Walmart plans $350 million expansion of its Texas dairy plant

(Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.)

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a $350 million expansion of Walmart Inc.’s dairy facility to produce milk near Waco and distribute it to 750 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs across the state, in Oklahoma, in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi.

Walmart ranks second on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of North America’s largest private carriers.

“Walmart’s new processing plant in Robinson is exciting news for Texas, as it generates millions in investment for the local economy and hundreds of new, good-paying jobs for hard-working Texans in Central Texas “Abbott said on March 7. “World-renowned companies like Walmart continue to choose Texas because of our unmatched business climate, lower operating costs and highly skilled, diverse and growing workforce.

The new McLennan County location is expected to create nearly 400 new jobs.

“This major investment demonstrates the promise of economic success in Texas,” Abbott added.

Near Waco and 100 miles south of Dallas, the town of Robinson encompasses U.S. Route 77 and the North American Free Trade Agreement’s north-south Interstate 35 corridor that stretches from Laredo to Duluth, Minnesota.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the I-35 corridor is home to 97,000 freight-intensive businesses that move 137 million tons of freight (valued at $307 billion) annually on the I-35 corridor, while spending $27 billion to transport freight by truck. in and out of their facilities.

“We are excited to be able to provide Texas and surrounding states with high-quality milk sourced primarily from Texas dairy farmers,” said Bruce Heckman, vice president of manufacturing at Walmart. “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.”

Walmart’s new dairy will enable the company to meet growing demand for high-quality milk as part of a more resilient supply chain that provides transparency into product origins. The facility will process and bottle a variety of milk types in gallon and half-gallon containers for Walmart’s Great Value and Sam’s Club Member’s Mark brands.

“Walmart remains dedicated to growing jobs and supporting the community through our Investing in American Jobs initiative. We have pledged $350 billion over a decade to invest in products made, sourced, grown or assembled here in the United States,” a company announcement about the Robinson venture said.

We are excited to create nearly 400 local jobs while meeting our customers’ demand for higher quality milk with our third owned and operated milk processing plant scheduled to open in Robinson, Texas in 2026. https://t.co/FPupHpnMGO pic.twitter.com/cLtDvr3tMZ

– Walmart Inc. (@WalmartInc) March 7, 2024

Robinson Mayor Bert Echterling said Walmart’s “monumental investment is the first of its kind in size and value, signaling a transformative era for Robinson.” Walmart’s decision to establish its roots here is a testament to the strength of our local economy, the dedication of our workforce and the strategic advantages our city offers.

McLennan County Judge Scott Felton welcomed the company and thanked local officials for their efforts.

“This project is another example of how towns in McLennan County can participate in economic development,” Felton said. “McLennan County is thrilled that our region has been named one of the best regions for food and beverage manufacturing businesses, and this project furthers our strength in this area.

This latest venture in Robinson will be the third milk processing facility owned and operated by Walmart. The opening of the establishment is planned for 2026.

Want more news? Listen to today’s daily briefing below or click here for more information: