Walmart is taking control of its beef supply like never before by opening its first fully owned and operated beef facility in Olathe, Kansas. By cutting out the middlemen, Walmart claims it can offer more affordable, high-quality Angus beef to 600 stores across the Midwest.
“This is the first case-ready facility fully owned and operated by Walmart, and that milestone ensures we’re able to bring more consistency, more transparency, and more value to our customers,” said John Laney, Executive Vice President of Food at Walmart U.S.
The new 300,000-square-foot plant will package beef sourced directly from Sustainable Beef LLC in Nebraska. Walmart made an equity investment in Sustainable Beef in 2022 to create an end-to-end supply chain. The move comes as beef prices have increased by 8.6% from last year, according to USDA data, driven by tight supplies and strong demand…