Walmart recently celebrated the grand opening of its second owned and operated milk processing facility in Valdosta, Georgia.
This is a milestone that will create more than 400 new jobs, strengthen Walmart’s end-to-end supply chain for affordable, high-quality milk and advance the company’s long-standing commitment to U.S. manufacturing and local sourcing. The 300,000-plus square-foot state-of-the-art facility represents a $350 million investment.
Sourcing milk from local dairy farmers, the Valdosta facility will process and bottle a variety of options, including gallon, half-gallon, whole, 2 percent, 1 percent, skim and 1 percent chocolate milk – for Walmart’s Great Value and Sam’s Club Member’s Mark brands. The new operation will supply more than 650 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs across the Southeast.
“This new facility has innovation at its core,” said Bruce Heckman, VP of manufacturing, Walmart U.S.
“It will bolster our capacity to meet the demand for high-quality milk, make our supply chain more resilient and build even greater transparency around sourcing. We’re excited about what this means for Walmart customers, regional farmers and the Valdosta community.”
This milestone reinforces Walmart’s commitment to building a more transparent and efficient supply chain for dairy products.
It follows the company’s investment in its first milk processing facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as well as two case-ready beef facilities in Thomasville, Georgia, and Olathe, Kansas. These efforts also support Walmart’s commitment to U.S. manufacturing and pledge to invest $350 billion in U.S.-made products by 2031. More than two thirds of Walmart’s annual spend is on products made, grown or assembled in the U.S.
To commemorate the opening, Walmart awarded local grants to community organizations:
- Greater Valdosta United Way – $5,000
- Valdosta High School Marching Cats – $8,000
In fiscal year 2024, Walmart stores, Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation donated $56 million to organizations across Georgia.
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