VICTORVILLE, CALIF. — Dr Pepper Snapple Group has finalized an agreement to open a $120 million production and distribution facility in Victorville.
The facility will consist of an 850,000-square-foot building on 57 acres, including 550,000 square feet of warehouse space, and a 300,000-square-foot manufacturing plant with up to six manufacturing lines.
It will be constructed at Southern California Logistics Airport, an 8,500-acre master- planned multimodal freight transportation hub that is supported by air, ground and rail connections.
The facility will serve as the company’s Western hub and produce a wide range of soft drinks, juices, juice drinks, ready-to-drink teas, energy drinks and other premium beverages. It is expected to employ 200 people.
Larry Young, president and CEO of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, said Victorville’s location will serve the company well.
“This is an important step toward strengthening our production, distribution and overall route to market on the West Coast,” Young said. “The Victorville plant will enable us to get both our carbonated and non-carbonated brands to our customers and consumers more efficiently than ever before and will lay the foundation for future growth I that region,” he said.
Construction is scheduled to begin in October 2008. When the project is completed in early 2010, the facility will have the capability to produce as many as 40 million cases of product annually.
Dr Pepper Snapple Group markets such brands as 7UP, Mott’s, A&W, Sunkist Soda, Hawaiian Punch, Canada Dry, Schweppes, RC Cola and Yoo-hoo.