Minor Food Group, an operator of Dairy Queen shops in Thailand, plans to double the number of outlets by 2014. The expansion will be done on a franchise basis for the first time in the country.
According to the Bangkok Post, with this move, Dairy Queen sales are predicted to reach 2 billion baht (1 Thai baht = 0.0310 U.S. dollars) in 2014, when outlets are doubled to 450 total.
As Minor International expands Dairy Queen stores throughout the country on a franchise system, existing outlets will also be converted to franchises.
Minor currently operates 233 Dairy Queens, with 105 in Greater Bangkok. Of the expected 450 outlets in 2014, about 300 will be franchised.
Throughout Thailand, sales of Dairy Queen grew by about 15 percent in the first half of 2010.
Additionally, Minor has been awarded rights from International Dairy Queen Inc., and its owner Berkshire Hathaway, to expand in Cambodia. It is also negotiating other outlets throughout Southeast Asia.
Dairy Queen first expanded into China in 1991.
