Money Makers

Andrew Valenti, Reporter//May 5, 2016//
Dairy Queen plans 15 new Grill & Chill locations in metro area

Andrew Valenti, Reporter//May 5, 2016//
There are more than 6,700 Dairy Queen locations in the United States, Canada and 27 other countries, but the ice cream and food giant famous for its Blizzard dessert has been an elusive get for New Orleans, with only four stores in the area.

That will change in the upcoming years, as the Minnesota-based company has decided to open 15 franchise locations of its Grill and Chill stores in the metro area within the next 10 years. There are currently two Grill and Chill locations in Marrero, Gretna and one in Slidell as well as a store in Metairie on Airline Highway that serves ice cream with a limited food menu.
International Dairy Queen Vice President of Franchise Development Jim Kerr said expanding in the New Orleans market was a natural move for his company.
“When I measure the new store openings like the ones in Marrero and Gretna, they’ve been the highest volume new store openings in the country,” he said. “There is a great reception to our brand each time we open a store in southern Louisiana.”
Dairy Queen is looking at possible locations in Orleans Parish, Kenner, Metairie, LaPlace, Houma, Thibodaux and additional locations on the North Shore. Kerr said his company is actively recruiting franchise operators with strong resources to open multiple units. He added that the company is looking for up to four multi-unit capable groups.
The cost to typically build and open a Dairy Queen Grill and Chill is more than $1 million, which does not include the cost of land. Each location is expected to offer 2,500 to 3,000 square feet of space.
Kerr said his company has one of the industry’s best predictive analytic marketing planning packages that place the ideal spots for a store in a given market on a map. This will allow the company to move quickly on a location on either the North Shore or South Shore.
“We have the flexibility to move in either direction to take advantage of that opportunity,” he said.
These expansion plans are not limited to the New Orleans area, as the fast-food chain intends to open more than 50 Grill and Chill locations in Louisiana in the next 10 years, primarily in the New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette markets. There are currently 36 stores in the state.
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