Tag: Dairy Queen

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Berkshire Hathaway’s International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ) has recently unveiled its ambitious plans to expand its presence in China’s quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry. In a strategic move, IDQ’s wholly owned subsidiary, American Dairy Queen Corporation, has partnered with CFB Group, a franchise ownership company based in Shanghai, to establish 180 food-centric DQ® restaurants across China by 2034. This collaboration marks CFB Group’s entry into the food-centric DQ restaurant segment in Asia.

Nicolas Boudet, the Chief Operating Officer, International, at International Dairy Queen, emphasized the significance of introducing food-centric restaurants as a crucial component of their international growth strategy. By offering a balanced selection of hot food and treat menus, IDQ aims to cater to the diverse preferences of Chinese consumers. With CFB Group spearheading this venture, the stage is set for a groundbreaking expansion in their fastest-growing market worldwide.

Alan Hsu, CEO of CFB Group, highlighted the fruitful partnership between CFB Group and International Dairy Queen, which has spanned over two decades. During this time, they have successfully developed and launched unique treat products tailored specifically for the Chinese market. As a result, the DQ brand has established itself as a thriving quick-service restaurant brands in China. Building upon this success, CFB Group and International Dairy Queen are now focused on innovation and product development to meet the demands of Chinese consumers craving hot food menu items. The ultimate goal is to position DQ restaurants as leaders in offering both balanced hot food and treats, thereby expanding their fan base to encompass customers seeking complete meals as well as indulgent treats.

Currently, CFB Group operates more than 1,000 DQ restaurants in Mainland China. In March 2022, they committed to opening an additional 600 treat-centric DQ restaurants by 2030. As part of the new plans, 180 of these establishments will be food-centric DQ restaurants, set to be launched by 2034. With this ambitious expansion, CFB Group is poised to consolidate its position in China’s QSR industry and further strengthen its foothold in one of IDQ’s most crucial markets.

China is the fastest-growing market for IDQ, ranking among the top three in terms of size alongside the United States and Canada. Currently, China boasts over 1,300 DQ restaurants, illustrating the tremendous potential for further growth and success in this dynamic region.

© 2023 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 a 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.

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Berkshire Hathway’s American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ), a prominent player in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry, has recently made two significant additions to its international business team.

The company, a subsidiary of International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ), announced the hiring of Chris Wren as the vice president of development, international, and Greg Kirian as the vice president of marketing, international. These appointments aim to bolster brand awareness and facilitate restaurant growth outside of the United States and Canada.

Chris Wren brings an impressive background of nearly three decades in franchising and the restaurant industry to ADQ. His extensive executive finance and development experience at renowned companies such as CIT Bank, Dine Brands Global, Wingstop, and Yum! Brands make him a valuable asset. In his new role, Wren will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and execution of international business development in both new and existing markets.

Greg Kirian has over two decades of experience in the global food and beverage industry. Having held leadership positions in international marketing at esteemed companies like Little Caesar’s, Wingstop, and Yum! Brands, Kirian is well-equipped to lead brand and marketing strategies for ADQ’s international markets.

The decision to hire strong leaders in marketing and development roles aligns with ADQ’s ambitious business goals of expanding their global footprint beyond the United States and Canada.

Nicolas Boudet, the chief operating officer, international at American Dairy Queen Corporation, emphasized the criticality of such leadership to achieve their objectives. Boudet expressed confidence in both Wren and Kirian, commending their impressive and diverse portfolios of experience in global businesses. Their expertise will be instrumental in driving DQ restaurant growth and enhancing brand awareness in new and existing markets worldwide.

Chris Wren and Greg Kirian both hold master’s degrees in business administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, acts as the parent company for American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ) and Dairy Queen Canada, Inc. With a presence in over 20 countries, IDQ operates a system of more than 7,000 restaurants.

© 2023 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 a 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.

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In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Berkshire Hathaway’s Dairy Queen is once again on the lookout for opportunities to expand its international reach.

