Springfield Business Journal_2021-05-31

$2.00 · SBJ.NET MAY 31-JUNE 6, 2021 · VOL. 41, NO. 45 40 YEARS • YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co.’s headquarters is 432,000 square feet larger with a newly completed warehouse. Ozarks Coca-Cola opens $40 million expansion A unique feature of the facility allows the company to protect Jordan Creek See COLA on page 35 NEW NO. 1 Next Level Solutions takes the top spot in the annual list of fastest-growing companies. PAGE 9 MCKENZIE ROBINSON Sally Hargis : Ozarks Coca-Cola needed increased storage after acquisitions grew its territory. by Emily Cole · ecole@sbj.net Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co. had a lot to celebrate this month, as the company rec- ognized 101 years as a family-owned and operated business and unveiled a multimillion-dollar head- quarters expansion. On May 15, company officials, employees and invited guests gathered to cut the ribbon on a 432,000-square-foot expansion to the site at 1777 N. Packer Road. The $22 million expansion is located just behind the existing manufacturing building, and the two are connected by a unique feature: a con- nector bridge spanning the Jordan Creek. Vice Presi- dent and Board Chairper- son Sally Hargis said when company officials planned the expansion at the site, the nearby creek – which is currently the focus of a multimillion-dollar renew- al and daylighting project downtown by the city – had to be considered. “We had manufactur- ing expansion going on at the main plant, and we