DiCosmo's Italian Ice Launches U.S. Franchises for 111-Year-Old Recipe

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 5

DiCosmo's Italian Ice has begun offering franchises nationwide, with early inquiries already coming in as the New Jersey family business looks beyond its single-shop roots.
111 years after starting in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the company is targeting the Eastern Seaboard and warm-weather states where longer seasons could keep stores open more of the year.
Fresh, on-site production is central to the plan: owner Eileen O'Connor said the lemon-based Italian ice must be made in small batches at each location to preserve its smooth texture and clean fruit flavor.
The expansion leans on a four-generation recipe made with fruit, sugar and water, not stabilizers or emulsifiers, as DiCosmo's tries to scale a local community institution without moving into packaged retail.

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Can a 110-year-old secret Italian ice recipe survive the modern franchise world without resorting to artificial stabilizers?

Will expanding to warmer states melt away the nostalgic, small-town identity that kept this local business alive for a century?

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