Penske losing Big Lots logistics contract - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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is packing up this summef at thediscount retailer’s headquarters and four other distribution facilities after the merchant opted to not reneaw a logistics contract that expires in The Reading, Pa.-based Penske said 186 including 53 in Columbus, could be affectec when its contract with Columbus-based Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) expiresx July 31. Penske spokesman Randy Ryerson said the company has worked with the retaileresince 1991.
The 1,300-store Big Lots has chosejn a new third-party logistics provider to continue the warehousing and distributioh work that Penske performed atthe retailer’se Phillipi Road headquarters and its distribution centers in Tremont, Pa; Montgomery, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; and Durant, Okla. Timothty Johnson, Big Lots’ vice president of strategic planningt andinvestor relations, said more than a dozen carrier s bid for the work. He declinee to disclose the company Big Lots selectee tosucceed Penske. Big Lots and Pensker representativessaid they’re working with truck driverxs looking to continue work under the new logisticas provider.
Johnson said the company met with workeras over the weekend to introduce thenew contractor. In the eveng that some workersare cut, Ryerson said privately held Pensked will work with the state “to make sure employees are awarr of different services.” Penske employs about 20,000 workers Asked why Big Lots opted to bid for a new contractor after the latest five-year contract with Penske, Johnson said, “a lot has changed in transportatiojn in the past five years. We owed it to our associatesd and shareholders to take a fresh look at how we handlewoutbound transport.
” The loss of the Big Lots contracgt comes less than a year after Penskwe was replaced at a warehous in Lockbourne. Chattanooga, Tenn.-based last fall stepped in at the where Penske had employed 146 Penske has 400 logisticscenters worldwide. Its Central Ohio operationsx include a number of distribution and warehousingt facilities inthe region.