Alison Dunlap Photography

Linda L. Chadwick,  President and CEO of Rita’s Franchise Company

The name Linda Chadwick may sound familiar to you if you are a fan of the CBS TV show, Undercover Boss.  Earlier this year, Linda was featured on the show as the President and CEO of Rita’s Water Ice.  Linda’s impressive history of working with company franchises and specifically catapulting their brands is well documented.  She spent over 20 years with Burger King and then brought her skills for brand transformation to the Dessange Group, North America and their Fantastic Sams brand. Since 2017, she has applied her business acumen as President and CEO to the popular Rita’s where in 2020, the franchise enjoyed an unprecedented growth of signed agreements. She has been quoted as describing the frozen treats as “happiness in a cup” – a branding expert indeed!

We asked Linda:

Tell us a story when you accomplished something that you felt really made a difference to the people you hoped to serve?

I had a great opportunity to appear on CBS’s Undercover Boss earlier this year and get an inside look at some of our Rita’s locations. As a result of the unfiltered feedback, I received from them, I was able to award life-changing opportunities to these entrepreneurs and their staff. In addition to being featured on the show, I was able to gain insight of areas of opportunities to create initiatives that will benefit the entire Rita’s system in the future.

What surprised you the most in your organization’s history, pleasantly or unpleasantly?

Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard opened its doors in Bensalem, PA. in 1984. Founded by Bob Tumolo, a Philadelphia firefighter enhanced his prized family recipe to include real fruit, named the product after his wife Rita, and Rita’s Italian Ice as born! I feel very blessed to carry on this strong family’s legacy that started 38 years ago.

What are your plans for the organization?

Going forward, we’re putting a heavy focus on leveraging technology to connect with our guests.  The concept of direct-to-consumer has been around for a while but having omni presence with 360 engagement is a newer concept that is being solved through technology and data.

What advice would you share for any woman looking to start or join an organization such as yours?

Rita’s is a 100% franchises model. If you’re looking to start a business for yourself, but not by yourself, then franchising may be right for you.  

We asked Linda a few fun questions, too:

Who are your business icons, if any, and why?

Once person that I admire is Bob Iger. As the CEO of Disney, he was able to take a vision that someone else created and was already seen as great and bring it to a completely new level. He showed the world that it’s not just about what you build, but it’s about the experience that your guests have, and the memories they create that keeps them coming back for more. In theory, this is something that everyone wants to accomplish, but very few people can actually execute against it.

The best piece of advice that a mentor gave to you …could be anyone in your life or on any subject?

As a woman, the best advice I was given and it’s still true today, learn how to say “No” and don’t feel guilty about it.  My favorite quote that resonates with me, especially as a female, is a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt., “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”. We all need to quiet our inner critic, because if you’re feeling inferior it’s because you’re allowing someone to make you feel that way.