A NEAT LITTLE CO THAT MAY GO PUBLIC AT SOME TIME IS SWIGS THEY CONSIDER BROS THEIR TOP COMPETITOR.
History
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
Lehi, 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 Roeder 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]Swig opened a location in Alcoa, Tennessee on June 21st, 2024.
[15]
Products
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][15]
As of 2024, "Dirty soda" chains were growing across the United States. This carbonated drink has already gained a strong following in the mountain states, partly due to the fact that many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church, abstain from alcohol and coffee. This makes these sodas an appealing choice. A soda becomes "dirty" when it's mixed with flavored syrup and cream.
[16]
