LONDON — Hilton Food Group plc recently announced that it would open a new meat processing plant to supply Walmart Canada retailers. The company said it would provide “a range of protein products,” including beef, pork, lamb, seafood, and added-value products.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Walmart,” said Steve Murrells, chief executive officer of Hilton Foods Group. “This agreement further extends our global footprint and will be our first manufacturing facility in North America. It is another sign of the strength of our customer offer, as well as growing consumer demand for high quality, affordable, protein products, which we can deliver through our scale, international experience and supply chain expertise.”
A newly formed subsidiary, Hilton Foods Canada Inc., will finance the new facility with production expected to start in 2026. The company said it plans to lease the production plant. Investments in the facility and equipment will be debt-funded using principal expenditure commencing in 2024 and going into 2025.
“With our customers top of mind, we’re sparking change in the way Walmart Canada sources proteins in Canada,” said Sam Wankowski, chief merchandising officer for Walmart Canada. “Our new agreement with Hilton Foods – their very first in Canada – is a win for our customers. We’re strengthening our delivery of quality products at low prices and with more sustainable packaging to Canadians, while still continuing to support Canadian farms and ranches.”
In 2022, Walmart Canada introduced a plan to purchase an additional 1 million lbs of beef from certified sustainable Canadian farms and ranches. The company previously committed to purchasing 1.5 million lbs in 2021.
On the US side of the business, Walmart announced plans to build a case-ready beef facility in Kansas in June.
Hilton Foods Group employs more than 7,000 people and operates 24 other food processing facilities in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Source : Meat Poultry