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The first Dairy Queen restaurant has opened in Jordan, making it the latest Middle-East country for the popular quick-service franchisor.
The DQ Grill & Chill restaurant is located at Abdoun Circle in Amman, Jordan, and is the first of ten planned location being developed by the Nafal brothers, who run SKM Franchise Co. Ltd.
According to Dairy Queen, the DQ Grill & Chill restaurants in Jordan will feature the brand’s signature GrillBurgers, chicken strip baskets, chicken sandwiches and a variety of salads and other sandwiches along with the full menu of world-famous DQ treats, all of which will mirror the menu found in other countries in the region. The DQ Treat stores will feature the soft-serve products that have made the Dairy Queen system an icon in the industry, such as the signature Blizzard Treat which “is served upside down or it is free,” soft-serve cones with the curl on top, sundaes, Moolatté frozen coffee flavored beverages, DQ Cakes and other delicious treats.
Dairy Queen Focusing on Emerging Markets
“Our strategy is to open franchises in emerging markets,” Dairy Queen’s President and CEO John Gainor said at the 2015 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting.
Middle East expansion has been at the top of Dairy Queen’s list over the last couple of years. Its list of countries already includes locations in Bahrain, Brunei, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, with Jordan in the works.
“We believe the DQ brand will be very well received in Jordan as we continue to grow our DQ fan base around the world,” said John Gainor, CEO and President of International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ). “As we expand our footprint internationally, we rely on strong franchise partners like SKM Franchise Co. Ltd. to uphold our values and brand promise to a larger and more diverse customer base. Working with a knowledgeable, experienced partner with a strong team on the ground allows us the best opportunity for success in our new markets.”
The Nafal brothers have more than 20 years of retail development experience. In 2005, they opened El Rancho Supermercado, which grew into a chain of 13 supermarkets in Texas. They own La Bodega, a food distribution company based in the state as well.
For more information read a Mazor’sEdge special report on Dairy Queen.
© 2016 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.