Swig's custom soda chain sees rapid expansion beyond Utah, eyes 200 stores

Swig, the Utah-originated beverage chain that popularized highly customizable "dirty sodas," is experiencing its strongest growth in markets outside its home region. Managing director Andrew K. Smith of Savory Fund reported that non-Utah locations are delivering performance roughly 40% to 50% better than those within the state. Currently present in 23 states, Swig aims to operate about 200 stores by the close of the year and plans additional expansion next year.

Smith attributes the surge to a broader shift toward premium, personalized drinks, comparing it to the evolution of coffee chains like Starbucks. He also noted that a Hulu series spotlighting Utah culture helped raise the profile of dirty sodas nationwide. Savory Fund, which backs Swig and other restaurant concepts, emphasizes backing strong founders rather than chasing fleeting trends.