Swire Coca-Cola, USA plans to build a $475 million, 620,000 ft2 manufacturing facility in Colorado Springs to replace its 90-year-old Denver bottling plant and expand production of Coca-Cola beverages in Colorado.
The Utah-based bottler expects to break ground on the new plant at Peak Innovation Park near Colorado Springs Airport in 2026, with operations targeted to begin in 2028, according to the Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation.
The new facility in southeast Colorado Springs will consolidate and modernize Swire’s production operations while supporting the company’s growth and sustainability goals in the Pikes Peak region. The new facility is projected create about 170 on-site roles in production, maintenance, quality, logistics and management, with each job expected to support two additional positions in the local economy. The construction phase is forecast to provide roughly 1,190 jobs and generate about $103 million in direct labor income for workers and families in El Paso County.
Once online, the Colorado Springs plant is expected to produce more than 230 beverage options across more than 60 brands, including sparkling soft drinks, waters, teas, juice drinks and sports beverages. The bottling facility will primarily supply eight Coca-Cola distribution centers across Colorado, and Swire plans to retain the 145,000 ft2 distribution center it opened in 2023 near Colorado Springs Municipal Airport.
“Colorado Springs has been a great partner for our existing distribution facility, where we [already] employ 170 people. The city offers a highly skilled workforce and a strong sense of community — all of which make it an ideal location for this strategic investment,” said Bryan Sink, senior vice president, supply chain at Swire Coca-Cola, USA, in a statement. “At this facility, we will pursue LEED Gold certification, demonstrating our commitment to sustainability and being a responsible business within the community.”
The Colorado Springs facility is being designed with a focus on energy and water efficiency. The chamber and economic development corporation noted that Swire’s existing distribution facility in Colorado Springs already operates on 100% renewable electricity, and both the distribution center and future plant are expected to run largely on renewable power once the new manufacturing operation comes online.
Colorado Springs secured the project after Swire ended plans for a new plant near Denver International Airport earlier this year.
Swire Coca-Cola manufactures, distributes and sells Coca-Cola and other beverage brands in 13 states and employs about 1,300 people in Colorado across seven facilities. Company leaders said consolidating production at the new Colorado Springs plant will provide employees with a modern work environment, help the bottler keep pace with rising customer demand, and advance its sustainability commitments.
