Walmart, Bentonville, Ark., opened a new milk processing facility in Fort Wayne, Ind.

The 250,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art milk processing plant, which began construction in 2016, hired nearly 200 new associates to work in both milk processing and transportation.

The new plant, located at 2150 West Pleasant Center Road, will produce Great Value white and chocolate milk for nearly 500 Walmart stores in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky. Bottling began last week, and the plant will be at full production later this year. Milk will be sourced from nearly 30 dairy farms in both Indiana and Michigan, with these farms being an average of 140 miles from the plant.

“This new plant is a perfect example of the kinds of efficiencies Walmart seeks in our supply chain to benefit our customers,” says Tony Airoso, senior vice president of sourcing strategy. “Farmers and associates in Indiana have been critical in getting us to this point. As we begin to bottle milk for our customers in the area, they will continue to be the biggest factor in our success.”