{"id":1830264,"date":"2026-10-23T15:55:05","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T13:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/news\/swig-new-mexico-14-unit-franchise-deal-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-10-23T15:40:48","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T13:40:48","slug":"swig-new-mexico-14-unit-franchise-deal-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/news\/swig-new-mexico-14-unit-franchise-deal-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Swig Announces 14-Unit New Mexico Franchise Deal With Siblings Heather Berry and Brock Stokes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dirty soda <a href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/our-franchises\/\">franchise brand<\/a> Swig has signed a 14-unit development agreement covering New Mexico, adding a new state to a national expansion drive that has brought the brand to more than 150 locations across 16 states. The deal was announced October 22, 2026, with siblings Heather Berry and Brock Stokes named as the incoming multi-unit franchisees.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Swig<\/strong> was founded in 2010 in St. George, Utah, and describes itself as the originator of the dirty soda category, a beverage format built around customized sodas made with flavored syrups, cream, and mixers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The brand operates a drive-thru-centric model, with units running as small as 800 to 850 square feet. The New Mexico agreement brings the chain into a new state at a point when the dirty soda category is drawing attention from larger competitors, including McDonald&#8217;s and Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-slider-wrapper\" data-slider-id=\"lf-gut-franchise-slider-6adbb72276352\">\n            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-slider swiper\">\n                <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n                                            <div class=\"swiper-slide lf-gut-franchise-card\">\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image-wrapper\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hands-binoculars-480x188.png\" class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image\" alt=\"Swig\">\n                                                                    <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-logo-center\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/swig-logo-red-badge.png\" alt=\"Logo\">\n                                    <\/div>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-content\">\n                                <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title-content\">\n                                    <div>\n                                        <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-header-link\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/franchise\/swig\/\">\n                                            <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title\">Swig<\/p>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                        <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-tag-line\">We&#039;re not just selling sodas, we&#039;re delivering an experience and product that customers crave.<\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                    <ul class=\"lf-gut-franchise-info-list\">\n                                        <li data-field=\"category\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M12.5852 21.9314H4.92807C3.01378 21.9314 2.05664 20.9355 2.05664 18.9438V10.9771C2.05664 8.98542 3.01378 7.98957 4.92807 7.98957M12.5852 21.9314C10.6709 21.9314 9.71378 20.9355 9.71378 18.9438M12.5852 21.9314H18.3281C20.2424 21.9314 21.1995 20.9355 21.1995 18.9438V5.00205C21.1995 3.01037 20.2424 2.01453 18.3281 2.01453H12.5852C10.6709 2.01453 9.71378 3.01037 9.71378 5.00205M4.92807 7.98957H9.71378M4.92807 7.98957V5.99789C4.92807 4.90247 5.7895 4.00621 6.84235 4.00621H9.81905C9.74248 4.30496 9.71378 4.63359 9.71378 5.00205M9.71378 7.98957V18.9438M9.71378 7.98957V5.00205M9.71378 18.9438V5.00205M13.5424 7.98957V12.9688M17.3709 7.98957V12.9688M5.88521 12.9688V16.9521M16.4138 16.9521H14.4995C13.9731 16.9521 13.5424 17.4003 13.5424 17.948V21.9314H17.3709V17.948C17.3709 17.4003 16.9402 16.9521 16.4138 16.9521Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Food and Drink                                        <\/li>\n                                                                                <li data-field=\"contribution\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"25\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 25\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M2.05664 9.19308H21.1995M5.88521 17.1598H7.7995M10.1924 17.1598H14.0209M6.30635 4.21387H16.9402C20.3476 4.21387 21.1995 5.09021 21.1995 8.58561V16.7615C21.1995 20.2569 20.3476 21.1332 16.9498 21.1332H6.30635C2.9085 21.1432 2.05664 20.2668 2.05664 16.7714V8.58561C2.05664 5.09021 2.9085 4.21387 6.30635 4.21387Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Liquid capital: $                                        <\/li>\n                                                                            <\/ul>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                                <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-button\" rel=\"follow\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/franchise\/swig\/?demandedocumentation=1&#038;utm_source=media&#038;utm_campaign=cta-slider&#038;utm_medium=https%3A%2F%2Flexpress-franchise.com%2Fen-us%2Fnews%2Fswig-new-mexico-14-unit-franchise-deal-2026%2F\">I want more info<\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                        <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-slider-nav\">\n                <div class=\"swiper-button-prev\"><\/div>\n                <div class=\"swiper-button-next\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1\">A 14-Unit Agreement Bringing Swig to New Mexico<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The agreement commits Berry and Stokes to build <strong>14<\/strong> Swig locations across New Mexico, with the brand citing Albuquerque and Santa Fe among the target communities. The first opening is planned for summer 2027. The company stated that the<a href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/articles\/franchise-franchisee-franchisor-roles-responsibilities\/\"> franchisees<\/a> had been longtime <strong>Swig<\/strong> customers before pursuing a <a href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/articles\/what-is-a-franchise-agreement\/\">franchise agreement<\/a>, a profile the brand said reflects broader franchisee recruitment patterns. Heather&#8217;s daughters, Olivia and Emma, will also participate as business partners in the venture.