NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Two well-known New Mexico labels are set to change hands after more than a decade as the president of Southwest Brands, Tug Herig, has announced his plans to move toward retirement. New Mexico’s Keva Juice and Garduño’s locations are up for sale, and as Herig passes the businesses along, the parent company, Southwest Brands, will eventually dissolve.
The two New Mexico names are available to interested buyers or groups of investors, either to be purchased together or as separate companies. Although Herig plans to retire, he is willing to help see the transition period through smoothly in a “semi-retirement” stage, as needed by the purchaser.
The popular smoothie, juice, and fruit bowl spot Keva Juice has locations in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. Southwest Brands bought the label’s corporate stores and brand rights in 2007 and later purchased all of its New Mexico franchises. Within New Mexico, there are a total of 11 Keva Juice locations.
Garduño’s of Mexico is a local cocina and cantina with rich roots in Albuquerque, founded by Dave Garduño in 1981. When the restaurant was facing financial difficulties in 2011, Southwest Brands stepped in to purchase Garduño’s. Now, Southwest Brands owns its three locations: Cottonwood, Old Town, and the newly opened Northeast Heights location, which are all in the Albuquerque metro area.
Herig said, “An ideal buyer would be someone, or a group of investors, that have a strong desire to grow and protect these New Mexican brands as we have over the past 18-plus years,” adding, “They should have the vision to see that these companies/brands are positioned very well for future growth and have an incredible following of guests that are truly generational in makeup.”