Dairy Queen

  • 1940: Dairy Queen is Born
  • The first Dairy Queen store opened in Joliet, Illinois, on June 22, 1940. Jointly owned by the McCulloughs and Sherb Noble, the store was managed by Jim and Elliot Grace. By the end of the summer, the store had grossed $4,000, and Noble decided to buy out the McCulloughs' interest in that store. On April 1, 1941, the McCulloughs opened another store in Moline and once again contracted the Graces to manage it for them. Additional stores were opened in Aurora, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa, and by the end of 1942 there were a total of eight Dairy Queen businesses in operation. However, with the advent of World War II, manufacturing materials used for building the freezers were reassigned to the war effort. Without new freezers, no new stores were able to open for the duration of the war.
  • Late 1990s Acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway .
  • The biggest news of 1997 came in the fall, when it was announced that the company would be sold to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. of Omaha, Nebraska. Investment guru Warren Buffett controlled Berkshire, which would pay $585 million in stock and cash. Owners of Dairy Queen shares grumbled that the amount was low, but the deal was approved by voting stockholders and finalized in early 1998. The sale had been spurred by the death of Rudy Luther, a Twin Cities-based car dealer who owned 15 percent of Dairy Queen. When Luther's heirs decided to sell his stake, Buffett was approached. Having previously sought to buy the entire company, he refused to take only a portion and renewed his earlier offer, which was now accepted. Buffett pledged to be a "hands off" owner, and no major management or structural changes were planned.
  • Grey Advertising delivered the company's biggest promotional campaign ever during the summer of 1998. A new tag line, "Meet me at DQ," and an emphasis on the chain's hometown feel were features of the $25 million push. The first television spots were scheduled to run in the United States and Canada beginning in July.
  • Dairy Queen Brunei was started in February 6, 2002 and our first store opened was in Teck Guan.
  • June 20, 2002 – DQ Mall Gadong.
  • February 21, 2003 – DQ Hua Ho Yayasan.
  • November 17, 2002 – DQ Seria.
  • June 5, 2006 – DQ Hua Ho Manggis.
  • June 5, 2006 – DQ Sungai Tilong.
  • July 13, 2006 – DQ Tutong.
  • July 19, 2006 – DQ Hua Ho Tanjung Bunut.
  • April 23, 2012 – DQ Airport Mall.
  • September 3, 2012 – Reopened of DQ Mall Gadong after the renovation.
  • December 17, 2012 – DQ Lambak Kanan.