Bigfoot Beverages plans a 12,300-square-foot expansion of its warehouse on NE Fourth Street in Bend partly to accommodate its new contract to distribute beer by Ninkasi Brewing Co. of Eugene.

Bigfoot, with roots in Bend since 1969 but now headquartered in Eugene, picked up Oregon distribution of Ninkasi last week from Western Beverage, a distributor owned by Anheuser-Busch.

Bigfoot on Monday begins distributing Ninkasi in Central Oregon and Harney, Linn and Benton counties and the Oregon Coast from Lincoln County to Curry County, said Andy Moore, Bigfoot company co-president.

The change represents a step away from distributors owned by Anheuser-Busch, the U.S. arm of the world’s largest brewer. Anheuser-Busch in November purchased Bend-based 10 Barrel Brewing, adding a third brewer to its craft division.

Nikos Ridge, CEO and founder of Ninkasi Brewing Co., said Tuesday the time was right to switch to locally based, independent distributors. Ninkasi had found itself the sole independent craft beer in Oregon distributed by companies owned by Anheuser-Busch, he said.

Troy Potter, Ninkasi downstate Oregon market manager, said Anheuser-Busch possibly marketing its own brands over others became a concern.

“As an independent company, realigning our distribution network to be a part of independent wholesale groups is more important to us,” Ridge said.

Founded in 2006, Ninkasi ranked third among Oregon breweries in the number of taxable barrels sold in the state, with nearly 38,000 sold year-to-date as of October, according to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. The Craft Brew Alliance, in which Anheuser-Busch has a stake, and Deschutes Brewery were first and second on that list, respectively.

The Odom Corp., based in Bellevue, Washington, begins distributing Ninkasi in western Washington, including Seattle, on Feb. 9, according to a Ninkasi news release.

“I think it’s significant that Ninkasi has seen what we’re able to accomplish and is willing to trust us with their brands in the market we serve,” Moore, of Bigfoot, said Tuesday.

Bigfoot Beverages, a PepsiCo Inc. franchisee, broke into beer distribution in September 2012, according to The Bulletin archives. It now distributes 24 Oregon craft beers, including Ninkasi and Central Oregon beers by Three Creeks LLC, GoodLife Brewing Co., Sunriver Brewing Co. and Bend Brewing Co. It also carries another 25 craft labels from around the U.S. and Canada.

“We saw an opportunity to marry local distribution with local craft brands,” Moore said, “and, so far, it’s been a wild ride.”

Plans filed Monday with the Bend Community Development Department call for two additions to the existing Bigfoot warehouse at 2440 NE Fourth St. One addition measures 8,421 square feet and the other 3,878 square feet.

Moore said the expansion includes more cold storage, warehouse space and improved racking technology that makes more efficient use of space.

The company also operates distribution centers in Brookings, Coos Bay, Eugene and Roseburg.

Said Moore: “The (employees) in Bend were looking at me like, ‘We need to ramp this up.’”

— Reporter: 541-617-7815, jditzler@bendbulletin.com