South Georgia Times

Walmart is set to inject $350 million into a state-of-the-art dairy processing facility, bringing a significant economic boost to Valdosta, Georgia. Operations are slated to commence in late 2025, generating approximately 400 jobs for the region.

On October 11th, Governor Brian Kemp announced Walmart's new dairy processing facility in Valdosta, Georgia, bringing nearly 400 jobs and a $350 million investment to Lowndes County. Set to operate from late 2025, the facility will supply high-quality milk to Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in the region, sourced from local farmers, benefiting the local agriculture industry and economy. This development signifies a significant economic boost for Valdosta and Lowndes County and highlights Walmart's commitment to enhancing supply chains in Georgia.

According to the press release, Governor Kemp said: "We're excited that Walmart will soon tap into Georgia’s No. 1 industry and open new opportunities for farmers in the Lowndes County area."

The Valdosta dairy facility aims to distribute milk across Georgia and neighboring states, catering to the requirements of over 750 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs in the region, according to a Walmart spokesperson.

The press release said that Walmart's new dairy facility, situated on Inner Perimeter Road in Valdosta, will focus on producing fresh dairy products utilizing locally sourced ingredients, leading to job opportunities in various roles such as production, engineering, quality assurance, food safety, warehouse operations, maintenance, drivers, and more.

Bruce Heckman, Vice President of Manufacturing at Walmart, said in the press release: "We’re thrilled to open this new dairy facility in Valdosta, Georgia, as we continue to make strides to increase surety of supply for our customers' grocery essentials. We’re looking forward to breaking ground on this exciting venture and we’ll continue to work alongside local dairy farmers and associates as we move ahead. Their collaboration is critical to ensure we’re operating a facility that will process high-quality milk for our customers that we can offer at the everyday low prices they rely on.”

In 2021, the food and fiber production sectors, alongside related industries, contributed $73.2 billion to Georgia's economy and supported over 340,800 jobs, as reported in the University of Georgia Ag Snapshots 2023. According to Georgia Milk Producers, Georgia held the position of the leading milk-producing state in the Southeast in 2022, with the dairy industry contributing nearly $2.5 billion to the state's economy.

According to the press release, Georgia has 178 million cubic feet of cold storage space available, supporting logistical efficiency due to its strategic central location in the southeastern U.S., aiding in the swift movement of products for businesses.

Employees at the facility are projected to earn an average annual salary exceeding $60,000, in addition to receiving benefits, as confirmed by Walmart spokesperson Tricia Moriarty to the Associated Press.

According to the Associated Press, this is Walmart's second milk processing plant, the first being in Fort Wayne, Indiana, established in 2018. The move allows Walmart to control the production of a crucial and price-sensitive grocery item, whereas previously, they relied on external dairy suppliers for all their milk.