1851

To many, the word &ldquo;blizzard&rdquo; means much more than a snowstorm, and the perfect curl at the top of a soft-serve cone doesn&rsquo;t come from just anywhere. Both iconic symbols of the <a href="https://www.dairyqueen.com/us-en/Company/Franchise-With-Us/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-dairy-queen-systems-growth-continues-to-lead-the-qsr-industry-11848" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dairy Queen</a> brand, this type of international recognition doesn&rsquo;t happen overnight.

Since its inception in 1940, the <a href="https://dairyqueen.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-dairy-queen-systems-growth-continues-to-lead-the-qsr-industry-11848" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dairy Queen</a> brand has worked to build a following of fans that recognize experiences with the DQ&reg; system to be much more than a quick roll past the drive-thru window.

And these fans don&rsquo;t just make habitual visits to their local DQ restaurant for a meal or sweet treat to make memories with family and friends. They&rsquo;re actually buying into the concept, quite literally, by joining the growing successful franchise system that has been thriving for more than 75 years. &nbsp;

&ldquo;Many of our operators are natives or longtime residents of the communities that they serve,&rdquo; said Executive Vice President, Franchise Development, U.S. &amp; Canada Jim Kerr. &ldquo;They want to open Dairy Queen restaurants, because they truly believe it will become a meeting place for the community. We find great success in building the brand with franchisees who know and love the DQ brand and can continue the legacy of serving fellow fans in their local neighborhoods.&rdquo;

As the Dairy Queen brand nears 7,000 locations in more than 25 countries, it remains one of the most successful QSR concepts, trending positively in a competitive segment of the industry year after year. For example, the addition of 318 new Dairy Queen locations across the globe in 2016 alone shows impressive staying power.

In total, 82 locations opened in the U.S. in 2016, and nearly 100 percent (81) of those were DQ Grill &amp; Chill&reg; model restaurants. The DQ Grill &amp; Chill restaurant model is the brand&rsquo;s booming QSR concept. The restaurant interior brings an innovative dimension to the quick-serve restaurant environment. Highlighted by separate &ldquo;grill&rdquo; and &ldquo;chill&rdquo; preparation areas, the restaurant features comfortable booths and other types of seating, warm lighting, music and an overall inviting restaurant atmosphere.

&ldquo;Last year, we sold the most DQ Grill &amp; Chill locations in any single year,&rdquo; Kerr said. &ldquo;The concept has allowed us to increase our loyal customer fan base with delicious meal offerings in addition to the classic treats. It has also piqued interest of a growing base of sophisticated multi-unit operators who may not have bought into an assumed seasonal business that the DQ treat stores represented.&rdquo;

In 2016, 29 states in the U.S. saw new locations and markets such as Little Rock, Arkansas; Staten Island, New York; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Charleston, South Carolina experienced DQ locations open for the first time. Throughout 2017, new market development commitments have been signed in multiple markets in North Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida; Boise, Idaho; Chicago; New Hampshire; Rhode Island; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Los Angeles, California.

Individuals looking to open a DQ Grill &amp; Chill restaurant should have equity of $400,000 for a single store, and equity of approximately $2 million to open multiple stores. The investment range, as stated in the DQ Grill &amp; Chill Franchise Disclosure Document, ranges from $1.07 million to $1.83 million, without the cost of leasing or purchasing land.

&ldquo;As we see more operators committing to develop multiple DQ Grill &amp; Chill concept restaurants, we expect to stay consistent with our 2016 opening rate in 2017, if not exceeding previous years,&rdquo; said Kerr. &ldquo;Our efforts are focused on actively recruiting operators in New England, the Carolinas, Louisiana, Texas, California and Chicago.&rdquo;

How the Dairy Queen® System’s Growth Continues to Lead the QSR Industry

1851 Franchise

International Dairy Queen, Inc. combines its legacy and innovation to foster growth; Opens more than 300 restaurants in 2016

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

how-the-dairy-queen-systems-growth-continues-to-lead-the-qsr-industry

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Unlocking the Potential: How Much Can You Earn as an Onigilly Franchisee?

unlocking-the-potential-how-much-can-you-earn-as-an-onigilly-franchisee

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno 

Grease, Grit, and Growth: DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno, Nevada

grease-grit-and-growth-dewitts-ignite-new-chapter-for-filta-environmental-kitchen-solutions-in-reno-nevada

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne's Chicken Fingers-50 Unit-Wendy's-Franchisee-June-2025

Why This 50 Unit Wendy’s Franchisee Is Betting on Layne’s for His Next Big Move

wendys-franchisee-expands-with-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

CapitalSpring

CapitalSpring’s Jim Balis Talks Growth, ROI and the Future of Fast Casual on “Rock My Restaurant”

capitalsprings-jim-balis-talks-growth-roi-and-the-future-of-fast-casual-on-rock-my-restaurant

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Ramps Up Growth in First Half of 2025 With Strategic Expansions, Franchise Signings, and New Headquarters

childrens-lighthouse-ramps-up-growth-in-first-half-of-2025-with-strategic-expansions-franchise-signings-and-new-headquarters

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

From Franchisee to Franchisor: How Howard Picker Is Using His Experience to Drive Sustainable Growth at Floyd’s 99

howard-picker-floyds-99-barbershop-franchise-franchisor-hot-seat

Jollibee -Launch-Story-Brand-Page-Deep-Dive-2025

Jollibee Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

jollibee-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025

Bringing Robots to Main Street: How Elad Inbar’s RobotLAB Franchise Is Powering the Local AI Revolution

bringing-robots-to-main-street-how-elad-inbars-robotlab-franchise-is-powering-the-local-ai-revolution

Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-costs-fees-2025

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

How This Franchise Consultant Turned a Love for Dogs Into a Business with Dog Training Elite

How This Franchise Consultant Turned a Lifelong Love for Dogs Into a Growing Business with Dog Training Elite

how-this-franchise-consultant-turned-a-lifelong-love-for-dogs-into-a-growing-business-with-dog-training-elite

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

How the Dairy Queen® System’s Growth Continues to Lead the QSR Industry

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS