By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Walmart announced the planned opening of their new milk processing facility in Robinson. The plant is expected to open in 2026 and create nearly 400 new jobs in the community.

“We’re excited to be able to provide Texas and its 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.”

The new facility will be an added benefit of processing more milk to meet the need of a growing state population.

“Texas has not had a new bottling facility in the state for decades,” Darren Turley, executive director of Texas Association of Dairymen, said. “We’ve had many other facilities that have been added in to make other dairy products, like cheese. But this will be a new venture and bring much-needed growth in this part of our industry.”

Texas is the third-largest dairy-producing state behind California and Wisconsin.

“The ability for Texas to continue to grow and continue to produce more milk, it can only happen with the partnerships for milk processors like Walmart to give dairymen access to more sales and more market,” Turley said. “We look forward to that growth for years to come.”

Gov. Greg Abbott praised Walmart for their investment in local jobs in McLennan County.

”Walmart’s new processing facility in Robinson is exciting news for Texas, creating millions in investment for the local economy and hundreds of new, good-paying jobs for hardworking Texans in Central Texas,” Abbott said. “World-renowned companies like Walmart continue to choose Texas because of our unmatched business climate, lower business operating costs and highly skilled, diverse and growing workforce. This major investment is a testament to the promise of economic success in Texas, and I thank Walmart for choosing McLennan County as the location for their important new facility.”

The facility will process and bottle a variety of milk options, including gallon, half gallon, whole milk, 2%, 1%, skim and chocolate milk for Walmart’s Great Value and Sam’s Club’s Member’s Mark brands.

Products from this facility will serve more than 750 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi.