Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard has introduced a limited-time offering called Mermaid Italian Ice. This eye-catching, brightly pink frozen dessert combines berry and marshmallow flavors and is finished with a dusting of edible shimmer referred to as Unicorn Glitter.
Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard's Mermaid Italian Ice product range is available through mid-July 2026 and can be ordered either as a Gelati, which layers the flavored ice with the brand’s standard Vanilla Frozen Custard, or as a blended icy drink called the Mermaid Ice Blender.
The visual presentation, with its vivid color and sparkling topping, creates a novel and photogenic experience that will certainly appeal to younger consumers. The dual flavor profile of sweet berry and marshmallow, on the other hand, offers a departure from the traditional fruit-only Italian ice options.
Image Credit: Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard
What's Driving This Trend
- Fantasy-themed Desserts
- Mythical motifs and playful flavor cues are reshaping frozen treats into immersive products with strong appeal for younger consumers and social media audiences.
- Shimmer-enhanced Foods
- Edible glitter, vivid colors, and sparkling finishes create premium visual differentiation in everyday desserts while expanding demand for sensory-driven ingredient innovation.
- Limited-time Flavor Hybrids
- Seasonal mashups that combine Italian ice, custard, and blended drink formats provide brands with a low-risk path to test unconventional taste profiles and boost repeat visits.
Who This Affects Most
- Frozen Dessert
- The category is evolving beyond classic fruit and cream profiles as brands use novelty textures, fantasy branding, and photogenic toppings to stand out in a crowded market.
- Quick-service Restaurants
- Menu innovation built around short-run, visually distinctive treats helps fast-service chains generate urgency, digital sharing, and family-focused traffic.
- Food Ingredients
- Flavor houses and specialty suppliers have growing room to develop colorful, edible, and texture-rich components that support highly shareable dessert launches.
