Rita's.
Recently acquired by Falconhead Capital LLC in New York, Rita's Italian Ice has been aggressively expanding in its core markets in the U.S. as well as internationally. In April, Rita's Italian Ice announced it had awarded area rights to part of Los Angeles County and has recently opened a West Coast office to support its growth in California.
"Rita's has carved a niche in the frozen dessert space like no other," Scales said. "California is the next logical frontier and I'm excited to pioneer Rita's shift to Orange County, California. This will be the next gold rush but for your taste buds."
The company is actively seeking area development agreements and multiple-unit operators throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Florida, the Carolinas and the Northeast, as well as single unit franchisees in the Mid-Atlantic region. Rita's is also actively pursuing major international markets across several continents.
The chain currently includes more than 625 outlets in 19 states.
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