All hail the Queen, for she is heading our way – in the form of delicious frozen treats, soft serves, burgers, and shakes! American fast food behemoth Dairy Queen has her sights set on Hong Kong and Macau as part of its global expansion, but this is no small, timid debut in a new market. Quite the opposite: Dairy Queen plans to open a whopping 60 restaurants in Hong Kong alone, and 12 locations in Macau, in the next eight years!
Dairy Queen has been in the frozen dairy desserts game for 85 years now, having opened its first restaurant in 1940 in Illinois in the United States. Although the brand is now synonymous with its iconic Blizzard Treats – which are generally served upside-down as a demonstration of its thick consistency – this signature item actually only made its first appearance in 1985. From malts, shakes, banana splits, and Dilly Bars to onion rings and cheese curds, Dairy Queen has gone from specialising in frozen treats to expanding its hot foods selection, now offering Stackburgers, hot dogs, chicken baskets, and more.
Dairy Queen has its largest presence in the United States and Canada, and also has outlets in Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia, amounting to more than 7,700 locations around the world. Mainland China holds a large contingent of Dairy Queen’s international outposts, so Hongkongers who frequently travel across the border may already be quite familiar with the brand’s offerings.
Of the 72 total expected Dairy Queens locations in Hong Kong and Macau, 48 of them will be designated as ‘treats’ locations, while 24 will be ‘hot foods and treats’ locations. We’re already keeping our eyes peeled for further announcements and more details. Who knows – maybe you’ll spot the Dairy Queen logo soon in your neighbourhood.
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