The Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Yakima & Tri-Cities is expanding its Pasco warehouse to accommodate significant growth in the Tri-Cities. 

“The Tri-Cities is on fire in terms of growth. We certainly see it in our beverage business,” said President Bill Dolsen.

O’Brien Construction Co. in Kennewick is working on the $2.2 million expansion, which Dolsen said should be complete toward the end of February. It will add more than 13,000 square feet of warehouse space and 8,000 square feet of additional office space.

The warehouse at 1225 Road 34 also will get additional loading docks to accommodate the arrival of more distribution trucks.

The company also plans to start distributing Coca-Cola products in the Moses Lake area after securing territory rights for the area in the last quarter of 2016.

Dolsen’s family has managed the independently-owned Coca-Cola franchise since 1972. The late Bob Dolsen bought the business, and his family has managed it since.

The company distributes packaged products to retailers, large and small, and provides Coca-Cola vending to hundreds of businesses throughout Benton and Franklin counties.

“We distribute to everything from the barbershop to Walmarts and everything in between, even Hanford,” Dolsen said.

It’s the third time Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Yakima & Tri-Cities has expanded since it opened. The first time was in the 1980s with an additional 20,000 square feet of space and the second time was in 1994 with an additional 10,000 square feet.

The company went from distributing a handful of brands to dozens of carbonated soft drinks, water and juice brands.

“Powerade is becoming huge. Diet Coke is holding its own. Energy drinks and bottled waters are strong. Talking Rain has been a strong brand as well,” Dolsen said.

Although the company has been adding employees consistently throughout the years, Dolsen said it has not added any  with the expansion.

The company’s distribution area includes Benton, Franklin, Kittitas, Grant and Yakima counties. The company employs 150 employees between the Yakima and Pasco warehouses. The Pasco warehouse employs 75 people.

“We’ve grown a lot in the past 10 years and it’s been really challenging for us to operate out of such a small facility,” Dolsen said. “I really attribute our success to our people in the Tri-Cities. They really take care of things for us, and we’re selling a lot more drinks than we used to. We’re loving it — we just ran out of room.”