Walk through the fun world of Dairy Queen, a fast food icon that is above and beyond soft serve and sundaes since the very beginning. Dating back to its start in 1940, Dairy Queen has grown into a global sensation with its delicious Blizzards and its classic combo meals. Here are 15 interesting facts about Dairy Queen you might not know.
15. The Blizzard Secret
According to the books, Blizzards could not be called ice cream since they are made with less fatty milk and butterfat. To be considered ice cream, a product must have at least 10% milkfat and 10% nonfat milk solids, but Dairy Queen’s soft serve only contains 5% butterfat. Dairy Queen’s soft serve recipe is so top-secret only a handful of people know it. It’s this closely guarded secret that makes Blizzards a one-of-a-kind treat.
14. The Upside-Down Test
Did you know some Dairy Queen locations flip your Blizzard upside down before serving it? If they don’t, you might score a free cup. It’s their way to guarantee quality with every single serve.
Dairy Queen rolled out this policy in 2015. The story goes that DQ franchise owner Samuel Temperato got inspired by an ice cream shop owner in Chippewa, Wisconsin who told a customer they’d get a free extra thick shake if it stayed in the cup when flipped upside down.
13. A Royal Beginning
The first Dairy Queen opened in 1940 in Joliet, Illinois. In the same year, DQ developed its iconic soft-serve formula, which eventually spread worldwide. The recipe for Dairy Queen Soft-Serve represents an important milestone in the brand’s development, and it unfolds the story of how a company with just one store became a global symbol of a delicious product.
12. The Orange Julius Connection
Did you know Dairy Queen owns Orange Julius? Yep, that delicious mall smoothie favorite is part of the DQ family. In 1987, Dairy Queen bought Orange Julius, and now you can find those famous smoothies at Dairy Queen Treat Centers. It’s all thanks to Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, which owns Dairy Queen. So next time you’re at DQ, why not go for a fruit smoothie?
11. Arabian Grandeur
You’d think that the largest Dairy Queen is in America. Well, it was actually in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia until it permanently closed in 2020. This massive DQ Grill & Chill opened in 2011 and measured a whopping 7,500 square feet, with room for 240 customers. Meanwhile, the busiest DQ in the world is in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and the largest in the USA is in Bloomington, Illinois.
10. Everything’s Bigger in Texas
The Lone Star State boasts over 600 DQ locations – more than any other state in the US. Proving once again that everything is bigger in Texas, you’ll find a DQ almost everywhere you go. Plus, Texas Dairy Queens have a unique menu called Texas Country Foods with menu items you won’t find at other DQ locations.
9. The Signature Q
The “curl” on top of Dairy Queen’s soft-serve is considered a DQ trademark. That perfect curly cue isn’t just for looks – it’s an important part of how Dairy Queen serves its ice cream. Employees even call it “the Q.” It takes a lot of practice to get it just right, and it’s so strong it even holds up under their dipped chocolate coating.
8. Failure at Frozen Yogurt
In 1990, Dairy Queen introduced the Breeze, a healthier version of the famous Blizzard made with frozen yogurt instead of ice cream. Despite the lower calorie count, the Breeze didn’t catch on. Sales were so slow that the frozen yogurt often spoiled before it could be sold to customers. By 2000, Dairy Queen discontinued the Breeze for good.
7. Blizzard Flavor of the Month
Since 2003, the Dairy Queen brand has started a seasonal Blizzard of the Month, creating new flavors and keeping the menu diverse to keep the customers curious and excited. A new Blizzard is introduced every month. Dairy Queen can be seen as an organization that values innovation and customer engagement and is committed to innovating the menu so that each visit is exciting and fresh.
6. Manual Mix-In Magic
Before, Dairy Queen staff had to do it physically by hand-crushing the cookies and treating them as an essential ingredient of the blended beverage blend. This job was done manually in the past, which was slower and less steady. Thankfully, equipment was introduced, making the process faster and more regular. The replacement of the original mix-ins with modern equipment shows the transformation of Dairy Queen from a diverse operational system to an efficient one. This shift was effective in terms of both product uniformity and order speed.
5. Celebrity Promotions
Dairy Queen has used many celebrities to endorse their products, including even using the famous comic character Dennis the Menace, which added fun to the advertising. Working with well-known figures and characters in marketing wasn’t just about advertisement; it was about creating a relatable and engaging brand image that resonated with families and young audiences.
4. World’s Largest Ice Cream Cake
In 2011, A Dairy Queen in Toronto set a new world record for the largest ice cream cake. This colossal dessert weighs 10.13 tons and comprises 20,000 pounds of ice cream, 200 pounds of sponge cake, 300 pounds of icing, and crushed Oreo cookies. This impressive feat showcases Dairy Queen’s dedication to creating memorable and delightful experiences for ice cream lovers. It had an absurd number of crushed Oreo cookies on top and weighed over ten tons.
3. Secret Fan Club
Established in the early 2000s and already with millions of members, the Blizzard Fan Club is a living example of the dessert’s massive popularity. Fans receive tips about new flavors and exclusive deals regularly. The establishment of the Blizzard Fan Club reflects Dairy Queen’s active engagement with its community, fostering a sense of belonging and loyalty among customers and keeping them connected through exclusive updates and offers.
2. Supporting Good Causes
Dairy Queen is performing excellently with its community involvement, especially through its aid programs like the charity to The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals with its annual “Miracle Treat Day.” Their involvement underscores its commitment to corporate social responsibility, using its platform to impact communities positively through significant philanthropic efforts.
1. Fast Growing Empire
Today, Dairy Queen has grown to 6,000+ stores in the US, Canada, and over 18 other countries. It still brings huge demand and lines out the door, especially in the summer. The expansion of Dairy Queen to over 6,000 locations worldwide is not just a business growth story but a testament to its worldwide appeal across different cultures for everyone who loves a classic American treat.