Troy Bader, Dairy Queen’s President & CEO, is bullish on China’s prospects, citing it as the strongest international market for the popular fast-food chain, where it has over 1,200 locations. Additionally, he notes that the existing supply chain has Dairy Queen well-positioned to open its first locations in Hong Kong, making it a top priority for the company.

While China remains at the forefront of Dairy Queen’s expansion plans, the chain is also exploring opportunities in other regions. Bader points to Europe, India, and Australia as markets that are on the company’s radar. With a presence in 20 countries, Dairy Queen boasts over 7,000 restaurants globally, and its total sales for 2022 were an impressive $5.7 billion.

Founded in 1940, Dairy Queen got its start in Joliet, Illinois. Over the years, the chain has evolved to become a beloved American institution, famous for its soft-serve ice cream and tasty burgers. In 1998, Berkshire Hathaway acquired Dairy Queen, bringing the iconic brand under the wing of the legendary Warren Buffett’s conglomerate.

Looking ahead, Dairy Queen is poised to continue its growth trajectory as it expands its international footprint. With a strong supply chain in place and a proven track record of success, the chain is well-positioned to capture new markets and delight customers around the world with its signature menu items. For fans of Dairy Queen, this means that they can look forward to enjoying their favorite treats in more places than ever before.

© 2023 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 a 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.

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Berkshire Hathaway’s International Dairy Queen Inc. has appointed Nicolas Boudet as its new chief operating officer, international. Boudet will lead the international business, including operations, franchise development, supply chain and marketing in more than 20 countries outside of the U.S. and Canada. He brings more than 20 years of business leadership experience at well-known, globally recognized hospitality and quick-service restaurant brands.

Boudet most recently served as senior vice president global development and president of international at Wingstop Restaurants, Inc. Before joining Wingstop in 2018, he was executive vice president and group president international at Focus Brands where he was responsible for Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, McAlister’s, Moe’s and Schlotzky’s. Boudet also held leadership positions at YUM! Brands serving as: head of franchising and development for Taco Bell U.S., and chief development officer Latin America and Caribbean for KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

“Our international business is our largest growth opportunity and bringing in a strong international franchise leader is paramount to deliver on our future success,” said Troy Bader, president and CEO at International Dairy Queen. “With decades of increasingly successful franchise experience in the quick-service restaurant industry, Nicolas Boudet brings a vision and growth business mindset as we continue to expand in existing countries and enter new markets.”

“I am honored to join International Dairy Queen at a time when global growth is a key strategic business priority,” said Nicolas Boudet, chief operating officer, international, at International Dairy Queen. “I am committed to empowering this talented team to its full potential, building relationships with current and prospective franchise owners, and introducing new fans around the world to the DQ experience.”

Boudet holds a master’s degree from ESSEC Business School, Paris, France, in a program administered by Institut de Management Hôtelier International (IMHI) and Cornell University. He is based in Dallas, Texas, where he resides with his family.

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 a 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.

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Berkshire Hathaway’s Dairy Queen has lost its lawsuit against office products dealer W.B. Mason over its use of the word “Blizzard.”

Dairy Queen’s Blizzard is a popular frozen confection that the quick service restaurant chain has been selling since 1985, and the company alleged that its trademark was infringed W.B. Mason’s use of the word as names for its copier paper and bottle spring water.

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson sided with W.B. Mason in a 217-page decision released on June 10, 2022, and released on Friday. She wrote that “Dairy Queen introduced no evidence of an actual association between the two products.”

In Dairy Queen’s 2018 lawsuit that it originally filed its home state of Minnesota, the company asserted that “W.B. Mason’s actions constitute unfair competition and false designation of origin under the common law of Minnesota and all states, and have caused and are likely to cause injury to the public, and have caused and are likely to cause Dairy Queen to suffer irreparable injury.”

In response, W.B. Mason filed a lawsuit in its home state of Massachusetts.

“Indeed, no reasonable person would ever mistakenly believe that copy paper or spring water sold by W.B. Mason and emblazoned with the W.B. MASON mark and logo emanates from, or is associated with (Dairy Queen),” attorneys for W.B. Mason maintained in their filing.

