Posted by : Carolyn K

Who knew February 2010 would be so exciting!  We start the month off with the Super Bowl, there’s the start of the 2010 Winter Olympics, and then we’re off to Valentine’s Day.  That’s just the first half of the month and lots of opportunities for parties!

I don’t know about you, but up here in Minnesota we were TOTALLY excited about the Super Bowl possibilities for our Vikings, only to have our hearts broken last week.  Still, the Super Bowl is a lot of fun and always an opportunity for a party.  At the minimum it is a game-and-commercial-watching-snack-fest!  Even those of us who aren’t football crazy can enjoy this game. If not, it’s always a great time to go shopping.  Do your part for the economy! The malls and department stores can be pretty quiet during games like this.

Now, the opening ceremonies for the Olympics on Friday, Feb. 12, may not be top-of-mind when considering reasons for parties.  But consider the following: the opening ceremonies for the Olympics become more and more spectacular with each Olympics, and more and more folks have fabulous HD-TVs.  I’ll bet the opening ceremonies will be absolutely spectacular in HD!  If you have an HD-TV, have a party, invite your friends!

I admit, Valentine’s Day can be tricky depending on the status of your current romance.  With a little creativity, however, it can be a fun time for anyone: there is the traditional quiet and romantic time with your sweetheart, a party with several couples could be a fun way to celebrate, and have you ever considered having a “Who Needs ‘Em Anyway” party?  Everyone loves chocolate and desserts… mmmmm!

With all this party planning you might need a hand with your snacks and treats.  Shameless plug, I know, and at the same time, your local DQ® stores and restaurants have yummy novelties — Dilly® Bars in a variety of flavors, Buster Bars®, StarKiss® Bars, DQ Sandwiches, and even no-sugar added bars for your guests who are really watching their figures.  Perhaps you and your guests would prefer a DQ Cake or a Blizzard® cake festively decorated for the occasion.  A decoration and dessert all in one!

Posted by : The Web Master

The Blizzard® 25th Birthday Challenge continues with the Chocolate Xtreme Blizzard Treat.  In this video you will get to see me attempt to make a Chocolate Xtreme Blizzard Treat, and you’ll find out about a chance to win a $10 Dairy Queen® gift card! Don’t forget to check out the 25 Flavors for 25 Years Menu!

WE ALREADY HAVE A WINNER!!!

Congrats - Sara Phillips from San Antonio Texas!

Thank you to everyone that responded!

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Our Blizzard 25th Challenge Schedule:

Chocoholics:

• Jan. 11: Turtle Pecan Cluster
• Jan. 18: French Silk Pie
• Feb. 2: Chocolate Xtreme
• Feb. 16: Midnight Truffle
• March 9: Georgia Mud Fudge
• March 23: Mocha Chip

Posted by : Dickie

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and you’re looking forward to a great 2010! The start of a new year is always exciting. It gives us a chance to reflect upon our past accomplishments and plan toward the future. And we are no different as a business. Every DQ® location across North America is busy in these colder months taking care of day-to-day business and planning for another terrific DQ season. And as we make our plans for this New Year, we want to offer you the opportunity to join us. Yes, we want to invite you to consider joining our DQ team.

You’ve read some of the other “blog” articles about some of our famous alumni. Now we cannot guarantee you’ll become the latest, greatest country music star or television personality.  However, we can promise you a rewarding experience as you learn how to blend a world-famous Blizzard® treat, become an expert cake decorator, or be taught how to grill the best burgers in your town. All of these exciting opportunities are available right down the street at the DQ store in your local community.

We have some of the best owner / operators you could ever want to work for in the quick-service restaurant business. And DQ stores are obviously, from the testimonials of several celebrities, a great first job for your son or daughter.  Many of the local DQ stores around the country are run by families who will take special care of those young employees and help teach them about the responsibilities of holding down a job. Many young people don’t know what it takes to be responsible in managing the day-to-day challenges of being a part of a family, going to school and maintaining a job. A job in a DQ store is a great first step in their maturation process and becoming responsible young adults.  All three of my kids have worked at a local DQ store throughout their high school and college days. They made friends, and learned teamwork, the value of a dollar and that others depended upon them to show up on time and be ready to go to work. It gave them a solid personal foundation and helped them develop a good work ethic.

But the opportunities are not just limited to young people. Walk into any DQ locationand you’ll see people of all ages and nationalities sharing the same desire to grow and prosper. Almost every DQ store has the availability of flexible shifts, schedules, or even exciting career opportunities. Maybe you’ve been a stay-at-home mom or dad, but now the kids are in school and you’re looking for something to do during the school day. Perhaps you’ve recently relocated and are looking for some part-time work to supplement your spouse’s income. Or maybe you’ve worked in an industry that has recently downsized and you’re looking to change careers. Regardless of the reason, I would strongly encourage you to visit your neighborhood DQ store and discover what opportunities are potentially available for you in your local area.  Just tell them Martina McBride recommended DQ to you!

Posted by : Michael Keller

Michael Keller, Chief Brand Officer, shares his thoughts and unique insight on how a brand’s story matters!

