Dairy Queen Blog

A Treat of a day

Blizz Prez — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:00:10 +0000

Next Monday we mark the unofficial start of summer with a day off. Want to know what your friends have planned for the day? Just ask what their favorite Blizzard^® Treat is and you’ll be able to figure it out. My neighbor Josie’s favorite is the French Silk Pie Blizzard Treat, and she’s planning on donning a beret, finding a landscape and painting a watercolor. Harry, my friend who loves the Hawaiian Blizzard Treat, is making leis and dancing the hula around his backyard all day long. Me, I’ve spent hours trying to pick my favorite treat, but I just can’t. I was thinking I could go the Banana Split Blizzard Treat route, where I’d dress up as a monkey, go to a party, then split early for another party, Or I could Georgia Mud Fudge Blizzard Treat it. You know, when you go to Georgia and host a mud pie-making party? But then I’d be snubbing all my other favorite treats—as in, every other treat on the menu. I think I’m going to have to go with plan B: a BYOB Blizzard Treat party with 26 of my besties, who each bring a different flavor for us to sample. Sounds like the best compromise I’ve ever tasted. What have you got planned for Memorial Day?

Berkshire Bonanza

PR Wonk — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:24:52 +0000

Each year, on the first Saturday in May, tens of thousands of shareholders descend on Omaha, Neb., to attend the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder’s meeting and hear pearls of investing wisdom from Warren Buffett, (a.k.a. the “Oracle of Omaha”) and his partner Charlie Munger. As part of the meeting, Berkshire companies host exhibit booths where shareholders can purchase such items as T-shirts and undergarments from Fruit of the Loom; get insurance quotes from GEICO; buy sets of GINZU knives or purchase kitchen utensils from Papered Chef.

Throughout the day at the Dairy Queen® booth, shareholders come to us to purchase Dilly® Bars, DQ® Fudge Bars and DQ Vanilla Orange Bars for $1 with proceeds from the sale going to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Our team of more than 40 employees, including our executive officers, provides hungry, but smiling customers with satisfying and delicious DQ treats. Typically we sell more than 16,000 individual treats in a little more than nine hours and this year was no exception. We often hear, “I can’t leave the meeting without getting my Dilly Bar” which always puts a smile on our faces.

The day is long, but we couldn’t have a better time greeting and interacting with the shareholders. And oh yeah, Warren stops by the booth before the meeting begins to purchase his favorite DQ Vanilla Orange Bar, which we have ready and waiting for him. At DQ, our investment philosophy is, “Always make sure the boss is happy.” And when you’re Warren Buffett and own the entire Dairy Queen system, how could you not be?

The making of a Blizz Prez

Blizz Prez — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:00:51 +0000

The DQ^® OREO^® Blizzard^® 100 competition—to celebrate 100 years of OREO^® cookies and have a shot at winning a cool $100,000—has got me thinking about how OREO^®and DQ^®have changed my life. You see, I wasn’t always the Blizz Prez. I used to just be a kid who’d never experienced a DQ^® Blizzard Treat. But one fateful summer’s day, Mom and Dad took me to DQ^® where I tasted the OREO^® Cookie Blizzard Treat, a.k.a. crumbly chocolate enlightenment. That day I mixed creamy soft serve yin and mouthwatering OREO^® cookie yang together, and my future flashed before my eyes. I would finish every mouthful of OREO^® Cookie Blizzard Treat, lick the cup clean, then one day become president of the Blizzard Fan Club. And now here I am, living my dream, all thanks to that first magical cup. Nostalgia is making me hungry. I think it’s time for an OREO^® Cookie Blizzard Treat to change my life for the sweeter—again.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Open to eligible legal residents of the United States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 13+ years old or the age of majority in their state or province of residence, whichever is greater. Void in Quebec and where prohibited and restricted by law. Promotion begins at 8:00:00 AM ET on April 1, 2012 and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on August 31, 2012. For Official Rules, alternate method of entry, odds of winning, and prize details, visit www.dq.com/oreo or send SASE to Oreo Blizzard 100 Promotion c/o Brandmovers, PO Box 94079, Atlanta, GA 30377. Sponsor: American Dairy Queen Corporation.

M&M Day

Blizz Prez — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:00:35 +0000

If I were a Blizzard^® Treat, my mom would be the spoon that digs me, no matter what flavor I’ve chosen to be. Mother’s Day—M&M (Me and Mom) Day, as we call it—is a day when my mom and I celebrate our relationship by doing stuff together, like tandem cycling, karaoke duets and flying trapeze lessons. Then we head to a DQ^® location for traditional treat time, where we reenact moments from the day and share memories over the Blizzard Treat named just for us: the M&M’S^® Blizzard Treat. Happy M&M Day, moms! It’s your turn to be treated.

Double Treat whammy

Blizz Prez — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:00:16 +0000

Take happiness and make it a double. The all-NEW Blizzard^® Treat is also the Blizzard of the Month. And to mark this auspicious occasion, the Confetti Cake Blizzard Treat is hosting an opening party, and as loyal fans, you’re at the top of the invitation list. You’ll need a spoon to get in, but then you’ll have access to the main attraction: the Confetti Cake Blizzard Treat favors, made with white cake pieces and confetti frosting blended with creamy vanilla soft serve. You’re never going to want this party to end.

