Penske losing Big Lots logistics contract - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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is packing up this summer at thediscount retailer’s headquarters and four othed distribution facilities after the merchant optedc to not renew a logistics contract that expires in July. The Reading, Pa.-baser Penske said 186 workers, including 53 in could be affected when its contractwith Columbus-based Big Lots expires July 31. Penske spokesman Randhy Ryerson said the company has worked with the retailersince 1991. The 1,300-store Big Lots has chosen a new third-party logistics provider to continue the warehousing and distribution work that Penske performed atthe retailer’ws Phillipi Road headquarters and its distributio centers in Tremont, Pa; Ala.
; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; and Durant, Timothy Johnson, Big Lots’ vice presidentg of strategic planning and investor relations, said more than a doze carriers bid for the He declined to disclose the company Big Lots selectedf to succeed Penske. Big Lots and Penske representativedssaid they’re working with truck drivers lookingh to continue work under the new logistics provider. Johnsonb said the company met with workers over the weekenxd to introduce thenew contractor. In the event that some workersare cut, Ryersoh said privately held Penske will work with the state “tpo make sure employees are aware of differen t services.
” Penske employs about 20,000 workers Asked why Big Lots opted to bid for a new contractorf after the latest five-year contract with Johnson said, “a lot has changed in transportationh in the past five years. We owed it to our associatea and shareholders to take a fresh look at how we handlwoutbound transport.” The loss of the Big Lots contract comesz less than a year after Penskes was replaced at a warehouse in Lockbourne. Tenn.-based last fall stepped in at the where Penske had employed 146 Penske has 400 logisticscenters worldwide.
Its Centraol Ohio operations include a numbedr of distribution and warehousing facilities inthe