CBO Corner Audio Blog:

Podcast: Play in new window

Posted by : The Web Master

The Blizzard® 25th Birthday Challenge continues with the French Silk Pie Blizzard Treat! Don’t forget to check out the 25 Flavors for 25 Years Menu! Vote for your favorite Chocoholics Blizzard Treat!

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Our Blizzard 25th Challenge Schedule:

Chocoholics:

• Jan. 11: Turtle Pecan Cluster
• Jan. 18: French Silk Pie
• Feb. 2: Chocolate Xtreme
• Feb. 16: Midnight Truffle
• March 9: Georgia Mud Fudge
• March 23: Mocha Chip

Posted by : JT

Tis’ the season for New Year’s resolutions!  This year I’ve committed, along with millions of other Americans, to shed some pounds and become a healthier person.  The odds are against me — statistics show that only 64% of people make it past the one-month marker.  In addition, I work at the DQ® corporate headquarters.  I mean, who can pass up the chance to try new eats and treats? It wasn’t until I recently became more calorie conscious that I realized the DQ and Orange Julius® menus offer lots of tasty options that won’t throw my New Year’s resolution off track. 

The Sweet Deals value menu is a good place to start.  The Grilled Chicken Wrap has only 200 calories.  I can pair that with a Side Salad with fat-free Italian dressing and have a filling lunch for less than 300 calories.  On days when I want to spice things up a little, the FlameThrower® Grilled Chicken Wrap has only 10 additional calories.  If I need a treat, I can add a small Strawberry Sundae at only 260 calories.  There are lots of ways to mix and match for a satisfying, complete meal.

Outside of the Sweet Deals menu, a Grilled Chicken Salad with fat-free ranch dressing and a small vanilla cone ends up at 495 calories.  The DQ Grilled Chicken Sandwich has 370 calories.  Hold the mayo and it’s only 260.  And while I’m not really a fan of most fast-food grilled chicken sandwiches (so many of them are rubbery or dry or just plain weird), the DQ version is very good.  (No, really.)

I love the new Orange Julius Light Smoothies.  Each 20 oz. size is 250 calories or less, and they are delicious!  My personal favorite is the Berry-Pom Twilight™.  If I’m in need of a thirst quencher, an Original Orange Julius Fruit Drink has only 130 calories in a small size.

I was very happy to learn that one of my all-time favorite DQ treats, the DQ sandwich, has only 190 calories.  Other lighter treat options include the Cherry StarKiss® bar at 80 calories, and the No Sugar-Added Fudge Bars, which are only 50 calories each (but they taste like they have a lot more).  If I have my heart set on a Blizzard Treat, the fruit-based flavors (such as the Banana Split or the Hawaiian) are the lowest-calorie options.  The very lowest calorie Blizzard Treat is the small pineapple (DQ soft serve blended with pineapple topping), coming in at just 300 calories.

For more information and detailed nutritional data, you can check out the DQ nutrition calculator or visit orangejulius.com.

Posted by : The Web Master

We have wasted no time in kicking off the Blizzard® 25th Challenge! We will be trying each Blizzard flavor on the 25 Flavors for 25 Years Menu, and giving each one a Blizzard spoon rating (1 – 3 spoons!). Check out the first flavor, Turtle Pecan Cluster, which by the way is also the January Blizzard of the month. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite Chocoholics Blizzard Treat!

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Our Blizzard 25th Challenge Schedule:

Chocoholics:

• Jan. 11: Turtle Pecan Cluster
• Jan. 18: French Silk Pie
• Feb. 2: Chocolate Xtreme
• Feb. 16: Midnight Truffle
• March 9: Georgia Mud Fudge
• March 23: Mocha Chip

Posted by : The Web Master

That’s correct, the Blizzard Treat is celebrating its 25th birthday in 2010!!! This means that the Blizzard was launched in 1985.  What was going on in 1985? Here are some fun facts about the Blizzard and the year 1985:

Average cost of new house $89,330
Average income per year $22,100
1 gallon of gas: $1.09
Movie ticket: $2.75
U.S. postage stamp: 22 cents

Popular Films: “Back to the Future” / “Rocky IV” / “The Color Purple” / “Out of Africa” / “Cocoon” / “Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment”

Popular Musicians: Duran Duran / Simple Minds / Madonna with ” Crazy for You ” / Bruce Springsteen / Dire Straits with ” Money for Nothing ” / The Cure / David Bowie / Phil Collins

” We Are The World ” By USA For Africa featuring many artists for Aid For Africa

Other interersting facts about 1985:

Microsoft Corporation releases the first version of Windows, Windows 1.0. / Compact Discs are introduced to American consumers / The space shuttle Atlantis is launched

Just for giggles a picture of me from 1985 and today!

