Florida Construction News staff writer
Beverage company Buffalo Rock has purchased 47 acres for a new distribution center in Santa Rosa County.
Buffalo Rock is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama where 85% of its products are manufactured. The company sells more than a billion containers of product each year, and US veterans make up 10% of its workforce.
The new location is at the Northwest Florida Industrial Park at I-10.
“The purpose of this project is to better serve our customers, employee-partners and consumers in the Gulf Region. It’s an integral part of our strategic growth plan, which will allow for efficiencies in logistics and operations,” Buffalo Rock senior vice-president Wayne Wisdom said in a statement. “We are working toward being in the new facility in the beginning of 2025, and look forward to the benefits this expansion will offer our customers.”
The project’s ground-breaking is expected in May of 2023.
“This is a big win for Santa Rosa County that demonstrates the value of our commitment to having shovel-ready sites available,” said SREDO Director Shannon Ogletree. “The industrial park was intentionally sited less than a mile from its namesake interstate highway, with plenty of room and easy access to everywhere. That was a tremendous selling point for Buffalo Rock.”
“I’m excited to see that Buffalo Rock is making such a big investment in Santa Rosa County,” said Colten Wright, chairman of the Santa Rosa County Commission, who leads the board’s economic development efforts. “They will be the anchor and flagship company of our I-10 Industrial Park. Buffalo Rock bringing nearly 400 employees at wages higher than our area average, means they believe in Santa Rosa County and understand all that we have to offer. They will likely be the first of many companies flocking to our area.”
After the Buffalo Rock purchase, six acres of property remain available at the Northwest Florida Industrial Park at I-10.
