It’s all about ice-cream and fast food today as we turn the spotlight on one of America’s most beloved brands. This brand is also well-loved by billionaires, more notably value investor Warren Buffett and Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban.

You might have by now guessed that I am talking about International Dairy Queen, a company known globally for its soft-serve treats like the Blizzard and the Dilly Bar.

Founded in 1940, International Dairy Queen or the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation and Dairy Queen Canada has grown to a global quick service restaurant player.

The firm is also famously known as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, having been acquired in 1998.

Currently, the firm develops, licenses and services a system of over 7,700 Dairy Queen restaurants over 20 countries. But the firm doesn’t seem to stop there and appears to be on a charm offensive to expand internationally.

For one thing, the firm had in 2022, through American Dairy Queen Corporation and private equity firm FountainVest Partners, unveiled plans to open up 600 Dairy Queen restaurants in China by the end of the decade.

Then came July 2024, when International Dairy Queen teamed up with FountainVest Partner’s franchise ownership company CFB Group to open what’s said then to be the first DQ Blizzard & Burgers restaurant in Shanghai in Asia.

So what was the rationale behind the firm’s aggressive expansion moves? And how far will the company’s international business bolster sales as global trade tensions and tariffs weigh on consumption in the US?

Beyond international expansion, International Dairy Queen is also said to be placing a stronger emphasis on hot food, versus the dessert treats it was once famous for. But why is this the case?

On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Dr. Brandon Guthrie, Director of International Development, Dairy Queen.

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Founded in 1929, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group is owned by one of the most influential families in Hong Kong, namely the Cheng family behind the late property tycoon Cheng Yu-tung.

With a deep heritage, the firm’s brand aims to not only honour traditions, but also foster deep, meaningful connections, with a diverse customer base through its jewellery pieces.

The company said its commitment to innovation and craftsmanship has been integral in helping it maintain mindshare among customers over the decades.

In this “On the Go” Special edition of “Under the Radar”, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian flew down to Guangdong, China on a media tour to see how the company is putting its words into action.

Her journey started at Chow Tai Fook’s Shunde Artisanal Smart Manufacturing Centre, about 1.5 hours drive away from Shenzhen, where she visited the firm’s diamond processing facilities and master studio.

She also visited the firm’s new image store in Shenzhen, where she spoke with Gabriela Ferreira, General Manager, International of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery on the firm’s corporate strategy and expansion plans – including those for Singapore.

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We’re going to revisit an “Under the Radar” guest who first joined us on the show about two years ago.

And this is a leading homegrown Singapore company that delivers what’s said to be world-class communications, entertainment and digital services. And yes – you might be using its 5G network services to tune into this conversation as we speak.

Founded in 2000, telecommunications service provider StarHub seeks to provide people, homes and enterprises mobile and mixed services, a broad suite of premium content, as well as a diverse range of communications solutions through its extensive fibre and wireless infrastructure.

25 years on, the firm also develops and delivers solutions incorporating artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, Internet of Things for both corporate and government clients.

And we want to find out what is next for StarHub in a fast evolving market as it celebrates 25 years in the business.

Beyond that, the Singaporean telecommunications industry that StarHub lies in is also an interesting one to look at, as it undergoes a market consolidation.

In August this year, Keppel announced the proposed sale of M1’s telecommunications business to Australian mobile network operator Simba Telecom, for an enterprise value of S$1.43 billion. The move disappointed investors who had hoped for StarHub to buy over M1.

Just a day later though, StarHub announced that it has taken full ownership of MyRepublic’s broadband business. The move was said to strengthen StarHub’s multi-brand and multi-segment strategy in the Singapore broadband market. But what opportunities and synergies is the firm looking to tap exactly?

And how far will a consolidation in the market give telco players like StarHub more flexibility in its pricing to boost its top line numbers?

On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Nikhil Eapen, Chief Executive Officer, StarHub.

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