OLATHE, KAN. — Walmart Inc. is launching a new venture marked by the grand opening of its first-ever owned and operated case-ready beef plant.

Based in Olathe, Kan., the new facility spans more than 300,000 square feet and is expected to generate 600 new jobs in the area.

The plant will process fresh beef into case-ready cuts, packaged and ready for retail, which will then be shipped directly to Walmart distribution centers serving the Midwest.

“The opening of our new facility in Olathe, Kan., is centered on delivering more of what our customers want — affordable food and quality they can trust,” said John Laney, executive vice president, Food, Walmart US. “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.”

Walmart first announced plans to build the facility two years ago as part of its commitment to creating a more resilient, transparent and efficient supply chain for Angus beef.

Yet, the end goal of forming the company’s own Angus beef supply chain originated even further back. In 2019, Walmart began enlisting the help of beef producers and processors to think strategically and holistically about the steps needed to embark on such an in-depth project.

Later, in 2022, Walmart made an equity investment in Sustainable Beef LLC, North Platte, Neb., reinforcing the company’s commitment to creating an end-to-end beef supply chain. With majority ownership being local and producer-centric, Sustainable Beef sources its meat from cattle within a 250-mile radius of the plant.

Walmart’s new case-ready beef plant will package and distribute Angus cuts sourced directly from Sustainable Beef to locations across the Midwest.