International Dairy Queen Inc. has recognized six vendors supporting its franchise network in the United States and Canada with its 2026 Vendor of the Year awards. The honors were presented Sept. 16 during the DQ Supply Chain Summit at the Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The annual recognition highlights suppliers and distributors whose service contributes to the day-to-day operations of DQ restaurants and the franchise owners who operate them.
In the United States, McLane was named Distributor of the Year, N. Wasserstrom received Equipment Vendor of the Year honors and The Coca-Cola Company was recognized as Purchasing Vendor of the Year. McLane provides distribution services to DQ restaurants in Florida and has served International Dairy Queen and its franchise owners for 10 years. N. Wasserstrom has supplied kitchen equipment to the U.S. DQ system for 22 years, while The Coca-Cola Company has worked with the brand for 59 years.
The Canadian awards recognized three additional partners. Saputo Dairy Products Canada GP was named Dairy Vendor of the Year for supplying soft serve mix to DQ restaurants in Alberta. Gordon Food Service received Distributor of the Year honors for its work with restaurants in northern Alberta, while Grand River Foods was named Purchasing Vendor of the Year for supplying chicken strips to DQ restaurants in eastern Canada. Their relationships with the DQ system range from five years for Grand River Foods to 37 years for Saputo Dairy Products Canada GP.
The awards also illustrate how much of a franchise system’s customer experience depends on relationships beyond the restaurant itself. Reliable distribution, equipment and food supplies can affect how efficiently franchisees operate and how consistently restaurants deliver the products and service customers expect. Dan Kropp, International Dairy Queen’s chief supply chain and development officer, said strong supplier and distributor relationships are essential to the DQ system and its franchise owners.
For franchisors managing an expanding network, keeping supplier relationships organized can become an important part of operational oversight. Gorilla Dash offers a Vendors and Suppliers feature that provides a centralized way to manage supplier-related information and activity across a franchise organization. The 2026 DQ honorees demonstrate the long-term role that dependable vendor relationships can play in supporting franchise operations, from food and beverage supplies to restaurant equipment and distribution.