Market
The history of soft-serve ice cream can be traced back to J. F. “Grandpa” McCullough and his son, H. A. (Alex) McCullough, proprietors of the Homemade Ice Cream Company in Green River, Illinois, who believed that ice cream was more flavorful when it wasn’t frozen solid. The McCulloughs’ experimentation with mix formulas, along with their knack of tinkering with freezer parts, resulted in what today is known as soft-serve ice cream.
The Homemade Ice Cream Company and its innovative soft-serve ice cream set in motion the formation of one of the world’s most iconic brands: Dairy Queen. The original Homemade Ice Cream Company’s building gave way to the first Dairy Queen mix plant in Green River, and in 1940 the first official Dairy Queen store opened with the soft-serve ice cream concept tested and developed by the McCulloughs.
Today, with more than 5,700 restaurants worldwide serving hamburgers, hot dogs, various dairy desserts, and beverages, Dairy Queen has become one of the largest and most experienced retailers in the $125–$150 million segment quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry.
