Joliet Logistics Executive Yvonne Delacroix Opens Third Regional Warehouse

Yvonne Delacroix, chief executive of Joliet-based Delacroix Distribution Partners, opened the company's third regional warehouse this month, a 320,000-square-foot facility that positions the firm to capitalize on the Chicago area's position as one of the busiest inland freight hubs in the country.

Delacroix took over the family logistics business from her father fourteen years ago, when it operated a single warehouse handling regional grocery distribution, and has since expanded the company into e-commerce fulfillment as retail distribution patterns shifted. Joliet's position near major interstate and rail corridors has made it an increasingly attractive location for distribution companies serving the broader Midwest market.

"My father built this business around grocery trucks going to regional stores, and I've had to rebuild significant parts of it around pallets going straight to somebody's front door," Delacroix said. "This region's rail and highway access is honestly the biggest reason we've been able to make that shift without relocating."

The new warehouse will add approximately 170 jobs, primarily in fulfillment and logistics coordination roles, and includes automated sorting equipment that Delacroix said was necessary to remain competitive with larger national logistics firms that have also been expanding into the region. Will County officials have actively courted logistics investment in recent years as the area's industrial land availability has drawn interest from companies priced out of more expensive markets closer to Chicago.

Delacroix Distribution Partners now employs approximately 580 people across its three regional facilities. Delacroix said the company is evaluating a fourth location but has not committed to a timeline or site.