Blizzard Facts:

• In 1985, the Dairy Queen® system began blending simple combinations of candies, fruit, cookies, nuts and DQ® soft serve to create the signature Blizzard Flavor Treat. 
• The Blizzard is the Dairy Queen system’s single greatest dessert innovation in 23 years.  More than 100 million were sold during its inaugural year.
• Since its introduction, more than 75 Blizzard Flavors have been introduced, including Caramel Waffle Crisp, Tin Roof Brownie, Chocolate Xtreme and Strawberry CheeseQuake®.
• The top five Blizzard flavors are: Oreo® Cookie, chocolate chip cookie dough, M&M’s®, Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cups and Butterfinger®.
• Dairy Queen locations in China serve Green Tea Blizzard Treats.
• On June 21, 2005, the Dairy Queen system garnered a Guinness Worlds Record for the largest frozen treat. Built in Springfield, Mass., to celebrate the Blizzard Treats 20th birthday, the 22-foot, 8,224.85 pound Blizzard Treat was made with 2,575 pounds of crushed Oreo Cookies and 705 gallons of DQ soft serve.
• In August 2002, a man coined “the DQ Blizzard Guy” completed his goal of eating a Blizzard Flavor Treat in every state with a visit to a Dairy Queen restaurant in Alaska for his 50th Blizzard Treat.

The marketing gurus at the corporate headquarters have lots of great things planned this year to celebrate the birthday of the Blizzard Treat. Some I can tell you about in this blog, and some…  well, you’ll just have to wait until we can spill those beans.

In celebration of the 25th Blizzard Birthday, the DQ system is  launching a “25 Flavors for 25 Years” Blizzard menu. What does this mean? Well, as you enter your local DQ restaurant, you will notice a special 25 Flavors for 25 Years Blizzard menu. The flavors included in this menu are past and present favorites.

Over the next 12 months, I will try two of the 25 Blizzard flavors each month (and three in July!), working my way through the entire menu.  I will share my thoughts on each (including a Blizzard Spoon Rating), along with fun facts about the Blizzard Treat and the past 25 years.  Join me on this Blizzard 25th Birthday challenge and try each of the Blizzard Treats on the 25-for-25 menu over the next 12 months! Then come here and tell us your favorites in each of the four categories–”Cookie Lovers,” “Candy Cravers,” “Fruit Fans” and “Chocoholics.”

Here’s a picture of the categories and menu:

Our Blizzard 25th Challenge Schedule:

Chocoholics:

• Jan. 11: Turtle Pecan Cluster
• Jan. 18: French Silk Pie
• Feb. 2: Chocolate Xtreme
• Feb. 16: Midnight Truffle
• March 9: Georgia Mud Fudge
• March 23: Mocha Chip

Posted by : The Web Master

As the year comes to a close, it seems natural to reflect on 2009.  Let me tell you, it’s been a crazy year for the Dairy Queen® system and its launch into the social media landscape. In February we launched this blog, and as of today we have received over 90,000 visits, which is above and beyond our expectations for the blog in its first year. We did have a Facebook account prior to this blog being launched, but since that time we have grown to over 720,000 Facebook fans. We have also launched a Twitter account (@dairyqueen) in May and we are about to reach 5,000 followers.

What I’m trying to say to all Dairy Queen fans that follow, read or “fan” us through social media is a big “thank you” for engaging in a brand that you are passionate about! And I’d like to let you in on a little secret–we are working on some huge things for next year, one of which will launch in January, so be sure to check back to find out what big things are in store for DQ® in 2010!

Thank you and Happy New Year from the Dairy Queen Blog Team!

Posted by : PR Wonk

Although the holidays can be expensive and filled with stress–lots of last minute shopping, trying to figure out what the annual holiday greeting card to friends and family should look like, who should get one and trying to mail them before the first of the year–I still love the holidays.  I always have and always will. I love the lights, the decorations, the music, the specials on TV, the tree and trimmings, all the homemade goodies, family gatherings and, yes, I still love the presents… giving as well as receiving them. 

As a child I remember, as many children do, dreaming of all of the things under the tree and counting the presents, shaking them and trying to figure out what was in each of them.  Even though it seemed like it took forever to come, Christmas was always over way too quickly and it wasn’t long before we slipped back into our normal, everyday routines of school and work.

Tonight as I put my two boys to bed, they asked me “Dad, what was your favorite present you ever got at Christmas?”  After thinking for a second or two, I smiled and told them it was a stuffed lion, “Larry Lion” to be exact.  He was made back in the late 1960s by Mattel and he could talk.  If you pulled his string, his mouth would move and could say things such as, “I’m king of the jungle” and “I’m a very, very, very brave lion.” Oh, and he would also roar.  I think I got Larry when I was around three years old and I remember how petrified I was of him at first because he seemed so real and that freaked me out. I quickly overcame my fear of Larry and we became best friends.  I know that my mom still has him tucked away somewhere in a closet and the last time I ran across him, he still talked. 

Telling my boys about “Larry Lion” made me smile and it brought back all of the wonderful Christmas memories of years ago.  Before this holiday season slips away, and the stress of trying to fit everything in before that magical day, please take a moment and share with us your all-time favorite gift or treasured memory “from Christmas’ long, long ago.”

We wish you and yours all the joys and memories this holiday season brings!