Thrifty Ice Cream makes a comeback with plans for expansion, new flavors

More details on the future of the beloved Thrifty Ice Cream brand were released by its new owner after concerns that its demise would be tied to the closure of Rite Aid stores nationwide.

On July 2, the ice cream brand was acquired by Hilrod Holdings, months after Rite Aid officials announced the company would be entering its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy

process in May.

The holding company, tied to Monster Beverage Corporation executives Hilton Schlosberg and Rodney Sacks, paid $19.2 million for the brand. 

The new owners had been teasing a comeback on social media in the months since. 

On Aug. 7, the company confirmed plans to expand the brand with new flavors, new packaging and availability at new retail locations across additional geographic regions. The owners noted that there would be no change to the ingredients, flavor or texture of the existing flavors that fans have come to love.

“Ownership intends to maintain and grow the current management team as they plan to revitalize Thrifty without altering the core of what made it unforgettable for over 85 years,” the company said in a statement.

Upgrades to manufacturing and logistics are also in the works to “ensure quality, availability, and long-term growth.”

The changes are expected to begin immediately, with wider distribution ramping up in the fall and through 2026. 

“What began as a pharmacy counter staple has become a cornerstone of West Coast nostalgia,” company officials said. “Now, it’s positioned to become a modern-day legacy; one scoop at a time. While the chapter with Rite Aid has ended, the spirit of Thrifty remains unchanged.”