Reyes Beer Division broke ground on a new San Diego-based distribution center for its Crest Beverage subsidiary yesterday.
The 400,000 sq. ft.-facility is expected to move more than 16 million cases of beers in the portfolios of Molson Coors, Heineken, Constellation Brands, Lagunitas, Firestone Walker, Coronado and other local offerings, according to the Crest website. It will be Crest’s primary distribution center for the San Diego market, where the company currently operates from existing warehouses in San Diego and Imperial that occupy a combined 275,964 sq. ft.
“So much of the beer consumed in California comes from right here in San Diego,” Dean McMillan, South Coast market president for Reyes Beer Division, said in a press release. “As the market continues to grow, we are committed to investing in San Diego and remaining a long-term partner with the city.”
The facility will be located at 47th Street and Federal Boulevard, about 17 miles south of Crest’s existing warehouse. In addition to a 350,000 sq. ft. temperature-controlled warehouse, the new facility will include 35,000 sq. ft. of office space. The project also includes several environmentally friendly features, including electric vehicle charging stations, a rooftop solar power system and the “latest energy-saving refrigeration units,” according to the release.
The project is expected to be complete by winter 2022 and will create “hundreds of well-paying jobs,” according to the release. To fill the jobs with local residents, Crest will collaborate on a months-long campaign with the San Diego Workforce Partnership, which aims to help “job seekers to increase their economic mobility, help businesses grow, rebuild, and thrive equitably, and prepare children and young adults for the world of work,” according to its website.
“Historically under-resourced communities are often overlooked, deserving of the same economic development opportunities available in other areas of our city,” San Diego Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe said in the release. “I have been working since Day One to bring economic opportunity to the district I am so honored to represent and will continue to do the work necessary to create a balanced community and ensure we improve the quality of life for all residents. I’m so pleased Crest has chosen to continue investing in our community with local jobs.”
Jobs created through the project include merchandisers, safety specialists, marketing professionals, data and HR managers, accountants, drivers and warehouse workers.
“The beer industry here in San Diego has grown to become a significant economic driver for our city,” Mayor Todd Gloria said in the release. “Projects like this that provide good-paying jobs and economic growth in our region will continue to propel San Diego forward for generations to come.”
Reyes Beer Division, the country’s largest beer wholesaler, acquired Crest as a joint venture in 2009. The wholesaler calls on more than 4,765 retail accounts and employs about 360 full-time workers. The 75 trucks in its fleet cover more than 1 million miles annually.