News

Rita's Italian Ice names Duke Marketing as new AOR

January 10, 2012

Rita's Italian Ice has chosen California-based Duke Marketing LLC as an agency of record. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Duke Marketing, an integrated marketing communications firm, will manage the communications, branding, local store marketing and public relations duties for the Philadelphia-based Italian ice concept.

In December, private equity firm Falconhead Capital LLC, acquired a controlling stake in Rita's Italian Ice Franchise Company, with plans to grow the business.

Shortly thereafter, Rita's named Jonathan Fornaci as its new CEO.

"There's a lot of growth in our future," Fornaci said. "We needed a firm to communicate our brand and having worked with Duke Marketing before, I knew they were the perfect fit for us to help us grow."

Prior to his appointment at Rita's, Fornaci was CEO of Straw Hat Pizza in California, which also employed Duke Marketing as an AOR.

Linda Duke, CEO of Duke Marketing LLC, said her company's focus will be on gaining more national awareness for the Rita's brand and assisting the team with creative strategies and grand openings for new locations.

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