The Seasonal Lineup
Jeremiah's Italian Ice is rolling out its Pumpkin Pie Collection for fall 2026, bringing back two limited-time offerings available at participating locations through the end of November, while supplies last. The collection pairs Pumpkin Italian Ice with Vanilla Soft Ice Cream and Cookie Butter Crumbles across two formats: the Pumpkin Pie Flavorite, a layered individual treat, and the Pumpkin Pie Jelati® Cake, a sliceable, shareable frozen cake designed for gatherings and seasonal celebrations.
Erin Buono, Director of Research & Development at Jeremiah's Italian Ice, framed the development as an exercise in nostalgia translation rather than reinvention. "Fall flavors are rooted in nostalgia, so we wanted to capture the experience people associate with pumpkin pie and translate it into a frozen treat," Buono said. "The Pumpkin Italian Ice delivers those familiar seasonal flavors, while the Vanilla Soft Ice Cream and Cookie Butter Crumbles bring in the creaminess and texture that make the whole combination feel like dessert."
Why It Matters for Franchisees
For the brand's growing franchise network — now comprising 175-plus locations open or in development across Florida, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Colorado, Nevada, Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas — the Pumpkin Pie Collection functions as a traffic-driving mechanism without adding menu complexity. Michael Keller, CEO of Jeremiah's Italian Ice, pointed to the dual value of a proven seasonal offering: guest anticipation and franchisee engagement. "Seasonal favorites like this give our franchisees another way to keep guests engaged and coming back throughout the year," Keller said.
The approach reflects a deliberate limited-time offer strategy that many franchise-forward frozen and dessert concepts have leaned into heavily as operators seek low-risk ways to generate incremental visits. By anchoring seasonal LTOs to the brand's existing core menu platform — Italian ice, soft ice cream, and proprietary Jelati® Cake formats — Jeremiah's avoids supply-chain disruptions that can accompany more elaborate seasonal builds.
Brand Momentum
The fall campaign arrives as Jeremiah's carries notable competitive momentum. The chain was named "America's Most Unique Restaurant Menu" in the 2026 Datassential 500 Awards, secured a spot in Technomic's Top 500 U.S. Chain Restaurants list, and ranked No. 211 on Entrepreneur magazine's 2026 Franchise 500® list. Franchise Times also recognized the brand among its 'Fast & Serious: 40 Smart Growing Franchises.'
That growth trajectory puts additional weight on seasonal programming: as Jeremiah's expands into new markets across the Sun Belt, limited-time flavor events help establish brand rituals with guests who may be encountering the concept for the first time. The frozen dessert segment has seen sustained operator interest in LTO-driven traffic strategies, particularly among emerging franchise brands competing against established QSR dessert programs. For Jeremiah's, pumpkin season appears to be a proven lever — one the brand is clearly committed to pulling annually.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
