2017 Top 500: Frozen Dessert

dq blizzards

Dairy Queen comprises more than half of the frozen desserts menu category's sales. Despite the chain's 2.5% increase in systemwide sales, the category as a whole grew just 1.5%, to $6.3 billion. The menu segment's unit count declined by 0.7%, to 12,189. Nobody told Menchie's the boom times were over: The froyo chain increased sales by 16.5% and units by 5.1%.

2017 Rank

Chain Name

2016 U.S. Sales ($000)

2016 U.S. Units

21Dairy Queen/Orange Julius3,621,0694,517
73Baskin-Robbins603,6002,538
105Cold Stone Creamery361,700*905*
117Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy Stores328,000*283
193Menchie's Frozen Yogurt182,400*415
201Yogurtland168,100*270*
226Rita's Ice139,200*645*

*Technomic estimate; Source: Technomic's Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report

 

View the full Top 500 report

 

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Leadership

Restaurants bring the industry's concerns to Congress

Neary 600 operators made their case to lawmakers as part of the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference.

Financing

Podcast transcript: Virtual Dining Brands co-founder Robbie Earl

A Deeper Dive: What is the future of digital-only concepts? Earl discusses their work to ensure quality and why focusing on restaurant delivery works.

Financing

In the fast-casual sector, Chipotle laps Panera Bread

The Bottom Line: The two fast-casual restaurant pioneers have diverged over the past five years, as the burrito chain has thrived while Panera hit a wall. Here's why.

Trending

More from our partners