Dairy Queen is set to introduce its first food-centric restaurants in China with its Shanghai-based long-term partner CFB Group, eyeing 180 locations by 2034. 

Chief operating officer, international, at Dairy Queen, Nicolas Boudet, said CFB Group will be the first franchise group to open this concept and the only one to operate food-centric restaurants in Asia. 

“Opening food-centric restaurants that offer balanced hot food and treat menus is critical to our international growth strategy,” said Boudet.

CFB Group currently operates more than 1000 Dairy Queen restaurants in Mainland China. Last year, the group said it aimed to open 600 treat-centric Dairy Queen restaurants – which specialise in soft-serve frozen dairy products – by 2030, 180 of which now will be food-centric DQ restaurants opened by 2034.

 “CFB Group and International Dairy Queen now will focus on innovation and product development to deliver hot food menu items that Chinese consumers crave,” said Alan Hsu, CEO at CFB Group. 

“Our goal is to position DQ restaurants as a balanced hot food and treat leader in China and grow our fan base to include customers seeking both meals and treats.”

The company said China is the fastest-growing market and is among the top three in size, alongside the US and Canada. International Dairy Queen, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway led by Warren Buffett, has more than 7000 restaurants in more than 20 countries. 

CFB Group has a portfolio of five brands and about 1400 stores in China.