October 16, 2023

Walmart invests US$350 million for milk processing facility in Georgia, US

US retailer Walmart is planning to operate its own milk processing facility in Valdosta, Georgia, the United States.

The company is investing US$350 million in the creation of the facility that is expected to be up and running in 2025.

Walmart first got into the dairy business in 2018 with a milk processing facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The new plant in Georgia will produce a variety of milk products using ingredients sourced from dairy farmers in the Southeast region. The finished products, including gallon, half gallon, whole, 2%, 1%, skim and 1% chocolate milk varieties, will be sold under the Great Value and Members Mark store brands.

Distribution will span more than 750 Walmart and Sam's Club stores in the region.

Bruce Heckman, vice president of manufacturing private brands, and Tyler Lehr, senior vice president of merchandising, chilled, adult beverage and convenience, at Walmart, noted in a new blog post that the planned dairy plant will create more than 400 new jobs in the area and provide customers with products that meet their lifestyles and needs.

"It will bolster our capacity to meet the demand for high-quality milk, while making our supply chain more resilient, and building even more transparency around sourcing," they wrote. "The new facility continues Walmart's commitment to building a more resilient and transparent supply chain to deliver high-quality products."

- Progressive Grocer