Jeremiah's Italian Ice

Jeremiah's Italian Ice began franchising in 2019, and in five years reached 150 locations, hitting that milestone with the opening of a Tucson unit in May. Michael Keller, CEO and president of the dessert chain, credits that growth to "genuine guest service, a generous heart for our communities, vibrant locations, a Frog Squad 'cool' factor and a strategic vision," according to a statement.The Frog Squad, which refers to Jeremiah's franchise operators, sets the tone for the company's hip culture--a differentiator in the category. The frozen desserts are also unique, featuring 40 rotating flavors of Italian ice along with a several types of soft ice cream. The signature Jeremiah's Gelati features layers of Italian ice and soft ice cream in a multitude of flavor combinations. And then there are Jeremiah's Flavorites, which layer Italian ice, soft ice cream and branded treats such as Oreo cookie crumbles and Nerds candy.Jeremiah's was founded by Jeremy Litwack, who started by selling Italian ice from a cart in Philadelphia in 1996. He opened the first brick-and-mortar in Florida that same year, and the brand now operates in 11 states.