Jim Rudolph had no intention of becoming the permanent chief executive of Rita’s Italian Ice when the group of investors he was part of bought out the concept in 2005.
“I said, ‘I’ll help start it up. After a couple of months, I’ll go back’ (to Pittsburgh),” he said. “I haven’t left in four years.”
Rudolph, a former Wendy’s and Chuck E. Cheese franchisee, soon became committed to the brand. He not only stayed, commuting by plane to Rita’s Philadelphia-area headquarters, he turned the concept on its head.
“We changed everything,” he said.
Some of his more significant changes include the new brand culture he created for the corporation and the franchise system, as well as launching a new store model. He also emphasized research and development as well as implemented improvements to the chain’s distribution system. Read more.