Swig (soft drink shop)

American soft drink shop chain

For other uses, see Swig.

Swig

Founded| 2010; 14 years ago (2010)
St. George, Utah
Founder| Nicole Tanner
Headquarters|

American Fork, Utah

Number of locations

| 59 (2024)

Area served

| Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas

Key people

| Chase Wardrop (President)
Products| soft drinks, cookies, pretzel bites

Number of employees

| 500+ (2020)
Parent| Larry H. Miller Company
Website| www.swigdrinks.com

Swig is a drive-through soda-fountain chain primarily located in the western United States. The chain, known for its popular "dirty sodas," was founded in April 2010 by Nicole Tanner in St. George, Utah. Since then, Swig has experienced steady growth and, as of 2023, operates locations in seven states. Swig is owned by the Savory Fund, a private equity firm, the Larry H. Miller Company. [1][2]

## History

[edit]

Nicole Tanner and her husband Todd opened the first Swig store in St. George, Utah in 2010. The first Swig location was across the street from Dixie State University, now known as Utah Tech University.[3][4]

Tanner found that while she and her husband enjoyed pebble ice drinks such as those served at Sonic, they found it could be inconvenient waiting in line behind others who were ordering food just to get drinks. Tanner founded Swig as a drink-focused restaurant, serving a limited menu of items from a local bakery. A second store was opened in St. George in 2011.[3]

In 2015, Swig sued competitor Sodalicious over their use of the term "dirty soda", which Swig claimed that it had trademarked in 2013.[4][5] Sodalicious argued that the term was generic and thus could not be trademarked.[4] The lawsuit ended with an undisclosed settlement in 2017.[5]

By 2017, the company had 16 locations and more franchise offers from outside of Utah.[6] The same year, Nicole Tanner sold the chain to the restaurant management firm Four Foods Group.[6]

As of 2018, the company headquarters is located in American Fork, Utah.[7]

In 2021, Swig expanded into Idaho, Oklahoma and Texas.[6][2]

On November 22, 2022, the Larry H. Miller Company purchased a majority stake in Swig. Savory Fund, Nicole Tanner, Chase Wardrop, Dylan Roede each retained significant minority equity in the chain.[8] In 2023, Swig announced that it would open 25 corporate-owned locations and start a franchising program.[9] Megaplex Theatres, will start selling Swig products in 2023.[8] Swig had plans to open locations in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri and Idaho. Roughly 250 new locations are planned.[10][11]

In late 2023, Swig announced that it was expanding into San Antonio, Texas with two locations.[12] In early 2024, Swig announced the opening of a third San Antonio location in the Alamo City neighborhood.[13]

In 2023, Arkansas opened its first location, a franchise, in Rogers, Arkansas.[14]

Rian McCartan resigned as CEO of SWIG in March 2024. His interim replacement was Alex Dunn, a senior executive at the Larry H. Miller Company. Dunn will remain in this role while a search for a permanent CEO is conducted.[15]

Swig opened a location in Alcoa, Tennessee on June 21st, 2024.[16]

## Products

[edit]

Swig is known for their "dirty" sodas, which are made by mixing base name-brand sodas such as Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper with add-ins such as flavored syrups, creams and fruit-purees.[3] The chain also sells semi-frozen cookies with pink frosting, salted pretzel bites, and popsicles.[4][16]

## Popularity in Utah

[edit]

The popularity of soda-fountain chains such as Swig in Utah can largely be traced to the influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Members of the LDS Church are prohibited from consuming alcohol or hot caffeinated beverages such as tea or coffee. As such, many LDS Church members frequently drink soda in order to consume caffeine.[3][4][2] The vast majority of all Swig locations are in the state of Utah.[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Swig". swigdrinks.com. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
2. ^ a b c Petersen, Victoria (December 6, 2021). "In the Mountain West, the 'Dirty' Soda Rush Is On". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
3. ^ a b c d "Why Swig is One to Watch". QSR magazine. September 21, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
4. ^ a b c d e Turkewitz, Julie (November 30, 2015). "In Utah Feud Over 'Dirty' Sodas, Flavored Darts Are Fired". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
5. ^ a b "Utah's 'dirty soda' war ends in a settlement". KSTU. November 8, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
6. ^ a b c "Swig Shoots for Soda Supremacy". Silicon Slopes Newsroom. February 4, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
7. ^ "New Look for Beloved Utah Custom Soda Chain". www.businesswire.com (Press release). October 25, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
8. ^ a b c Williams, Carter (November 22, 2022). "Larry H. Miller Company acquires majority stake of Utah 'dirty soda' chain". KSL.COM. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
9. ^ Coley, Ben (November 22, 2022). "Rising Beverage Chain Swig Sold to the Larry H. Miller Companies". QSR. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
10. ^ Garcia, Juliana (June 26, 2023). "Swig, a 'dirty' soda company, wants to open a Mission shop". Shawnee Mission Post. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
11. ^ Stefanich, Logan (September 2, 2023). "Utah-based Swig is bringing its 'dirty' sodas to 250 more stores in 7 new states". KSL. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
12. ^ Rocha, Polly Anna (December 27, 2023). "Dirty soda franchise plans second location before first one even opens". MYSA. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
13. ^ Stinson, Katherine (February 20, 2024). "Swig Soda is adding a third location in San Antonio. Here's where". My San Antonio. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
14. ^ Staff (November 3, 2023). "Swig Opens First Franchised Store in Arkansas". QSR. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
15. ^ Zinsmeister, Leigh Anne (March 29, 2024). "Swig CEO Rian McCartan departs the company". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
16. ^ a b Thompson, Myron (July 3, 2024). "Swig brings its 'dirty sodas' to Tennessee for the first time. Here's where it is open". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved July 3, 2024.