Suncoast Beverage Regional Distribution Facility

Keeping the Region Supplied—and People Employed

Suncoast Beverage faced a high-stakes transition: consolidate three Southwest Florida distribution facilities into a single regional operation within a nonnegotiable 3-year window tied to distributor licensing. Missing the deadline would have risked licensing, disrupted regional supply, and displaced hundreds of employees. The selected 50-acre site added further complexity—requiring rezoning, multiagency permitting, and actively remediating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination—while keeping the operation within the City of Fort Myers.

RESPEC served as the civil engineer of record, guiding the project from entitlement through construction with an approach built for urgency and accountability. Our team led rezoning, site layout; grading; drainage; utilities; and roadway improvements, coordinating closely with city, state, and regional water management agencies. High groundwater conditions and ongoing environmental remediation demanded practical, constructible solutions that could move forward without delay.

To protect the schedule, RESPEC advanced permitting and construction activities in parallel, carefully sequencing approvals and design packages to maintain regulatory compliance while keeping crews productive. This integrated, fast-tracked approach allowed the project to meet stringent requirements without sacrificing performance, safety, or long-term operability.

Results That Secured the Deadline

The 300,000-square-foot regional distribution facility opened on schedule, preserving local jobs, maintaining Suncoast Beverage’s licensing, and protecting regional tax revenue. Designed with expansion in mind, the facility is positioned to support up to 500 employees and continued growth, strengthening the economic base of Fort Myers while ensuring reliable distribution across Southwest Florida.