PepsiCo Beverages North America Building ‘State-of-the-Art’ Manufacturing Facility
PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) is looking to expand its manufacturing capabilities, acquiring nearly 152 acres of land in the Denver High Point development area to build a “state-of-the-art”, 1.2 million square foot facility. The location is set to open in 2023.
"PepsiCo has been committed to our community for nearly 75 years, and we're proud that they have chosen to deepen their roots here and grow that commitment," said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock.
[Learn more: Pepsi Bottling Optimizing Manufacturing With New Efficiency-Focused Line]
A Long History in Denver
The project is part of PepsiCo’s 75-year investment in the Denver community and will hold three times the capacity of its current facility — PBNA’s largest U.S. plant yet. Denver is also home to the company’s River North Art District location, which has been in operation since the 1950s.
The company underwent a lengthy selection process, analyzing four states and choosing Denver for its history of sustainable business. PBNA is looking to double down on its commitment to its existing workforce in Colorado, currently made up of about 1,200 employees, as well as tapping new talent in the area.
Bolstering the Workforce
According to the company, the initiative will create nearly 250 new jobs, from supply chain leadership roles to hourly mechanic, truck driver, and forklift operator positions. Additionally, PBNA will be implementing training, upskilling as needed to retain its workforce and ensure staff can safely operate the new manufacturing equipment.
"We're thrilled to call Denver, a city that shares so many of our values, home to PepsiCo's most sustainable U.S. plant location," said PepsiCo Beverages North America's West Division president, Johannes Evenblij. "With the High Point facility serving as a model for the future of PBNA's supply chain, we're eager to continue deepening our dedication to Colorado through positive impacts such as new job opportunities and more sustainable business solutions."
In order to support hiring for the new facility, PepsiCo will be partnering with the city and county of Denver through Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO).
"Metro Denver welcomed this opportunity to support the expansion of such a distinguished company like PepsiCo," said Raymond H. Gonzales, president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation. "Their dedication to upskilling and reskilling their workforce, all while implementing sustainable business practices, speaks to the collective values of the region. We look forward to PepsiCo's future success and the positive impact their new facility will have on our communities."
This resource will assist with outreach and hiring activities and is supported by several other agencies within the city and town, such as the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, and Xcel Energy.
"Our strong workforce and thriving economy are proving that Colorado is the best place to live, work, and do business, and we are thrilled over 250 new jobs are being created in our state," said Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
Sustainability and Efficiency at the Forefront
In order to meet the PepsiCo Positive pledge to positively impact people and the planet, the company prioritized a positive value chain as the focus of its design. This facility will be the company’s most sustainable domestic outpost, looking to achieve 100% renewable energy, increased water efficiency, and reduced virgin plastic use.
"Not only will their new facility create more quality jobs in our city, it significantly boosts their commitment to sustainability and supports my administration's climate action efforts,” said Hancock.
The new PBNA High Point facility will open in Summer 2023, producing products such as Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Sugar, Gatorade, bubly, Rockstar, Propel, and Muscle Milk.
