Local Bounti Corp. is expanding its presence in the Pacific Northwest through new distribution with Walmart, supplying stores across the region with family-size salad kits from its growing facility in Pasco, Wash.
The expansion of its facility includes the launch of its new Romano Caesar Family-Size Salad Kit at Walmart, according to the company. Beginning Oct. 13, the 10-ounce Romano Caesar Family-Size Salad Kit is available at 89 Walmart stores supplied through the retailer’s Grandview, Wash., distribution center.
Local Bounti says the move marks a major step in its strategy to scale operations and deepen retail partnerships while meeting rising consumer demand for fresher, locally grown produce.
“This launch demonstrates the versatility we built into our Pasco facility from the ground up,” says Kathleen Valiasek, president, CEO and chief financial officer of Local Bounti. “The Pacific Northwest has historically faced real challenges accessing consistently fresh, locally grown leafy greens year-round, and we’re directly addressing that gap. We’re able to harvest and deliver ultra-fresh greens to retail shelves within days — which is a stark contrast to the week-plus transit times you see with conventional supply chains. That proximity translates to superior product quality, extended shelf life and significantly reduced food waste for both retailers and consumers. It validates our whole approach to serving this region.”
Valiasek says the launch represents a pivotal milestone in the strategic ramp of Local Bounti’s facility and underscores the company’s ability to scale production, drive product innovation and deepen relationships with key retail partners.
“This launch is part of our path to positive adjusted EBITDA in early 2026 — it drives capacity utilization at our Washington facility, improves our product mix and deepens our partnership with the world’s largest retailer at a critical inflection point for the company,” Valiasek says. “We’re now servicing approximately 13,000 retail doors across our facility network, and this Walmart expansion demonstrates our ability to scale production, drive meaningful product innovation and deepen relationships with strategic retail partners on a regional basis. Our phased expansion approach — launching this product in the Pacific Northwest first, then rolling out to customers serviced from our Texas facility — allows us to build momentum across multiple regions while leveraging our growing network to serve major population centers that are increasingly demanding CEA [controlled environment agriculture] products.”
Local Bounti says it views Walmart’s expanded distribution as a sign of confidence in its model and execution.
“Walmart is the world’s largest retailer, so expanding our distribution with them is significant validation of both our product quality and our operational execution,” Valiasek says. “We currently serve Walmart locations through multiple distribution points across our facility network, and this Pacific Northwest expansion demonstrates our capability to leverage our growing facilities to deepen penetration with strategic customers on a regional basis. It’s not just about getting on shelves; it’s about building sustainable partnerships that scale. The velocity of customer engagement we’re seeing reflects the unmet potential of CEA products in the market, and having Walmart recognize our ability to deliver consistent, high-quality products at scale positions us well for continued growth.”
The family-size format specifically addresses an underserved market segment experiencing robust demand, the company says, adding that the family-size product serves four to six people, which is ideal for busy families seeking quick, nutritious dinner options and consumers entertaining guests. The product’s extended shelf life provides operational benefits for retailers through reduced shrink while giving consumers more flexibility in meal planning and less food waste at home.
The company says the packaged salad market size is expected to grow from $13 billion for 2025 to $18.1 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate of 8.6%, representing a sizeable opportunity to meet expanding consumer demand.
Following the Pacific Northwest launch, Local Bounti says it plans to introduce the Romano Caesar Family-Size Salad Kit to customers served from its Texas facility, further extending the product’s geographic reach and the company’s ability to capture share in the fast-growing fresh salad kit category. This phased expansion approach allows Local Bounti to build momentum with retail partners and consumers across multiple regions while leveraging its growing network to serve major population centers with reduced transportation costs and superior freshness, the company says.
