Walmart to open milk processing plant
Walmart is evolving its supply chain to include its own branded food manufacturing.
The largest U.S. grocery retailer is spending $350 million to open a milk processing plant in Robinson and create 400 new jobs in 2026.
The facility, located just south of Waco, will supply more than 750 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in the region, the retailer said in a statement Thursday.
The facility will create milk products under the Great Value and Members Mark brands using ingredients sourced primarily from Texas dairy farmers, said Bruce Heckman, vice president of Walmart Manufacturing.
“This new facility continues our commitment to building a more resilient and transparent supply chain and ensuring our customers’ needs are met for this everyday staple,” Heckman said in a statement.
This is the third milk plant for Walmart, which began investing in food manufacturing just a few years ago.
It’s common for traditional grocers such as Kroger, Albertsons and H-E-B to have their own milk processing plants and other food manufacturing facilities for their private-label food from canned goods to potato chips.
Walmart historically focused on national brands and in recent years has been building up its Members Mark brand at Sam’s Club and Great Value label at Walmart. Many private label brands are made by big national food brands and smaller independent copacking facilities.
Walmart opened its first milk processing plant in Fort Wayne, Ind., in 2018 and a second in Valdosta, Ga., last year.
Other facilities include its first case-ready beef facility in Thomasville, Ga., and a second in Olathe, Kansas. Walmart has also made equity investments and entered into long-term contracts with Sustainable Beef LLC and vertical farming company, Plenty.