Dairy Queen® Shells Out a New Blizzard® in 2009

Turtle Oreo® is Blizzard of the Month for January

MINNEAPOLIS – Dairy Queen® kicks off the New Year with a new, original Turtle Oreo® Blizzard® as Blizzard of the Month for January.  A mouthwatering combination of Oreo cookie pieces, rich, gooey caramel and crunchy pecans blended with creamy vanilla soft serve, the Turtle Oreo Blizzard is available at all participating Dairy Queen and DQ® Grill & Chill® restaurants nationwide beginning January 1.

"As we head into the New Year eager for change, what better way for Dairy Queen to kick off 2009 than with a new Blizzard flavor,” said Michael Keller, chief brand officer for International Dairy Queen.  “As one of the most famous, most desired and most consumed frozen treats in the world, we continue to create new and unique flavors that set us apart each time a Blizzard is turned upside down and served with a smile.”

The popular turtle candy was introduced in the early 1920s and reportedly got its name when an employee at a chocolate factory remarked – upon seeing the new confection with pecans protruding from its side – that it looked like a turtle. The name stuck.

The average price of the Turtle Oreo Blizzard is $2.75 for the 12 oz., $3.20 for the 16 oz. and $3.65 for the 21 oz.

In 1985, Dairy Queen began blending simple combinations of candies, cookies, fruit and nuts with DQ® soft serve to create the signature Blizzard Flavor Treat.  Since then, one-of-a-kind flavors such as Girl Scouts Thin Mint Cookie, Caramel Waffle Crisp, Cotton Candy, Chocolate Xtreme, Brownie Batter and Strawberry CheeseQuake® have become Blizzards of the Month, a promotion that began in 2003.

Many flavors also can be made into custom cakes, including Turtle Oreo, the perfect dessert for a New Year’s celebration, a birthday or any special occasion.  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), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., develops licenses and services a system of more than 5,600 Dairy Queen stores in the United States, Canada and 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.

Contacts

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