Spring. Free Rita's. PEEPS(R).

TREVOSE, Pa., March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring has officially sprung and Rita's is celebrating the much anticipated arrival of the new season with a FREE regular Ice and the launch of its new PEEPS^® Italian Ice!

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100308/PH66034 )

Rita's will hold its 18th Annual First Day of Spring Giveaway from noon to 10pm on Saturday, March 20.  Each guest who visits one of the over 500 open Rita's locations will receive a FREE regular size, 10 oz. cup of Italian Ice in the available flavor of their choice.

With over 40 delectable flavors plus the cool new PEEPS^® Ice, Rita's is the place to be on the First Day of Spring. The arrival of spring just became a little sweeter and much tastier with the launch of Rita's PEEPS^® Italian Ice.

PEEPS^® Facebook Fandemonium

In addition, Rita's is launching a Facebook contest, "PEEPS^® Fandemonium!" Guests are encouraged to visit Rita's Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/ritasitalianicecompany to become a fan of Rita's and enter to win cool prizes! Beginning March 20 through April 4, Rita's will be selecting one winner each day to receive Free Ice for a Year while other lucky Rita's fans will win Rita's and PEEPS^® Brand swag bags!  

Cool Facts:

• Rita's is partnering with another springtime favorite, PEEPS^®. Together, they are introducing NEW PEEPS^® Italian Ice.
• Rita's guests will enjoy the combination of the PEEPS^® taste and the refreshing, cool, smoothness of Rita's Italian Ice.
• NEW PEEPS^® Ice will be available starting March 20th until April 4th at all open Rita's locations.
• Rita's is planning to give away more than 1.4 million cups of Ice on the First Day of Spring.
• The number of people who visit Rita's on the First Day of Spring is over 30 times the average number of visitors at Disney World that day.
• The 14 million ounces of Italian Ice required for the First Day of Spring would fill more than 13 tanker trucks.

About Rita's Franchise Company
Rita's Franchise Company, headquartered in Trevose, PA, is the largest Italian Ice concept in the nation, currently operating in 18 states with more than 550 stores. Rita's brand promise is Ice, Custard and Happiness. The chain offers a variety of frozen treats including its famous Italian Ice, Old Fashioned Frozen Custard, and layered Gelati, healthy Light Line™ treat options as well as its signature Misto^® and Blendini™ creations. Rita's was named one of the Top 25 Franchise High Performers by the Wall Street Journal's 'Startup Journal.' In a 2009 Zagat survey of over 6,000 fast-food fans, Rita's was ranked #2 in the Top Ice Cream/Custard category.  The World Needs More Rita's!

About PEEPS^® and Just Born, Inc.

Just Born, Inc. is a privately owned company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Bethlehem, PA, where it manufactures PEEPS^®, HOT TAMALES^®, MIKE AND IKE^®, MIKE AND IKE^® ZOURS^® and TEENEE BEANEE^® Brand Candies. PEANUT CHEWS^® Brand Candies are produced in Philadelphia, PA.  All Just Born candies are made in the U.S.A.  

Manufacturing footage of Rita's Ice and PEEPS^® is available at: http://imiragevideo.serveftp.com:8080/WebInterface/login.html

Username: justborn

Password:  justborn1

Additional images and information can be found at http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/justborn/42138/

For more Rita's information, please visit www.ritasice.com.

For PEEPS^® information, please visit  www.marshmallowpeeps.com.

SOURCE Rita's Franchise Company