GEODIS Logistics LLC, a worldwide transport and logistics provider, plans to lay off 107 employees at its facility in Berks County by this summer.
The company made its plans known in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice filed with the state Department of Labor & Industry. The WARN Act requires employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of a covered-business closing and covered-business mass layoff.
The notice said GEODIS’ affected workers would be out of the 9750 Commerce Circle plant in Kutztown by July 31. According to the company, the facility is not closing but the job loss is expected to be permanent.
None of the employees are represented by unions.
“We have made the difficult decision to reduce our Kutztown workforce due to the loss of a key customer,” GEODIS said in a statement. “We have proactively communicated the decision to all impacted employees, and we will make every effort to assist these individuals in their transition to new job opportunities. We are deeply grateful for the continued support of the people and leadership of the Kutztown area and remain committed to the long-term health of our local operations that serve a diverse base of customers within the region.”
The WARN filing said the key customer lost was clothing retailer Everlane, which is moving its operations outside the U.S.
On its website, GEODIS said, “We’re recognized for our expertise and mastery of all aspects of the supply chain, as we serve as a real growth partner for our clients. With our five lines of business (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express and Road Transport), we are a regional organization that spans all continents, with a direct presence in +60 countries and a global network covering 168 countries. GEODIS is ranked seventh in the world and in Europe in our field. We are also the distribution and express leader in France.”
GEODIS reported revenues of 13.7 billion euros (almost $14.6 billion) in 2022, which was 19% more than the year before.
After noting GEODIS achieved a record level of performance for the third straight year, CEO Marie-Christine Lombard said: “These excellent results in a challenging economic and geopolitical environment stem from the expertise of our teams, the complementary nature of our various businesses and our ambitious development strategy. … Although uncertainties remain in 2023, we remain confident in GEODIS’s growth prospects. Thanks to the diversity of our businesses and geographies and to our operational agility, we are looking forward to 2023 with determination.”
Paula Wolf is a freelance writer
