Rita’s Italian Ice honors ‘The Birds’ with new flavor
It may be summer, but Philadelphia Eagles fans are already thinking about the upcoming season. To help get the region ready for football, Rita’s Italian Ice has unveiled a new summer flavor dedicated to the team.
The new flavor — called “Go Birds!” — has been mixed to resemble the Eagles’ green color. It has a flavor that is a mix of apple and pear, according to Madalyn Weintraub, director of brand marketing for Rita’s. The flavor is available for a limited time, and can be found at Rita’s locations in the Greater Philadelphia region, including Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.
“We’re thrilled to give fans a fun way to celebrate the return of football season in true Philly style with Rita’s,” Linda Chadwick, president and CEO, Rita’s Italian Ice, said in a press release. “Go Birds! is a treat designed to honor the Philadelphia Eagles as much as it is to celebrate the greatest fans in football.”
To go along with the new flavor, the Eagles and Rita’s are also offering a limitededition Go Birds! Tailgate Pack, which comes complete with a Rita’s/Eagles branded cooler bag, four quarts of Rita’s ice, cups, spoons and scooper. The tailgate packs can be purchased at all participating Rita’s locations.
“We all know how much of a summer tradition Rita’s Italian Ice is here in the Delaware Valley, so it was an honor to be part of this creative process with the leader in the Italian Ice and Frozen Custard industry,” Catherine Carlson, senior vice president of revenue and strategy, Philadelphia Eagles, said in the release. “Go Birds! is our way of thanking Eagles fans for their relentless passion and year-round support.”
The new flavor is the first time Rita’s has developed a flavor in conjunction with a Philadelphia sports team, Weintraub said in an emailed response to questions, adding that Rita’s approached the Eagles with the idea.
“For the past several years, it has been a tradition at Eagles training camp for rookie players to deliver Rita’s Italian Ice to veteran players after each practice,” she said. “There is such a natural affinity between our brands — Rita’s loves the Eagles and the Eagles love Rita’s.” Weintraub added that Rita’s became an official partner of the Eagles earlier this year, and the flavor and tailgate packs have been in the works since the winter.
Rolled out July 29, the flavor has been well received by Rita’s customers, according to Weintraub. The Go Birds! Flavor is available at 150 Rita’s locations throughout the Philadelphia, Wilmington, Del., and Trenton, N.J., areas.