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FF Dairy Queen makes smooth move [UPDATED]
Published 11:15am Monday, July 23, 2012 Updated 11:36am Monday, July 23, 2012After four years of failed efforts, the Fergus Falls Dairy Queen has finally received the OK from the franchise to offer Orange Julius Originals and Premium Fresh Fruit Smoothies.
The new options will be available Thursday, and owner Linda Babcock said she is excited about the new opportunity.
“They kept telling us we weren’t going to be able to do it,” she said. “DQ used to have smoothies, but that fell off. I think the new options will be a great addition to our DQ line of food and ice cream.”
When the building was remodeled in 2008, Babcock said she wanted to reopen with the Orange Julius option, but the company required buildings to have a chimney and LED lighting in order to be allowed to offer the smoothies. Because of the extra cost, it just wasn’t a possibility at the time.
With pressure being added from Burger King and McDonalds’ new smoothie options, DQ decided to make Orange Julius available to all stores with space, said Babcock.
Beginning Thursday, customers will have two new menu options. Orange Julius Originals are blended fruit drinks available in mango, pineapple, strawberry, strawberry banana, triple berry and orange flavors. Orange Julius Premium Fresh Fruit Smoothies are made with real fruit, low-fat yogurt and are blended fresh. Flavors include strawberry, strawberry banana, triple berry, mango, pineapple and orange. Smoothies will range in price from $2.49 to $3.69.
“We have essentially created a smoothie shop within a DQ store,” said Babcock. “We are offering an assortment of fruit choices, variety and convenience to customers who want a quick snack or treat at any time of the day.”
The new options will likely be popular among athletes and those looking to start their day with a fruity drink, she said.
“We are continuing to grow, and we’re trying to offer more to the community,” said Babcock. “I’m always looking for upgrades and new stuff to offer.”
For now, the local DQ is busy shuffling things around to make room for the addition. Babcock has rushed the process and even spent extra for faster shipping, so the new options will be available to those stopping in town for the MS TRAM on Thursday.
Too bad the new DQ isn’t over by the interstate. That almost empty strip mall would have been a perfect place to not only get the locals, but the interstate traffic that gets off for food and fuel. Not to mention Wal-Mart. Many times I have wished for a DQ close to I94 and continued on to Sauk Center or stopped early at Saulk Center when going the other way. Then we get gas at the Holiday there too as both are so close to the exit and easy to get back going.
The interstate would be a nice spot for a DQ. Like you I have also gotten gas at the Holiday. I think it’s their hot dogs that do it to me.
Chimney? LED lighting? Lest one be as confused as I was by the notion of delicious blended fruit drinks requiring the presence of a hearth and high-efficiency lighting, a visit to the corporate Dairy Queen website’s “Site Criteria” page will answer all of your questions:
http://www.dairyqueen.com/us-en/own-a-dq/site-criteria/
Because, as you know, following the Site Criteria “ensures that development in a large market area is well planned to maximize the DQ Brand, Awareness & Presence.”