welcome to
Wilmington, IL
COLD SPECIFICATIONS:
13,548,000 Cubic Feet
51,000 Racked Pallet Positions
Temperatures Ranging from -10ºF to +36ºF
STRATEGICALLY LOCATED:
Chicago, IL – 1 hour
Milwaukee, WI – 2 hours
Madison, WI – 3 hours
ADDRESS:
800 E. Kankakee River Drive
Wilmington, IL 60481
(815) 476-2653
David Salazar
General Manager
Welcome to US Cold Storage Wilmington!
Our facility is more than just a warehouse—it’s a fully integrated, people-driven logistics hub where innovation meets reliability. For over a decade, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside a team that sets the bar for what it means to be Best in Cold. From inventory supervisors with decades of tenure to customer service leads who know each account by heart, this team delivers with consistency, passion, and pride.
What makes Wilmington exceptional isn’t just our location or our scale. It’s the culture we’ve built—one grounded in accountability, camaraderie, and forward-thinking service. We operate the largest Cold Share Consolidation (CSC) program in the company, helping customers reduce costs, streamline operations, and shrink their carbon footprint, all while keeping food moving across all 48 states.
Our team regularly participates in community-driven initiatives and Cold Crew Cares campaigns. From Earth Day cleanups to Connect for a Cause drives, we’re proud to give back to the communities we serve.
Internally, we foster a culture of excellence. We’re early adopters of technology and safety innovations, and our track record of zero DART incidents speaks to the care we have for our people.
Add to that our 98% driver satisfaction rate and top-tier survey participation, and it’s clear that this is a facility fueled by dedication and driven by purpose.
We’re proud of the legacy we’re building here—and we’re even more excited about what lies ahead. Whether you’re looking for storage, transport, or full-service logistics solutions, we’re here to serve you with integrity, passion, and precision.
Wilmington is Best in Warehousing
What Sets Wilmington Apart
National Reach, Local Heart
Wilmington operates at a national scale while remaining deeply connected to our community. From our work with Cold Crew Cares to our employee-driven culture, we put people first—whether they’re on the floor, behind the wheel, or across the country.
Industry-Leading Experience
Our leadership and operations teams boast decades of combined experience:
> Over 32 years in inventory supervision
> Long-term tenures across customer service, engineering, and operations
> A reputation for consistent excellence and reliable relationships
The Minooka team provides phenomenal support to our team and to Gorton’s business overall. The team provides strong day to day communication and execution along with the incredible support! Their hard work makes a difference!
Nicole Black
Senior Fulfillment & Warehouse Manager, Gorton's
Minooka is Best in Cold Storage
Our Minooka, IL facility is a state-of-the-art warehousing powerhouse, designed to meet the highest standards of the cold storage industry. Featuring advanced automation systems, we provide efficient and precise handling of goods, ensuring timely and accurate order fulfillment.
Our facility boasts a 26,000-pallet automated addition, which enhances our capacity and throughput, while our cascade layer pickers streamline the case picking process, reducing manual labor and improving safety. We excel in managing customer accounts with a dedicated team that ensures seamless communication and support.
Committed to sustainability, we have implemented robust recycling programs and energy-efficient practices. These features make Minooka a leader in cold storage warehousing, delivering exceptional service and reliability to our clients.
76 Dock Doors
Efficient loading and unloading with secure, streamlined access for the movement of goods in and out of our facility.
Rail Service
Reliable rail access, Union Pacific and San Joaquin Valley, connecting key markets and fostering seamless transportation.
BRCGS Certified
Globally recognized for food safety and quality, ensuring rigorous international standards throughout the supply chain.
Export
Specialized handling and storage to maintain optimal temperatures, ensuring the products reach their international destination with their quality and freshness intact.
Repack
Efficiently and accurately reconfiguring your products into different packaging or quantities, for a completely customized shipment.
eWMS
Our eWMS solution streamlines inventory control, order processing, and distribution, enhancing efficiency and accuracy within the warehousing operations.
