Dairy Queen (DQ) is an American chain of soft serve ice cream and fast food restaurants owned by International Dairy Queen, Inc. (a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway since 1998) which also owns Orange Julius, and formerly owned Karmelkorn and Golden Skillet Fried Chicken. Its corporate offices are in Bloomington, Minnesota.

The company’s milestones:

1940: First Dairy Queen® restaurant opens in Joliet, Illinois.

1949: Malts and shakes debut.

1951: Banana splits appear on the menu.

1953: First Dairy Queen restaurant opens in Canada.

1955: The Dilly® Bar debuts.

1957: The Dairy Queen Brazier® concept is introduced.

1959: First Dairy Queen restaurant opens in Panama.  

1962: International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ) is formed.

1968: The Buster Bar® Treat appears on the menu.

1971: Peanut Buster® Parfait debuts on the menu.

1979: First Dairy Queen restaurant opens in the Middle East.

1984: Partnership with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Children’s Miracle Network begins.

1985: Blizzard® Treats are introduced.

1988: IDQ purchases Orange Julius® Brand

1991: First Dairy Queen restaurant opens in Mexico.

1992: First Dairy Queen restaurant opens in China.

1995: DQ Treatzza Pizza® and Chicken Strip Basket debut.

1998: IDQ acquired by Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

2003: The Blizzard of the Month program kicks off.

2005: GrillBurgers are introduced.

2006: First Miracle Treat Day in Canada and the U.S.

2010: Mini Blizzard Treats are introduced.

2015: The DQ system celebrates its 75th Fanniversary.

2018: DQ mobile app launches.

2019: First DQ restaurant with the Next Gen design opens.

2020: The Non-Dairy Dilly® Bar debuts.

 According to en.wikipedia.org; dairyqueenfranchising.com.