Berkshire Hathaway, which acquired Dairy Queen in 1998, has not decided whether to appeal the decision.

© 2022 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 a 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.

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Berkshire Hathaway’s American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ) has announced its new Signature Stackburgers™ menu. Centered on cheeseburgers that deliver on consumer demand for big flavor and variety, this new menu is the most significant product rollout for ADQ in the past 20 years.

“Our hot food menu, served at our DQ® Grill & Chill® restaurants, is key to our business goal to become a balanced leader in both food and treat items. We know that means innovating and expanding our everyday food offerings, and the new Signature Stackburgers go beyond typical cheeseburgers that you find at quick service restaurants,” said Troy Bader, president and chief executive officer at International Dairy Queen. “Offered in five flavor varieties, our new Signature Stackburgers deliver on everything fans want, and we are confident these new cheeseburgers will keep our fans coming back for more.”

Created as an everyday offering to defeat burger boredom, the Signature Stackburgers menu comes in five flavor varieties in the U.S. Offered as one-third pound doubles and one-half pound triples, each cheeseburger is made with 100-percent seasoned real beef and served on a soft and toasted bun with a wide array of delicious toppings.

The New Signature Stackburgers menu includes:

• FlameThrower® with fiery FlameThrower sauce, perfectly melted Pepper Jack*, jalapeno bacon, tomato and lettuce
• Loaded A.1.® with A.1. Thick & Hearty Steak Sauce, creamy peppercorn sauce, thick-cut Applewood smoked bacon, perfectly melted Sharp American* and crunchy onion rings
• Bacon Two Cheese Deluxe with perfectly melted Sharp American* and White Cheddar*, thick-cut Applewood smoked bacon, tomato, onion, lettuce, pickles, ketchup and mayo
• Two Cheese Deluxe with perfectly melted Sharp American* and White Cheddar*, tomato, onion, lettuce, pickles, ketchup and mayo
• Original Cheeseburger with perfectly melted Sharp American*, pickles, ketchup and mustard

“We know our fans are looking for cheeseburgers that offer big flavor and premium ingredients that keep them coming back for more, and the Signature Stackburgers menu was designed to meet that craving,” said Kelly Kenny, vice president of brand and product marketing at ADQ. “We now are offering five different cheeseburgers that bring flavor variety to our everyday menu, each made with perfectly melted cheese, seasoned beef and a host of creative toppings, all served on a perfectly soft and airy bun.”

The Signature Stackburgers menu is available at all DQ Grill & Chill restaurants across the U.S.

© 2022 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 a 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.

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Berkshire Hathaway’s Dairy Queen will open 600 new locations in China by 2030, adding the first 100 by the end of 2022.

China is the fastest growing market for the DQ brand and is among the top three in size, alongside the U.S. and Canada. There are currently more than 1,100 DQ restaurants in China.

The quick serve locations will be owned by FountainVest Partners, a leading independent private equity firm with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The franchise development agreement, spearheaded by the FountainVest-acquired franchise ownership company CFB Group, expands its stronghold in China. FountainVest recently acquired CFB Group, a franchise ownership group in mainland China with more than 900 DQ restaurants.

“The market for frozen treats is booming in China and we predict the industry will continue a rapid growth trajectory during the next ten years,” said Andrew Huang, managing director at FountainVest Partners. “FountainVest is committed to fully supporting CFB Group’s growth of both its existing DQ restaurants and opening 600 new DQ restaurants by 2030.”

CFB Group has worked with IDQ to develop and launch products unique to the Chinese market, including hard pack ice cream, specialty novelties, light meals and artfully designed DQ Cakes. Across a more than 20-year relationship, CFB Group has outperformed China’s industrial average for frozen treats, making the DQ brand one of the best performing QSR brands in China.

“China remains an important growth market to us, and this expansion with FountainVest provides the opportunity to widen our footprint in one of the fastest-growing countries for QSR,” said Jean Champagne, chief operating officer, international, at International Dairy Queen. “The continued success of our investment in China, which includes several unique-to-China food and treat offerings, showcases the strength of the DQ brand to fans throughout the country.”

