World's Largest Blizzard to Hit the U.S. on the First Day of Summer

Winter lasted well into spring this year and even now on the first day of summer, June 21, the forecast is for the world’s largest blizzard to hit Springfield, Mass.

Increasing the size of Dairy Queen�‘s iconic Blizzard� Flavor Treat, and co-hosting an event to raise money and awareness for Children’s Miracle Network, DQ� franchisee Mark Cowles will combine more than 700 gallons of soft serve with more than 3,000 pounds of crushed Oreo� cookies to create "The World’s Largest Blizzard" in an attempt to break his current Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Frozen Treat. Cowles, who owns three DQ locations (Chicopee, Springfield and Hadley, Mass.), attained his first Guinness World record when he created a giant Blizzard on July 1, 1999 in Chicopee, Mass.

This colossal version of DQ’s iconic brand is expected to surpass the original and stand more than 22 feet high, weigh in at nearly 6,000 pounds and take 20 volunteers nearly two weeks to create. The World’s Largest Blizzard will strike its pose on Tuesday, June 21st, the first day of summer, at the Eastfield Mall, 1655 Boston Road in Springfield, Mass. Festivities include a simultaneous "World’s Largest Cookies and Milk Party" for visitors and a collection of donations for Children’s Miracle Network with Guida providing the milk, and Kraft donating single-serve packages of Oreo cookies. Creating the World’s Largest Blizzard is part of a year-long celebration of the Blizzard’s 20th birthday bash. On its way to becoming a billion-dollar brand, the Blizzard burst upon the treat scene in 1985 and literally turned the ice cream treat business on its head. Still served upside down with a spoon on the side, the Blizzard is perhaps one of the most imitated ice cream innovations since the ice cream cone.

"Dairy Queen is the world’s premiere treat destination and the Blizzard is our single-most popular brand," said Michael Keller, chief brand officer for International Dairy Queen. "What better way to celebrate the Blizzard and also raise awareness for hospitalized children than by building a gigantic version of our most popular treat." Though the Oreo Blizzard still holds the top popularity spot in the Blizzard flavor line-up, DQ also will introduce several new Blizzard flavors throughout 2005 in recognition of the Blizzard’s 20th birthday. No longer just candy and soft serve, the Blizzard has transcended the treat industry with original and inventive flavors including Cotton Candy (the first to be developed with the help of a Dairy Queen panel of tweens: 8- to12-year-old taste testers), Pumpkin Pie, French Silk Pie, Brownie Batter and the Berry CheeseQuake� line, which are offered on a limited-time basis. About Children’s Miracle Network: Each year, Children’s Miracle Network hospitals treat 17 million children afflicted with diseases, injuries and birth defects of every kind. All of the funds raised locally stay in the community in which they were collected. The Dairy Queen system has been a national sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network since 1984, raising more than $55 million during that time. About IDQ International Dairy Queen (IDQ), which is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., develops, licenses and services a system of more than 5,700 Dairy Queen-stores in the United States, Canada and other foreign countries, offering dairy desserts, hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages. IDQ is part of the Berkshire Hathaway Inc. family, a company owned by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. In 2001, IDQ launched a new concept called DQ Grill & Chill� that blends the best of the Dairy Queen brand’s heritage with the most modern innovation in quick service food and design, featuring an all new expanded menu and newly designed restaurant interiors.

For More Infromation Please contact:
Dean Peters, Director of Communications
International Dairy Queen, Inc.
Phone: (952) 830-0204

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