International Dairy Queen Announces 2026 Vendor of the Year Winners

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International Dairy Queen Inc. (IDQ), a leader in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry, today announced the winners of its 2026 Vendor of the Year awards.

The awards recognize vendors in the U.S. and Canada that have demonstrated exemplary service to support IDQ and its network of independent franchise owners who own and operate DQ® restaurants.

DQ leaders presented the awards at DQ Supply Chain Summit 2026 at the Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Wednesday, September 16. The following U.S. vendors were recognized.

• U.S. Distributor of the Year – McLane – Orlando, Florida
  
  
• U.S. Equipment Vendor of the Year – N. Wasserstrom – Columbus, Ohio
  
  
• U.S. Purchasing Vendor of the Year – The Coca-Cola Company – Atlanta, Georgia
  
  

IDQ and CDQ CO-OP LTD., the supply chain serving DQ restaurants in Canada, also awarded Canadian vendors whose efforts to support both organizations and DQ franchise owners stood out in 2026. The awards were presented to winners by representatives of IDQ and CDQ CO-OP.

• Canada Dairy Vendor of the Year – Saputo Dairy Products Canada GP – Edmonton, Alberta
  
  
• Canada Distributor of the Year – Gordon Food Service – Edmonton, Alberta Warehouse
  
  
• Canada Purchasing Vendor of the Year – Grand River Foods – Cambridge, Ontario

“Success across the DQ system depends on strong, trusted supplier and distributor relationships that deliver on the experiences our franchise owners and fans expect in DQ restaurants,” said Dan Kropp, chief supply chain and development officer at International Dairy Queen. “The year’s honorees consistently deliver high-quality products, equipment and distribution services that support our growth and we are grateful for their partnership.”

McLane provides distribution services to DQ restaurants in Florida and has been serving IDQ and DQ franchise owners for 10 years.

N. Wasserstrom supplies kitchen equipment to DQ restaurants in the U.S. and has been serving IDQ and DQ franchise owners for 22 years.

The Coca-Cola Company supplies carbonated soft drinks, lemonades, orange juice and yogurt to DQ restaurants in the U.S. and has been serving IDQ and DQ franchise owners for 59 years.

Saputo Dairy Products Canada GP supplies soft serve mix to DQ restaurants in Alberta and has been serving IDQ, CDQ CO-OP and DQ franchise owners for 37 years.

Gordon Food Service provides distribution services to DQ restaurants in northern Alberta and has been serving IDQ, CDQ CO-OP and DQ franchise owners for 18 years.

Grand River Foods provides chicken strips to DQ restaurants in eastern Canada and has been serving IDQ, CDQ CO-OP and DQ franchise owners for five years.

About International Dairy Queen, Inc.

International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ), based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation and Dairy Queen Canada, Inc. Through its subsidiaries, IDQ develops, licenses, and services a system of more than 7,800 DQ restaurants in more than 20 countries. IDQ is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. For more information, visit DairyQueen.com.