POCATELLO — Swire Coca-Cola USA has announced plans to close its Pocatello and Idaho Falls facilities and consolidate operations into a new building expected to be completed by 2027.

The Pocatello facility, located at 1003 N. Main St., once served as a bottling plant. The aging brick building is approximately 115 years old and is a well-known historic fixture in the downtown area.

Swire Coca-Cola USA produces, sells and distributes Coca-Cola and other beverages in 13 western states and employs more than 7,200 people, roughly 600 of whom work at facilities across the Gem State. The company is headquartered in Draper, Utah, with its Pocatello and Idaho Falls locations serving as centers for sales, distribution and fleet dispatch.

Swire Coca-Cola Senior Director of Communications Carl Foster said the company informed employees and local leaders of the plans last month.

“This investment will provide a modernized working environment for our employees and additional capacity to service our customers,” Foster said. “This new facility will be based in the Idaho Falls area and will replace our two existing distribution facilities in the region — one in Pocatello, on North Main Street and the other in Idaho Falls, on East Lincoln Road.”

Foster said he expects the new facility, located at 900 East Lincoln Road between Idaho Falls and Shelley, to be completed in 2027.

“At this moment, we are focused on developing the new facility while meeting growing demand for our products,” Foster said. “We will focus on the future of the two existing sites at the appropriate time.”

Idaho State University does not expect the consolidation to affect its relationship with the company. ISU Vice President of Campus Operations Brian Sagendorf said the university’s beverage contract with Swire Coca-Cola will continue unchanged.

“ISU does not anticipate any operational changes to our beverage contract with Swire Coca-Cola due to the relocation of their distribution center,” Sagendorf said. “We will continue business as usual and Swire Coca-Cola will service our campus from their new regional hub.”

The current contract between ISU and Swire runs for an initial five-year term from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2025, with year-to-year renewal options through June 2030.

“ISU is happy to continue working with Swire Coca-Cola in our current contract,” Sagendorf said.

Pocatello Mayor Mark Dahlquist, who learned of the plans in February, said he urged Swire to keep operations in the area.

“I did make that offer that we’ve got plenty of opportunities and plenty of land here in Pocatello,” Dahlquist said. “Give us a chance. I think whenever there are changes and a business is contracting here rather than expanding, that’s always a tough pill to swallow when you hear that. We definitely wish they would have expanded in Pocatello and involved us a little bit more with their decision.”

The future of both buildings left vacant once the consolidation and relocation is complete remains uncertain. Dahlquist said no official decision has been made on the property but he has urged Swire to donate the historic Pocatello building to the city if it does not sell on the private market.

“That’s a big space there,” Dahlquist said. “It’s in the center of town. I’m always an optimist and if one door gets shut, let’s see what we can do to make an even better door open. That’s the mindset that I have, but it sounds like their decision was pretty firm, because I tried to talk them out of it.”

Foster said both facilities have reached the end of their operational life, but that Swire remains committed to the Gate City community.

“We remain committed to Pocatello and the local community, our customers and our employees — some of whom will continue to live and work in Pocatello,” Foster said.