HTeaO Strengthens Leadership Team with Strategic Appointments in Store Development and Operations

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FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 4, 2026--

HTeaO, the nation’s leading iced tea franchise, announces the appointment of two key executive leadership appointments: Jerry McClain as Vice President of Store Development and Brian Aga as Senior Vice President of Operations. These additions follow the recent appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer (Chris Phillips) and reinforce HTeaO’s commitment to building organizational infrastructure that supports disciplined, sustained national expansion.

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Jerry McClain (left), Vice President of Store Development, and Brian Aga (right), Senior Vice President of Operations, join HTeaO’s executive leadership team to support the brand’s continued national expansion.

With more than 40 new store openings projected for 2026 and sustained double-digit growth, HTeaO continues to invest in leadership that supports franchise partners and protects the consistency of the brand experience.

“As HTeaO continues to grow, building the right leadership team isn’t optional — it’s critical,” said Justin Howe, Co-Founder and CEO of HTeaO. “With Chris stepping in as CFO, and now Jerry and Brian joining the team, we’re strengthening the foundation of this business. That means sharpening our focus on operational excellence and being intentional about value engineering smarter, more efficient footprints that drive best-in-class unit-level economics for our franchise partners. At the same time, we’re raising the bar across the system so both new and existing franchisees are positioned for long-term success — all while delivering the consistent, fun, refreshing guest experience that defines HTeaO.”

Jerry McClain, Vice President of Store Development

McClain brings a wealth of development and entrepreneurial experience to HTeaO. Previously, he played a significant role at Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, where he was part of the team that helped grow the brand from 104 units to nearly 700 nationwide, including a year in which his development team delivered 102 new restaurants. McClain also served as the founder and owner of 360 Luxury Builder, completing 42 custom short-term rental projects that created opportunities for aspiring small business owners.

As Vice President of Store Development, McClain will oversee the full development lifecycle, from real estate and design through construction and grand opening, with a focus on creating predictable, scalable processes that support franchise and operational success.

“My passion is building spaces where people can gather, connect, and enjoy something great,” said McClain. “At HTeaO, we’re creating opportunities for franchise partners to live out their entrepreneurial dreams while building places where guests can meet up, laugh, and experience the best iced tea around. With more than 40 openings projected for 2026, the Store Development team has a tremendous opportunity to drive meaningful impact for the brand and our partners.”

In his initial phase, McClain’s priorities include refining the development process from letter of intent to grand opening, strengthening transitions between real estate, design, and construction, establishing measurable KPIs, expanding general contractor and vendor partnerships, and identifying efficiencies within the prototype to help reduce costs and accelerate speed to market.

Brian Aga, Senior Vice President of Operations

Aga also joins HTeaO with extensive multi-unit operational leadership experience in the restaurant industry. Over the course of his career, he has driven operational performance, strengthened franchisee operations, built and developed high-performing field leadership teams, and led cross-functional initiatives designed to improve profitability and operational efficiency, including labor, cost control, and systems optimization.

Most recently, he spent over nine years with Denny’s in progressive leadership roles, including Vice President of Operations, where he supported large-scale franchise operations across a national footprint. Prior to Denny’s, Aga held executive leadership roles at Taco Bueno Restaurants, where he directed operational strategy for 70 units across Oklahoma and Texas and later led facilities and growth initiatives supporting 155 restaurant locations. His experience spans operational strategy, team development, budgeting, cost management, and new unit growth.

As Senior Vice President of Operations at HTeaO, Aga will oversee system-wide operational performance, develop field leadership teams, support franchisee success, and execute excellence across the HTeaO footprint.

“I’m passionate about developing people and creating systems that allow teams to perform at their best,” said Aga. “What excites me about joining HTeaO is the opportunity to support disciplined growth, ensure operational clarity, and help build an infrastructure where franchisees and operators can be set up for long-term success.”

In the near term, Aga is prioritizing listening and learning from operators and franchise partners, strengthening performance frameworks, and enhancing field support mechanisms that reinforce predictable, sustainable performance.

These appointments reflect HTeaO’s continued commitment to expanding its executive leadership team as part of a broader effort to support franchise partners, elevate operational standards, and scale with consistency across markets.

For more information about HTeaO and franchise opportunities, visit www.hteao.com.

About HTeaO

HTeaO, the leading iced tea franchise in the United States, has ascended as a frontrunner within this niche, a growing category within the beverage industry. With a cost-effective, highly-attractive business model, the brand operates their own supply chain, resulting in significantly reduced costs of goods. Offering a range of ultra-premium tea, water, and coffee products, HTeaO caters to customers both in-store and through convenient drive-thru services. Each location boasts 20+ meticulously crafted flavors of sweetened and unsweetened tea, made using a proprietary water filtration system and 100% natural ingredients. In January 2023, HTeaO announced a minority partnership with two Dallas-based private equity firms, Crux Capital and Trive Capital, signaling a strategic move for stable expansion. Hitting a significant milestone of 150 locations in July 2025, HTeaO is on the path of continued growth. HTeaO believes in fostering an atmosphere where all are welcoming, and takes pride in its commitment to giving back to its local communities. For more information on franchise opportunities, please visit https://HTeaO.com/franchise/.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304221022/en/

CONTACT: For media inquiries about HTeaO, please contact a Strauss PR team member:Allie Lesiuk [email protected] 817-733-3766

Kristin Garcia [email protected] 214-264-5962

KEYWORD: TEXAS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT RETAIL RESTAURANT/BAR FOOD/BEVERAGE

SOURCE: HTeaO

Copyright Business Wire 2026.

PUB: 03/04/2026 12:08 PM/DISC: 03/04/2026 12:08 PM

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