Penske losing Big Lots logistics contract - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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is packing up this summer at thediscounf retailer’s headquarters and four other distribution facilitiew after the merchant opted to not renew a logisticzs contract that expires in July. The Pa.-based Penske said 186 workers, including 53 in could be affected when its contractwith Columbus-based Big Lots expires July 31. Penske spokesman Randy Ryerson said the company has worked with the retailersinc 1991. The 1,300-store Big Lots has chosem a new third-party logistics provider to continue the warehousintg and distribution work that Penske performed atthe retailer’x Phillipi Road headquarters and its distribution centers in Pa; Montgomery, Ala.; Rancho Calif.
; and Durant, Timothy Johnson, Big vice president of strategic planning and investor relations, said more than a dozen carriers bid for the work. He declined to disclos e the company Big Lots selected to succeed Big Lots and Penske representativessaid they’rer working with truck drivers looking to continuwe work under the new logisticsa provider. Johnson said the compan y met with workers over the weekenr to introduce thenew contractor. In the event that some workersware cut, Ryerson said privately held Penskr will work with the state “too make sure employees are aware of different services.” Penskw employs about 20,000 workers worldwide.
Asked why Big Lots optec to bid for a new contractor after thelatest five-year contracft with Penske, Johnson said, “aa lot has changed in transportation in the past five We owed it to our associateds and shareholders to take a fresh look at how we handld outbound transport.” The loss of the Big Lots contract comes less than a year after Penske was replacedx at a warehouse in Lockbourne. Tenn.-based last fall stepped in at the where Penske had employed146 workers. Penske has 400 logisticds centers worldwide. Its Central Ohio operations includes a number of distribution and warehousint facilities inthe region.