Dairy Queen to Launch 20 New Restaurants in Puerto Rico by 2036

International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ), through its subsidiary American Dairy Queen Corporation, has announced a new deal to establish 20 DQ Grill & Chill® restaurants in Puerto Rico by 2036. The agreement was made with Caribbean Creamery LLC, an affiliate of Richport Restaurants LLC, which manages franchised restaurants in the region.

The first of these restaurants is scheduled to open in San Juan in the first quarter of 2027. Nicolas Boudet, Chief Operating Officer, International at IDQ, expressed enthusiasm about entering the Puerto Rican market, highlighting the expansion as part of the company’s growth in the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico. Boudet cited the leadership and operational expertise of Caribbean Creamery as key factors in their selection as the franchisee.

International Dairy Queen previously operated restaurants in Puerto Rico over two decades ago, marking this as a return to the market. The newly planned locations will offer a mix of hot food and traditional Dairy Queen treats. This move aligns with IDQ's broader strategy to grow its presence across international markets.

IDQ, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. and oversees a network of over 7,800 Dairy Queen restaurants worldwide. The company continues to focus on expanding its footprint in diverse international markets.

Caribbean Creamery and Richport Restaurants aim to leverage their existing experience in the Puerto Rican market to successfully introduce and establish the DQ brand across the island. The plans indicate a long-term commitment to developing the brand presence in Puerto Rico over the next decade.