© 2022 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 a 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.

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Berkshire Hathaway’s Dairy Queen has added a dairy-free version to its iconic Dilly Bar. Warren Buffett has long been a fan of the classic version, but now vegetarians can enjoy a Non-dairy Dilly Bar that is gluten free, dairy free and plant-based.

The bar uses a coconut cream based protein that is encased in a crunchy vegan chocolate coating.

“The Non-Dairy Dilly Bar is being offered in response to fan requests, as well as to align with consumer and industry trends,” Dairy Queen’s Corporate Communications Director Amie Hoffner explained to QSRweb. “Many families have members who follow a variety of diets, including dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan, and we at DQ want everyone to have access to a treat that suits their needs.”

Summer just got better!

© 2020 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a 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.

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A local Dairy Queen franchisee has gone belly up in Fort Worth, Texas, forcing the closure of nine Dairy Queen Grill restaurants.

The restaurants were owned by Lickety Split Food Services and located in Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Euless, Hurst, Keller, and Roanoke.

A letter posted on the front door stated:

“It is with deep regret that we have discontinued operating our Dairy Queen restaurants. Nothing gave us greater joy than to serve you DQ’s amazing treats and eats. Thank you for the wonderful season we shared. Fun numbers: 9 DQ locations opened 2013 – 2016. 6 years and 7 months in business. 7,500,000+ customers served. 4,250,000 Blizzards flipped. Special thank you to our amazing team members who worked hard to make your DQ experience better than you remember.”

Never fear DQ lovers, there are some 40 other DQ locations in the area that are owned by other operators and are doing business as usual.

© 2019 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.

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As part of a nationwide franchising initiative, American Dairy Queen is focused on expanding its regional footprint in Columbia, South Carolina.

The franchisor is looking for qualified, multi-unit capable franchisees who “have the ambition and skillset to succeed with a timeless company.”

Taking a proactive development approach, the brand has outlined immediate franchise opportunities with potential DQ Grill & Chill trade areas already identified.

“The Dairy Queen brand has been bringing joy to people worldwide for many years. Its reputation and staying power are what attracts dedicated franchise ownership groups and encourages them to add the DQ brand to their portfolios,” said Julie Davis, Director of Franchise Sales and Development U.S. “With immediate opportunities available, strong multi-unit operators have the chance to grow with a classic brand while being among the first to introduce DQ Grill & Chill® to the Columbia community.”

Maintaining its recipe for success throughout more than 75 years, the DQ system currently has more than 7,000 locations worldwide and is expanding nationwide with a focus on 10 additional growth markets in: Sacramento, Calif.; Baltimore, Md.; Orlando, Fla.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Tulsa, Okla.; Memphis, Tenn.; Albany, N.Y.; Fresno, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; and New Orleans, La.

After perfecting the DQ Grill & Chill design prototype and adding new executives to its franchise development leadership team, ADQ is launching incentive programs to attract motivated multi-unit operators who are eager to grow with a timeless brand and execute through the development process at an advanced pace. These programs include a timeline, multi-unit opening, year on year and a re-purpose incentive.

“We launched these incentives for elite franchisees with a fast-track mindset and our team is eager and ready to support them,” added Davis. “The Dairy Queen brand’s existing customer base in Columbia has been lucky enough to experience the sweet treats we have to offer. Now, we’re ready for them to be able to enjoy a full dining experience with made-to-order lunch and dinner options.”

The industry leading DQ Grill & Chill business model, includes site selection intelligence, seasoned business consultants and ongoing marketing support. It is designed to attract individuals and operating teams with a strong business acumen, proven ownership experience, an interest in multi-unit franchising and a net worth of at least $1,000,000.

DQ Grill & Chill® restaurants offer a full line of fresh, high-quality food and frozen treats to delight fans of all ages. Moving forward, ADQ is focused on building freestanding drive-thru restaurants. The investment for this model ranges from $1,091,025 to $1,849,625, which includes the initial $35,000 franchise fee but does not include the cost of land.

© 2019 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.