ATLANTA – Schlotzsky’s Austin Eatery, a unit of Focus Brands Inc., recently signed a 10-unit franchise agreement with Lotzapan LLC, a family run company. Development plans call for restaurants across the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas to include Edinburg, McAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen, Brownsville and Laredo.

Lotzapan LLS is run by the Lozano family: parents Robert and Laurie Lozano along with their son, Bob Lozano Jr., daughter, Lensda Lozano, and her husband, David Lozano. The family has owned Dairy Queen franchises for more than 32 years. Lotzapan operates 41 Dairy Queen units throughout Texas and Oklahoma.

“With the addition of Schlotzsky’s to our portfolio, we now have two wholesome, legendary brands that have staying power,” said Bob Lozano Jr., chief development officer of The DQ Team. “Our family has deep ties to Schlotzsky’s hometown, and we could not be more excited to join the brand as it continues to grow. There is something truly humbling about a person choosing to come into your restaurant to feed themselves and their families and we love the connection Schlotzsky’s makes with a diverse group of people.”

Schlotzky’s was started in 1971 in Austin, Texas. The brand currently counts more than 370 restaurants that serve hot sandwiches, flatbreads, specialty pizzas, artisan flatbreads, fresh salads and gourmet soups. This year, the company successfully converted all deli locations to the Austin Eatery concept. Other initiatives for the brand include expanding in new and existing markets and increasing accessibility through third-party delivery, catering, take-out and drive-thru efficiencies.