Swig Signs Six-Unit Deal for South Texas

Swig has signed a six-unit franchise agreement with father-son operators Najib and Walid Haidar to bring its drive-thru drink shops to South Texas. The deal centers on the McAllen area, with the first store expected to open in early 2027. For a brand built on speed and customization, signing one operator for six units is a faster route into a new region than recruiting six separate owners.

Why Operators Like the Drive-Thru Model

Swig runs a drive-thru-centric footprint with no full kitchen, which strips out the equipment, labor, and build-out costs that slow most food franchises. That lower complexity is the real selling point for multi-unit operators. When each store is cheaper and simpler to open, an owner can replicate locations faster and reach the unit counts that make the economics work.

The Experience the Brand Is Buying

The Haidars spent more than a decade in their family's Texas restaurant business after moving from Lebanon, building hands-on experience in operations and multi-unit growth. Swig is leaning on that profile on purpose. A franchisor carries less risk on a six-store commitment when the operators already know how to hire, manage, and open on schedule, which is why brands keep favoring seasoned owners over first-timers.

What South Texas Offers

South Texas pairs a growing population with a value-focused customer base, the combination that rewards a fast, affordable format. Swig has grown from a single Utah location in 2010 to stores across multiple states, and a local operating family gives it community ties that can speed site selection and hiring in a market it has not yet entered.