Dairy Queen Targets Kansas City as Part of Strategic Metropolitan Development Initiative

For the past 75 years, consumers have stopped by their local Dairy Queen® for one of the brand’s signature frozen treats or delicious sandwiches. The brand’s commitment to quality and menu innovation has made it the go-to restaurant for families and friends in cities across the country.

But for some consumers, their neighborhood Dairy Queen isn’t as close to home as they’d like. That’s why the brand is focusing its development efforts in cities that could use a few more locations in order to best serve the entire community. One of those target development markets is Kansas City.

“We’re really targeting expansion in major metropolitan areas that don’t have enough Dairy Queens to go around. That’s why Kansas City is an ideal area for growth,” said Mike Mettler, Dairy Queen’s director of national franchise sales. “We have a long history of popular stores and strong operators in the market, and we’re confident that new franchisees who sign on to develop the brand in Kansas City will continue to experience that heightened level of success.”

Kansas city market

With a metro population of more than two million, according to Forbes, Kansas City is an ideal market for the Dairy Queen brand. The city is filled with groups of previously untapped consumers, as well as qualified entrepreneurs who can realize their dreams of business ownership with the help of the brand.

Part of what makes Dairy Queen’s franchise option so attractive to prospective franchisees is its DQ Grill & Chill® model. The restaurant concept, which initially launched back in 2002, offers more variety on its menu than the traditional DQ® concept—items like premium burgers, chicken sandwiches and snack melts are served alongside the brand’s line of delicious soft serve treats. It’s that elevated Dairy Queen model that first inspired current Kansas City franchisees Angie and Frank Lombardo to open up their own restaurant.

“My husband and I had been debating opening up a Dairy Queen franchise for a while. But as soon as we learned about the DQ Grill & Chill model, we knew we had to move forward with our development plans right away,” said Angie. “The food is delicious, and at the time, there really wasn’t anything like it in the area. We thought it was something our community would love, and we were right. Consumer demand has been so high that we’re already making plans for our second location.”

Expansion plans

Over the next five to six years, Dairy Queen is hoping to open up at least 15 new locations in the Kansas City market. The brand is already well on its way to achieving that goal—there are a number of franchise groups actively developing in the market.

“By expanding in Kansas City, we have the unique opportunity to honor Dairy Queen’s heritage and history in the area. Our DQ Grill & Chill model takes the classic Dairy Queen experience to the next level, and builds on the strong foundation the brand has already established throughout the entire community,” Mettler said.