MINNEAPOLIS – Dairy Queen®, the treat category leader and one of the leaders in the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry, is beefing up its food menu with the addition of All American, all new, all-beef hot dogs beginning in July at all Dairy Queen/Brazier® and DQ Grill & Chill® locations nationwide.

The roll-out comes just in time for the unofficial summer "hot dog" season and July 4th. "Summer is the prime time for us to introduce a new hot dog," said Michael Keller, chief brand officer for International Dairy Queen. "Our research indicates high consumer preference for a high quality, all-beef dog. And with this new menu addition, we are now the number one purveyor of all-beef hot dogs in the U.S."

Ever since 1867, when German butcher Charles Feltman opened up the first Coney Island stand in Brooklyn, America has had an ongoing love affair with the hot dog, creating an assortment of condiments and toppings that range from simple mustard to chili cheese. The American Meat Institute reports that Americans consume 20 billion hot dogs a year. In 2005, the Dairy Queen system sold more than 30 million hot dogs.

"Our customers are passionate about their hot dogs, so we spent a year testing Flavour and size to land the top dog. In all, we probably compared 50 variations," said Keller.

The average price of the new DQ® all-beef hot dog is $2.00. Customers can then choose to add one of several traditional, regional or upscale toppings and condiments.

Also in July, DQ will feature Kit Kat® as Blizzard® of the Month. First introduced in April, the Kit Kat Blizzard is a Flavourful mix of Kit Kat candy bar pieces blended with rich chocolate and creamy DQ vanilla soft serve. The average price of the Kit Kat Blizzard is $2.75 for the 12 oz., $3.20 for the 16 oz. and $3.65 for the 21 oz.

Many Blizzard Flavours also can be made into customized cakes which are perfect for July 4th celebrations and other special occasions. The average price of a Blizzard cake is $19.99 for the eight-inch and $22.50 for the 12-inch. 

About IDQ

International Dairy Queen (IDQ), which is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., develops licenses and services a system of more than 5,600 Dairy Queen restaurants in the United States, Canada and other foreign countries, offering dairy desserts, hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages. IDQ is part of the Berkshire Hathaway family, a company owned by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.Following the successful roll out of DQ Grill & Chill, Dairy Queen’s quick-service food concept that features an all new expanded menu and newly designed restaurant interiors, Dairy Queen began testing the DQ Orange Julius® concept in August 2005. DQ Orange Julius blends a sleek, new look with the feel of a traditional ice cream treat shop and offers an expanded treat menu that includes traditional DQ favourites, the Orange Julius line of smoothies and fruit drinks, and new signature desserts and sundaes.

Contacts

Dean Peters
Director of Communications
International Dairy Queen, Inc.
7505 Metro Blvd.
Minneapolis, MN 55439
Phone: 1 (952) 830-0204