Antonio Swad

Antonio Swad is the founder of Wingstop and Pizza Patrón, a restaurant veteran with over 40 years of experience building and growing brands through any economic climate. He launched Wingstop in 1994 in Garland, Texas, alongside Bernadette Fiaschetti, pioneering the concept of making chicken wings the centerpiece of a profitable fast-casual model. The first franchised location opened in 1997, and the chain grew into a global empire.

Swad's story begins in Columbus, Ohio, where he worked at a steakhouse straight out of high school, starting as a 15-year-old dishwasher and working his way up through every station. That ground-level experience shaped his philosophy: great food comes from great systems. He founded Pizza Patrón in 1986, targeting the Hispanic market with a "pizza for all" approach before turning his attention to wings.

What's unusual about Swad is that he's a committed vegetarian who built one of the world's largest chicken wing chains—a contradiction he acknowledges with a grin. Under his leadership, Wingstop redefined fast-casual by focusing on made-to-order wings, bold flavors, and digital-first service, surviving and thriving through multiple recessions. His second big idea, Porch Swing, represents a new chapter after decades of success.