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote\" style=\"--color: #e74c3c; \"><div class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__content\"><div class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__quote-wrapper\"><div class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__svg-wrapper\"><svg class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__svg\" width=\"56\" height=\"40\" viewBox=\"0 0 56 40\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M40.6 16.52H46.06C51.38 17.64 55.3 21.14 55.3 27.58C55.3 34.72 49.84 39.2 42.98 39.2C34.72 39.2 29.54 32.62 29.54 23.24C29.54 9.52 38.64 0.699999 55.58 0V5.04C46.62 6.3 41.3 9.52 40.6 16.52ZM10.92 16.52H16.52C21.84 17.64 25.76 21.14 25.76 27.58C25.76 34.72 20.3 39.2 13.44 39.2C5.18 39.2 0 32.62 0 23.24C0 9.52 9.1 0.699999 26.04 0V5.04C17.08 6.3 11.76 9.52 10.92 16.52Z\" fill=\"#e74c3c\"\/><\/svg><\/div><blockquote class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__text\">Heather, Brock and their family are exactly the kind of partners we want building Swig in new markets.<\/blockquote><\/div><div class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__author\"><div class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__author-details\"><p class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__author-pre-text\">A QUOTE FROM<\/p><p class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__author-name\">Alex Dunn<\/p><p class=\"lc-gut-blog-post-author-quote__author-title\">CEO, Swig<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2\">Two Siblings With Nearly a Decade of Franchise Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Heather Berry<\/strong> and <strong>Brock Stokes<\/strong> enter the deal as experienced multi-unit franchise operators, with nearly a decade of franchise experience between them. The siblings had been regular Swig customers before deciding to pursue ownership, a background the brand has highlighted as part of its franchisee recruitment narrative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Family involvement extends beyond the two lead operators: Heather&#8217;s daughters, Olivia and Emma, will join as business partners, creating a family-led operation across the New Mexico territory. &#8220;Swig checked all those boxes for us,&#8221; says <strong>Heather Berry, incoming Swig multi-unit franchisee for New Mexico<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3\">The Dirty Soda Format and How Swig Has Built Its Model<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dirty soda format centers on made-to-order beverages customized with syrups, cream, and flavored mixers, served from a drive-thru window rather than a dining room. <strong>Swig<\/strong>&#8216;s compact footprint (800 to 850 square feet) keeps build-out costs lower than full-service restaurant concepts, a characteristic the brand has used in its franchisee pitch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The chain entered franchise mode after years as a regional Utah brand, and its expansion has accelerated as interest in non-alcoholic specialty beverages has grown. McDonald&#8217;s and Sonic have both introduced customized drink programs in recent years, signaling broader category awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4\">Recent Multi-Unit Deals Signal a National Build-Out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The New Mexico agreement follows a series of large multi-unit deals that <strong>Swig<\/strong> has announced across 2026. The brand signed a 25-unit deal in South Florida, a 13-unit agreement in the Chicago area, and a 10-unit deal in Colorado Springs, among others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company has described its preferred deal size as <strong>15 to 25 units<\/strong> per agreement, a structure intended to establish density within a market before moving to adjacent territories. The chain&#8217;s stated goal is to recruit qualified multi-unit operators for continued national expansion. The New Mexico deal is consistent with that approach, targeting a state that had no prior <strong>Swig<\/strong> presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or professional advice. Laws and regulations vary by state and individual circumstances and may change over time. Readers should consult a qualified attorney, tax professional, or other licensed professional regarding their specific situation. Nothing herein creates an attorney-client relationship.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dirty soda franchise brand Swig has signed a 14-unit development agreement covering New Mexico, adding a new state to a national expansion drive that has brought the brand to more than 150 locations across 16 states. The deal was announced October 22, 2026, with siblings Heather Berry and Brock Stokes named as the incoming multi-unit [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":788,"featured_media":1830271,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"Swig Signs 14-Unit New Mexico Franchise Deal","_seopress_titles_desc":"Swig signs a 14-unit New Mexico franchise deal with siblings Heather Berry and Brock Stokes.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"content-type":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"1798251,1767670,1825259,1812754,1782808,1545800","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3594],"tags":[],"type-de-post":[2066],"class_list":["post-1830264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-franchise-networks","type-de-post-articles-actualite"],"acf":[],"permalink_manager":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1830264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/788"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1830264"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1830264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1830273,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1830264\/revisions\/1830273"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1830271"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1830264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1830264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1830264"},{"taxonomy":"type-de-post","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type-de-post?post=1830264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}