Dairy Queen Returns to Hong Kong After 50 Years with Four New Locations
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
American ice cream giant Dairy Queen is set to return to Hong Kong in November after an absence of nearly half a century, announcing plans to open four stores across the city. The first location will be at One Causeway Bay on the core of Hong Kong Island, with other branches covering Kowloon, New Territories, and outlying islands. The brand, which first entered the Hong Kong market in 1979 under the Chinese name Mei Li Xian, is best known for its signature Blizzard ice cream that features a uniquely thick texture designed to stay in place even when inverted .
Key Points
- Dairy Queen traces its global presence to over 7,700 stores worldwide, with 85 years of history as an international franchise brand .
- The first Hong Kong store in this expansion will open at One Causeway Bay in Causeway Bay, with the Kwun Tong branch already having commenced fitting-out works at The ANGLE mall .
- The brand's iconic Blizzard uses a proprietary whole milk formula with air content controlled at approximately 40%, creating its signature thick consistency .
- Dairy Queen originally entered the Hong Kong market in 1979, opening a store in Causeway Bay under the now-defunct Chinese name Mei Li Xian, becoming a nostalgic memory for Hong Kong residents born in the 1970s and 1980s .
- The ANGLE, the new mall where the Kwun Tong branch will be located, spans 500,000 square feet in Millennium City Phase 8 and can accommodate up to 180 merchants, with other recent tenants including Matsuniya, Ito-Yokado, Enjoyable Bakery, and Wunchuan Rice Noodles .
Why It Matters
Dairy Queen's return represents a significant trend of internationally recognized brands re-entering the Hong Kong market, capitalizing on both consumer nostalgia and the city's position as a premier retail destination. For Hong Kong shoppers, the arrival of the Blizzard brings an end to the need to travel abroad or to neighbouring regions like Macau or mainland China to enjoy this distinctive frozen dessert experience, potentially revitalizing interest in the local ice cream market .
Dairy Queen's return represents a significant trend of internationally recognized brands re-entering the Hong Kong market, capitalizing on both consumer nostalgia and the city's position as a premier retail destination. For Hong Kong shoppers, the arrival of the Blizzard brings an end to the need to travel abroad or to neighbouring regions like Macau or mainland China to enjoy this distinctive frozen dessert experience, potentially revitalizing interest in the local ice cream market .