Here’s to your hardest-working coworkers

Blizz Prez — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:50:09 +0000

April 25 is a day for celebrating the real power behind your workplace. No, not you, silly. It’s Administrative Professionals’ Day! If you haven’t had time to shop for presents, don’t panic. Just take your favorite, most indispensable admins to DQ^® for their favorite, most indispensable Blizzard^® Treats. Use a Cookie Dough Blizzard Treat to thank your administrative assistant for setting up those meetings you love so much. A Banana Split Blizzard Treat tells the office manager, “I’m sorry I used up all the toner printing out my Miami Vice fan fiction.” And offer the receptionist a heartfelt apology for those prank phone calls with a Heath^® Blizzard Treat. While you’re at it, why not get one for yourself too? Just be sure to throw away your cup when you’re done. The office manager is not your maid.

Treat a future MVP!

Blizz Prez — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:42:23 +0000

Springtime. The grass is green, the air is warm and short pants are appropriate outerwear. You know what that means: baseball! You could show your love for America’s pastime by attending a “professional” game, but wouldn’t you rather be ahead of the curve? Instead of shelling out $20 to park eight blocks from the stadium, why not walk to your neighborhood diamond to check out the next generation of sluggers, pitchers and belly itchers? (I hear that 10-year-old from across the street has an arm on him.) After the ninth inning has ended and everyone’s been declared a winner, celebrate good sportsmanship at your nearest DQ^® location. Nothing brings rival teams together like a Blizzard^® Treat, even if they don’t see eye to eye on which flavor is the best. Let’s hear it, Blizz fans: What’s your future hall-of-famer’s favorite Blizzard Treat?

The OREO® Blizzard® 100 is here!

Blizz Prez — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:48:49 +0000

The OREO^® cookie turns 100 this summer, and it’s ready to party like no centenarian you’ve ever seen. The chocolaty treat is celebrating in style with a contest called the OREO^® Blizzard^® 100. Here’s how it works:

1. Form a team with your most OREO^®-obsessed friends. (Hint: they’re the ones with crumbs around their mouths.)

2. Visit DQ^® to check in and, you know, treat yourself.

3. Once your team has checked in 100 times, you’ll be entered for a chance to win $100,000! Even if you don’t make it to 100, you’ll still be eligible for other sweet prizes!

That’s all there is to it. You don’t even have to bring a present! Your attendance alone will make this the best 100^th birthday ever. So sign up your team, and I’ll see you at DQ!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Open to eligible legal residents of the United States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 13+ years old or the age of majority in their state or province of residence, whichever is greater. Void in Quebec and where prohibited and restricted by law. Promotion begins at 8:00:00 AM ET on April 1, 2012 and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on August 31, 2012. For Official Rules, alternate method of entry, odds of winning, and prize details, visit www.dq.com/oreo or send SASE to Oreo Blizzard 100 Promotion c/o Brandmovers, PO Box 94079, Atlanta, GA 30377. Sponsor: American Dairy Queen Corporation.

How Sweet It Is…

Beth F — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:53:00 +0000

Pretty much I’m like Buddy the Elf — if it has sugar, I’ll eat it. Now, I’ve never gone to the extreme of drinking syrup or putting it on my spaghetti, but that’s not to say it hasn’t crossed my mind. The older I get, the more apparent it is that I need to eat everything in moderation and as part of a balanced diet. (Have I mentioned my BFF is a genius nutritionist?)

I think that is why 2011 was so hard and 2012 WILL be so hard. I spent 2011 taste testing all of the ridiculously creative and NEW products for 2012. 2012 will obviously be spent eating said ridiculously creative and new products. April’s Blizzard® of the Month is a new flavor, so there are 30 days of Mini Blizzard Treats coming my way there, followed by May’s Blizzard of the Month, which, in my opinion, will be second only to my most very favorite ever. I can’t mention my favorite by name because we get inundated with comments about bringing it back. Is it Harry Potter where they have a character named HeWho (He who shall not be named)? Well this would be ItWhich (shall not be named). Oh I love ItWhich.

Also making a comeback this year is one of my all time favorites, the Frozen Hot Chocolate. Rich cocoa fudge AND DQ® soft serve with a swirl of one of your favorite flavors: Double Fudge, Caramel or Peanut Butter? Yes please!

This is just the tip of the iceberg; we also have a ton of new and delicious food items hitting your local store throughout the year. Yep, 2012 will be pretty sweet for DQ and pretty sweet for me!

The best pie comes in a cup.

Blizz Prez — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:41:53 +0000

Sometimes I wish I were a cartoon character. Not so that I could run off cliffs without falling, or bend my body in just the right position to hide behind pencil-thin trees (although that would be pretty cool). No, I was thinking more about freshly baked pies left unguarded on windowsills. How come you never see those in real life? So disappointing. Well, friends, I’m done yearning for an animated self, because now there’s something even better in the pie-osphere. It’s the April Blizzard^® of the Month, the NEW Caramel Delight Pie Blizzard Treat! The only thing better than a piping-hot pie is one that’s been turned into a delectable frozen treat, so skip the slice and head to DQ^® for a cup of creamy vanilla soft serve blended with caramel, choco chunks and pie pieces, all crowned with whipped topping. I’ve got little hearts swirling around my head just thinking about it.