Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen

Global quick-service ice cream and burgers

Overview

Dairy Queen operates a global chain of quick-service restaurants that serve soft-serve ice cream treats and fast food like burgers and fries. Customers purchase these items through a network of over 7,000 franchised locations or via delivery services. The company distinguishes itself from other fast-food chains by focusing heavily on its signature Blizzard treats and ice cream cakes, leveraging a brand history spanning over 80 years. Its goal is to expand its global footprint through franchising while providing convenient dessert and meal options to families and individuals.

Significant Headcount Growth

About Dairy Queen

Simplify's Rating
Why Dairy Queen is rated
C+
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated C on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Food & Agriculture

Consumer Goods

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Burlington, Canada

Founded

1940

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • July 2026 hired Phil Crawford as CTO, accelerating technology modernization across 7,800 restaurants.
  • September 2026 Coffee Coolers and Halloween bundles drive traffic with limited-time novelty.
  • DQ opened four Hong Kong stores in Q4 2026, extending international reach.

What critics are saying

  • At least 46 U.S. closures since early 2025 show franchise fragility.
  • Project Lonestar's 2025 Texas split exposed supply-cutoff power over operators and sales.
  • If compliance fights spread, DQ's franchised network can contract rapidly across states.

What makes Dairy Queen unique

  • DQ's soft-serve-and-Blizzard franchise remains the chain's most recognizable, globally portable format.
  • September 22, 2026 Spellbound Series shows rapid, low-capex menu innovation across desserts and drinks.
  • Hong Kong's 2026 four-store launch proves DQ adapts concepts by local market.

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Benefits

Remote Work Options

Performance Bonus

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

↑ 13%

1 year growth

↑ 13%

2 year growth

↑ 16%
Totally The Bomb
Sep 25th, 2026
Dairy Queen's Halloween drink bubbles - and there's a rare gold Blizzard Buddy.

Dairy Queen's Halloween drink bubbles - and there's a rare gold Blizzard Buddy. Jamie Slack September 25, 2026 This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read our affiliate disclosure policy. Dairy Queen has made a Halloween drink that starts bubbling when you stir it, and somehow that is only half the story. Its new Spellbound Series brings a purple OREO Blizzard, ghost pepper sauce and mystery plush keychains to participating locations beginning September 28, 2026. The lineup is scheduled through November 1, according to DQ's September 22 announcement. Check your local restaurant before making a special trip; participation and plush stock can vary. My latest videos. What is in DQ's Spellbound Series? The Bubble Brew DQ Sparkler combines blood orange and lemonade with sparkling water over ice and cold foam. DQ says stirring makes the drink bubble and foam. The Enchanted OREO Blizzard mixes OREO cookies, a sweet ube-flavored base and a purple shimmer into soft serve. If sweet and spicy is your Halloween personality, the new Ghost Pepper Sauce is a smoky, hot dip that DQ suggests with its four-piece Chicken Strip Basket. I am most curious about the Sparkler's little stir-and-watch moment. I have not tried any of these yet, so I cannot tell you how hot the sauce actually tastes or whether the Blizzard's ube flavor comes through strongly. The $4 mystery Blizzard Buddy has five possible designs. At participating U.S. DQ restaurants, a Mystery Blizzard Buddy plush keychain costs $4 with any purchase while supplies last. It comes in mystery packaging. The five named designs are Blizabeth, Flip, Blenda, Brrrnie and a rare golden buddy called Goldie. DQ limits the add-on to one per customer per transaction. In other words, the $4 is an add-on price, and the design is a surprise. DQ says finding Goldie is tied to Blizzard Treats for a year, but there are important sweepstakes terms. The promotion ends October 31, requires DQ Rewards membership and age 18 or older, and offers a no-purchase entry method. It excludes Texas and Quebec. DQ says the official rules and free-entry details will be live by September 28; read those before treating a mystery purchase as a contest entry. Buying a Buddy does not guarantee Goldie or a prize. The drink, Blizzard and sauce have the longer November 1 window. The sweepstakes has the earlier October 31 cutoff, and the plush can sell out sooner. That is a lot of dates for one tiny dessert mascot, but I would rather know them before falling in love with Blizabeth.

Asiatoday
Sep 24th, 2026
DQ just announced An All-New Blizzard That's perfect For Fall - Southern living.

DQ just announced An All-New Blizzard That's perfect For Fall - Southern living. Read also. * DQ Simply Introduced An All-New Blizzard That's Good For Fall Southern Residing * Dairy Queen and Oreo Are Teaming up for a New, First-Of-Its-Sort Blizzard Allrecipes * Dairy Queen Dropped Its First-Ever Halloween Menu - And There Are A Few Leap Scares Yahoo * Dairy Queen unveils Halloween-themed 'Spellbound Collection' menu objects 13WMAZ * One thing Spellbinding Is Coming to DQ(R) This Halloween Dairy Queen

Sporked
Sep 22nd, 2026
Dairy Queen is giving fans A chance to win free blizzards for one whole year.

