Wirtz

Wirtz Beverage Illinois (WBI), the flagship distributor of Wirtz Beverage Group (WBG), and Wirtz Realty Group (WRG), the real estate division of Chicago-based Wirtz Corporation (WC), have broken ground for building the new headquarters for the company.

Located on a 14 acre site in Lexington, Illinois, the 50,000ft² distribution centre will serve both the central and southern Illinois regions.

It will also consolidate smaller facilities throughout the state, claimed the company.

The new facility will include 15,000ft² of office space, 35,000ft² of warehouse space and 20 truck docks.

The site will also serve as a hub for the company’s Heartland sales force drawing team members from across the region.

WBG president Rocky Wirtz said this marks an important day for Wirtz Beverage as they expand upon the investments they have made in their home state of Illinois.

"We have been operating statewide for a number of years however this new facilities allows us to better coordinate our logistics, service customers and ultimately be more efficient in growing our business," Wirtz added.

Illinois Mayor John Mohr said the folks at Wirtz Reality and Wirtz Beverage have been great to work with and it is no doubt they will be a great benefit to McLean county.

"Wirtz Beverage has a strong history of being a community partner, and we welcome its team to Lexington," Mohr added.

The Heartland facility is expected to be operational by early 2014.

Image: Wirtz business officials and Illinois government officials at the ground breaking ceremony for Wirtz Beverage Illinois headquarters in Lexington, Illinois. Photo courtesy of Wirtz Beverage Group.