Much of the work required to move groceries from delivery trucks to supermarket shelves is performed out of public view and not always by the retailer’s own employees.
For instance, Publix also relies on outside contractors for some unloading work within its Florida distribution network
Now, one of those contractors is ending operations at several Publix distribution-center locations in Florida, resulting in the loss of 168 blue-collar jobs. Freight Handlers cuts jobs at Publix locations in Florida Freight Handlers LLC, a 35-year-old company also known as FHI, will stop providing third-party unloading services at five Publix distribution locations in Lakeland and Sarasota, Florida, eliminating 168 jobs. The changes are expected to take effect on September 19 and will permanently affect all FHI employees working at the affected locations, according to multiple Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filings reviewed by TheStreet.
More Layoffs: The WARN filings do not state why FHI is ending the work, or whether Publix will use another contractor or handle unloading differently after FHI exits. The largest cuts affect four Publix distribution-center locations in Lakeland. FHI said it will permanently stop performing third-party unloading services at: – 2600 County Line Road – 3045 New Tampa Highway – 1936 George Jenkins Boulevard – 3145 New Tampa Highway A total of 151 employees are affected.