Operations

Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard acquires franchise locations in Savannah, Georgia market

Photo: Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard

October 10, 2025

Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard has acquired franchise locations in Savannah, Georgia, converting them into the brand's first corporate-owned shops in more than 15 years and signaling a new phase of strategic investment and growth, according to a press release.

The move is part of a larger plan to accelerate expansion outside of its core markets, focusing on high-growth regions in the South. The strategy involves acquiring select franchisee shops and adding new corporate-developed locations to establish multi-shop regional portfolios. These portfolios will then be sold to experienced multi-unit operators to strengthen the brand's presence and create scalable growth opportunities.

"Our Savannah investment demonstrates the value we place on building new shops and putting our own money into seed markets that we can grow over time," Lawrence Brown, Rita's CDO, said in the release. "We're acquiring strong local shops, adding new builds with drive-thrus where there's demand and scaling markets to a level where multi-unit operators can step in and grow them even further. It's a model that accelerates brand growth while keeping our franchisees and guests as our first priority."

The company's near-term focus is on drive-thru locations, a format that continues to outperform traditional layouts and meets the growing consumer demand for convenience, particularly in high-traffic Sunbelt markets.

This corporate seeding strategy complements Rita's ongoing franchise growth, which includes more than 20 new shops planned across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The brand continues to target high-potential Sunbelt and SEC markets such as Georgia, Texas, Florida and the Carolinas.

"Our goals are to accelerate development, build sustainable markets and position strong operators for long-term success. By combining corporate investment with franchise expansion, we're building a foundation for lasting growth," Brown said in the release.

Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard was founded in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, and has more than 575 shops.