On Wednesday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced that Walmart would be opening a new dairy processing facility in Valdosta, Georgia, which is expected to create almost 400 new jobs and invest $350 million in Lowndes County.
“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,” said Kemp. “Congratulations to all those on the local and state level whose hard work made this announcement possible. We look forward to many years of success as this project further strengthens our thriving agriculture industry.”
The facility will provide high-quality milk throughout Georgia and nearby states, serving more than 750 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs in the region.
“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,” said Bruce Heckman, Vice President of Manufacturing at Walmart. “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.”
According to a press release from Kemp’s office, “Walmart’s new facility will be located on Inner Perimeter Road in Valdosta. The facility will create fresh dairy products using ingredients sourced from local farmers. Operations are expected to begin in late 2025. Walmart will be hiring for positions in production, engineering, quality, food safety, warehouse operations, maintenance, drivers, and more.”
“Food and fiber production and related industries represented $73.2 billion in contributions to Georgia’s economy and more than 340,800 jobs in 2021, according to the University of Georgia Ag Snapshots 2023. Georgia Milk Producers reports that Georgia ranked as the top milk producing state in the Southeast in 2022, with the dairy industry contributing close to $2.5 billion to Georgia’s economy,” the press release added.