Walmart plans to build and operate a milk processing plant in Robinson, Texas. The company’s statement says this plant will provide bottled milk to over 750 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in the region while providing about 400 new jobs.Walmart has been working to open more of its own milk plants, starting with their first one in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2018, and the announcement of a second plant in Valdosta, Georgia which is scheduled to open in 2025.The company’s statement also says Walmart is also adding its second case-ready beef processing facility in Olathe, Kansas.Walmart would not grant Brownfield an interview, but they did respond in writing to our questions, below.What is the projected timeline for the new Robinson, Texas dairy processing/packaging facility?
The new facility is projected to open in early 2026 and high-quality milk will be sent to Walmart stores shortly after it opens.
When is groundbreaking?
The new facility will break ground this year.
When will you expect to start receiving milk?
The facility is scheduled to open in early 2026 and high-quality milk will be sent to Walmart stores shortly after it opens. The products from the facility will serve more than 750 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs throughout the South including Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and parts of Arkansas and Mississippi.
When will hiring for the new plant begin?
Hiring will begin in the upcoming months, and the new facility will create nearly 400 full-time jobs in the Robinson, Texas community. Areas we will be hiring for include production, engineering, quality, food safety, warehouse operations, maintenance, drivers and more.
Your press release says this will improve the resiliency of your supply chain. How?
Opening a Walmart-owned and operated milk processing facility allows us greater control over the products entering our stores so we can continue to bring the highest quality offerings possible, all while keeping prices low and ensuring strong supply to meet customer demand. It’s an important next step as we continue our efforts to create a resilient, transparent supply chain while working to respond to our customers’ needs in the grocery aisle.
We understand the way our customers’ shopping has evolved over recent years and more customers are seeking greater awareness of where their food comes from, with higher expectations around quality and sourcing.
Will this and the new Valdosta, Georgia dairy plant also improve distribution, improving the farm-to-table time? (fresher milk?)
Because the new facility will be owned and operated by Walmart, we’ll have greater visibility into our inventory. This will allow us to quickly scale production up or down depending on customer demand to ensure we have a strong supply of milk available for purchase all year long. The new facility also helps us increase resiliency and add additional capacity.
Where are the farms that will supply this milk, and are you already getting their milk through a different processor/bottler?
This facility will receive milk from primarily Texas dairy farmers, and we’ll process and bottle it to meet the needs of our stores in the region.
Who supplies the milk/products now?
Today, Walmart relies on the traditional dairy processors in the region for milk, however, we have had to source products from further and further away in order to meet our customer needs which may cause costs to rise. This new plant will help bring back much-needed capacity to the region supporting both customers and dairy farmers.
This facility will receive milk primarily from Texas dairy farmers, and we’ll process and bottle it to meet the needs of our stores in the region.
Good luck with your new plant here in Texas. Hopefully you will keep your dairy check-off money local and look to Southwest Dairy Farmers as your promotion organization.
Good luck with your new plant here in Texas. Hopefully you will keep your dairy check-off money local and look to Southwest Dairy Farmers as your promotion organization.