Dairy Queen® Expands in China

Multi-unit developers to open 14 stores in Shanghai and Guangzhou

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (Wednesday, August 17, 2005) - Dairy Queen®, the international retail treat-category leader, has signed a multi-unit development deal with RCS Group Co. Ltd and Guangdong Foison to open 14 Dairy Queen locations in China. In Shanghai, three of 10 locations are open and in Guangzhou, the first of four will open in August. All 14 locations will open before year’s end.

This is the first franchise agreement for RCS Group and Guangdong Foison with Dairy Queen. Headquartered in Shanghai, RCS Group is the China franchisee for Papa John’s Pizza®. Guangdong Foison, headquartered in Guangzhou, owns The Perfect Cup, a local coffee house chain.

The Shanghai and Guangzhou locations will serve all of the treats that have made Dairy Queen an icon in the treat industry, such as the signature Blizzard®, soft- serve cones with the curl on top and other royal treats, as well as the Orange Julius® line of premium fruit smoothies and blended fruit beverages.

"By the end of 2005, these locations in China will become DQ® TreatWorks™," said Ann Stone, vice president of mall concepts/TreatWorks management and international marketing for the Dairy Queen system. "This is an excellent opportunity for us to expand our newest concept internationally."

The TreatWorks concept is the next evolution in Dairy Queen’s 65-year history as it continues to focus on future growth for existing and new franchisees. TreatWorks has a sleek, new look with the feel of a traditional ice cream treat shop. The open design of the interior counter space speeds efficient customer service and also affords customers a fun and entertaining view of how their treats are made. In addition to serving favorite DQ treats, the TreatWorks menu will have desserts typically found in upscale-casual dining establishments, such as Hot Chocolate Molten Cake and Hot Apple Turnovers, each served a la mode; made-fresh-daily waffle cones served plain or dipped-in-chocolate and/or coated in nuts and candy; and waffle bowl sundaes with a complete line of toppings.

The first DQ TreatWorks opened in the U.S. in Tarentum, Pa. in July. The first international DQ TreatWorks opened in Tampico, Mexico, also in July.


About IDQ
International Dairy Queen (IDQ), which is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., develops, licenses and services a system of more than 5,700 Dairy Queen-stores in the United States, Canada and other foreign countries, offering dairy desserts, hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages. IDQ is part of the Berkshire Hathaway Inc. family, a company owned by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. In 2001, IDQ launched a new concept called DQ Grill & Chill® that blends the best of the Dairy Queen brand’s heritage with the most modern innovation in quick service food and design, featuring an all new expanded menu and newly designed restaurant interiors.

For More Infromation Please contact:
Dean Peters, Director of Communications
International Dairy Queen, Inc.
Phone: (952) 830-0204

View all Dairy Queen Press Releases

This article has been read 430 times.

Printer Friendly