Dairy Queen is giving fans A chance to win free blizzards for one whole year. Dairy Queen has a pretty sweet surprise coming for fans who love a good mystery. Starting September 28, DQ will roll out a new collection of mystery Blizzard plush keychains, and one of them could lead to a really sweet prize. The new collectibles come in mystery packaging, so there is no way to know which plush is inside until it is opened. Four different mystery plush keychains are part of the collection, along with one special chase plush. Five plushes to hunt down. The new DQ collection includes four mystery plush designs and one rare gold chase plush. Food blogger Markie Devo shared details about the promotion on X, reporting that the gold plush comes with the chance to win Blizzard Treats for a year. The keychain could end up being a cute DQ accessory for a backpack, purse, keys, or anything else that could use a little Blizzard-themed decoration. Or it could be the golden ticket to a whole year of frozen treats. Each mystery keychain costs $4. The mystery plush keychains will cost $4 with any purchase at participating Dairy Queen locations. There is also a limit of one per customer, so you simply can't buy a pile of them in one visit and go hunting for the gold plush. That rule also means collectors may have to make a few DQ runs if they want to find different designs. The promotion starts September 28th and is expected to be available at participating Dairy Queen locations nationwide for a limited time. It comes at A great time for Blizzard fans. The promotion comes as DQ just dropped its fall menu a few weeks ago. The chain has been serving up seasonal Blizzard flavors, including the Caramel Apple Cheesecake Blizzard, which features cheesecake pieces and caramel apple topping mixed into DQ's soft serve. So, September 28th could be a pretty tempting day for Blizzard fans. A trip to DQ could mean grabbing a favorite Blizzard, picking up a mystery plush, and seeing if you're lucky enough to find the gold one. Is $4 worth the chance at A year of blizzards? For Blizzard fans, $4 could be worth the gamble. There is no promise that the gold plush will be inside, but the regular plushes are still fun little DQ collectibles. And if that tiny gold plush shows up, $4 could lead to a whole year of Blizzard Treats. That makes this one mystery purchase that some DQ fans may have a hard time passing up.

Dairy Queen
Sep 22nd, 2026
Something spellbinding is coming to DQ(R) this Halloween.

Something spellbinding is coming to DQ(R) this Halloween. 09/22/2026 DQ(R) is bringing the magic and mystery this spooky season. For the first time ever, DQ is unveiling a Halloween collection with the NEW Spellbound Series: a limited-time lineup featuring bubbling brews, an enchanted Blizzard(R) Treat and bold new heat. Plus, fans can add a collectible DQ Mystery Blizzard(R) Buddy plush keychain to their order, while supplies last. Starting September 28 through November 1, DQ is inviting fans to embrace the magic of the season using all their senses: * NEW Bubble Brew DQ(R) Sparkler: Blood orange and lemonade with sparkling water served over ice and topped with cold foam. Stir to activate the magic - the more you stir, the more it bubbles and foams. * NEW Enchanted OREO(R) Blizzard(R) Treat: OREO(R) cookies, sweet ube-flavored base and an enchanted purple shimmer blended with world famous DQ soft serve. * NEW Ghost Pepper Sauce: A blazing ghost pepper dip featuring fiery, bold, smoky pepper heat, perfect for pairing with a four-piece Chicken Strip Basket, featuring 100% all white meat seasoned chicken strips, fries and Texas toast. But the magic doesn't stop there. Fans can add more excitement to their order with NEW Limited-Edition DQ Mystery Blizzard(R) Buddies. Available for $4 with any purchase* at participating U.S. DQ locations, each DQ Mystery Blizzard Buddy comes in mystery packaging, making every unboxing a surprise. Fans have the chance to unwrap one of five distinct Blizzard Treat inspired designs: Blizabeth, Flip, Blenda, Brrrnie and the rare golden Blizzard Buddy Goldie! And for an extra dose of Halloween magic, fans that unwrap the rare Golden DQ Mystery Blizzard Buddies named Goldie will score Blizzard(R) Treats for a year!** *Limit one per customer, per transaction ** NO PURCHASE NECESSARY: Ends 10/31/26. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C./Canada excluding Texas and Quebec. Must be 18+ and a DQ(R) Rewards member. Visit http://www.dairyqueen.com/en-Dairy Queen, Inc./plushie-sweeps (live by 9/28), for full Official Rules and free entry method. Void in TX, Quebec and where prohibited. Sponsor: American Dairy Queen Corp.

Williamson Source
Sep 15th, 2026
DQ Coffee Coolers bring cold brew and soft serve together.

DQ Coffee Coolers bring cold brew and soft serve together. September 15, 2026 DQ Coffee Coolers are a new frozen drink line combining cold brew coffee with DQ soft serve and ice, now available at participating U.S. locations. The launch coincides with National Coffee Day on September 29, and DQ is offering a small Coffee Cooler for $3 at participating locations through November 1. More Eat & Drink News What are DQ Coffee Coolers. DQ Coffee Coolers blend cold brew coffee with DQ soft serve and ice into a frozen drink format. The lineup includes three flavors, each combining the cold brew and soft serve base with different mix-ins and toppings. DQ Coffee Cooler flavor options. DQ is launching three Coffee Cooler flavors: * OREO DQ Coffee Cooler: cold brew blended with OREO cookie pieces, soft serve and misty slush, topped with whipped topping and OREO cookie pieces * Salted Caramel DQ Coffee Cooler: cold brew blended with soft serve and misty slush, drizzled with caramel topping and finished with whipped topping, caramel and sweet-and-salty pieces * Toasted Marshmallow DQ Coffee Cooler: a limited-time flavor blending cold brew with soft serve and misty slush, drizzled with cocoa fudge and topped with whipped topping and cocoa fudge National Coffee Day promotion details. To mark National Coffee Day on September 29, DQ is offering a small DQ Coffee Cooler for $3 at participating U.S. locations. The promotional pricing runs from the launch date through November 1, giving customers roughly a month to try the new drinks at the discounted price. Where to get DQ Coffee Coolers. DQ Coffee Coolers are available now at participating Dairy Queen locations across the United States. Availability and the $3 National Coffee Day pricing may vary by location, so checking with a local DQ store is recommended before visiting.

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