Automation
Multi-farious automated components ensure that we are able to consistently make delivery times in a challenging labor market.
Minooka is Best in Safety
Safety is the cornerstone of our operations at the Minooka, IL facility. We have implemented rigorous safety protocols that have led to remarkable achievements, such as reaching one million hours without a lost-time accident in 2023. Our commitment to safety ensures that our employees work in a secure environment, enabling our Cold Crew to perform their tasks with confidence and care.
This focus on safety extends to the products we handle, maintaining the highest standards of cold storage to ensure product integrity and quality. Our team is dedicated to protecting both our people and the perishable goods entrusted to us, making Minooka a model of excellence in safety within the cold storage industry. Safety has become more of a culture about expectations. It’s not just a talking point; it’s ingrained in everything we do.
Our Minooka Cold Crew prioritizes safety through the annual Innovators Grand Prix, part of a “Race to Safety” initiative. This company-wide competition engages each warehouse in essential safety tasks, fostering innovation and excellence. Minooka proudly won 1st place in both 2022 and 2023, showcasing our unwavering commitment to safety.
Minooka is Sustainable
Our Minooka facility integrates best practices in sustainability, reflecting our commitment to environmental stewardship. Aligning with Swire’s overarching sustainability initiatives, we focus on reducing our environmental footprint through innovative solutions and responsible operations.
Our dedication to sustainable practices not only meets but exceeds industry standards, ensuring we contribute positively to our community and the global environment. By harmonizing our sustainability goals with those of Swire, we reinforce our pledge to create a more sustainable future for everyone we serve.
The following efforts reflect our dedication to creating a more sustainable future for our community and our clients:
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Recycling pallets by sending them out to be refurbished instead of discarding them.
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Installing variable speed drives (VFDs) to evaporators and other equipment to enhance energy efficiency.
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Transitioning the building to LED lighting to reduce energy consumption.
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Partnering with ComEd’s energy credit rebate program for energy-saving upgrades.
“Being able to lessen the strain on the grid through our energy-efficient initiatives has been a big win for us.”
– Kevin Sears, Operations Manager
Minooka is Best in Automation
Our Minooka facility features a 26,000-pallet automated addition, enhancing our capacity and throughput. The cascade layer pickers have revolutionized our case picking process, reducing manual labor and improving efficiency. “The cascade layer picker has taken us from manually picking thousands of cases to significantly reducing the strain on our team,” says Kevin Sears.
The automation allows us to handle higher volumes with greater precision, ensuring our customers receive their products on time and in perfect condition. This innovative approach supports both people safety and product safety, making our operations more efficient and reliable.
Minooka is Best in Logistics
Minooka’s COLDshare consolidation optimizes deliveries by leveraging efficiencies from nearby warehouses for on-time, single-stop shipments, employs AI for smart load building to enhance route efficiency and timeliness, and provides cross-docking capabilities to facilitate efficient goods movement between different transportation modes.
COMPLETE
From raw materials to the shelf, we can optimize your supply chain so your team can focus on making and selling your product. Our 4PL is your complete logistics solution.
COLDshare Consolidation
Join our consolidation program so you can reduce your freight charges on LTL shipments. Our program is the best in the US with deliveries made across the country every day.
Custom Analytics
Get analytics tailored to your needs sent proactively to you every week. Real-time data helps you make decisions quickly and with accuracy.
Shuttle Services
Seamlessly transporting perishables, we ensure optimal temperatures, safeguarding your goods' freshness. Our fleet is tailored for reliability, rapid response, and customizable solutions.
Brokerage Services
With a vast network of reliable carriers, we craft tailored solutions for every cargo need. Our expert brokers use industry insights and cutting-edge technology to ensure timely deliveries.
Network Analytics
Streamline your logistics and maximize every node of your supply chain. At US Cold, we harmonize inventory management, reduce lead times, and minimize costs.