Walmart opens dairy plant

Walmart opened its own dairy processing plant June 13 in Fort Wayne, Ind. The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer told TheStreet that the plant, which is producing Walmart’s Great Value private brand milk, will be the largest plant in the country for fluid milk (drinking milk) when it’s fully operational. Walmart is producing half-gallon and gallon jugs of whole, 2 percent, 1 percent and skim plain and 1 percent chocolate milk at the plant.

“It’s our first entry into food production,” a Walmart spokesperson told TheStreet at the plant’s grand opening.

The facility will employ about 200 workers who will earn $19 an hour. The plant will serve about 500 Walmart stores in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and northern Kentucky.