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Lowe’s is taking over operations of a Plant City distribution center previously managed by Lakeland-based Saddle Creek Logistics Services, affecting 178 positions. But it remains unclear how many workers have continued with the retailer.
Tom Collins, vice president of marketing for Saddle Creek, told LkldNow that national home improvement retailer Lowe’s made a strategic decision to operate the warehouse itself rather than outsource operations to Saddle Creek.
“They’re just kind of replacing us with themselves,” Collins said.
He said Saddle Creek was told that all employees at the facility would have an opportunity to apply for jobs with Lowe’s. However, he could not confirm how many had applied, received offers, or been hired.
A federally required Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice dated Aug. 14 identified 178 affected positions at 771 S. County Line Road, with employment reductions scheduled for Oct. 15. The largest category was forklift operators, accounting for 128 positions.
Collins explained that the notice was required because the workers’ employment with Saddle Creek was ending, regardless of whether they continued working at the facility under Lowe’s.
Similar changes have recently occurred in other states. A Georgia WARN notice said a customer was taking over warehouse operations and recruiting Saddle Creek employees at a Newnan facility also identified as a Lowe’s distribution center. FreightWaves reported another customer takeover of a Saddle Creek warehouse in Texas.
LkldNow has made multiple inquiries to Lowe’s but received no response at the time of publication.
Privately held Saddle Creek, headquartered in Lakeland, lists more than 40 locations across 19 states. Collins said the change was not seasonal or related to business levels, and the company remains strong despite losing a significant customer.
“Saddle Creek’s doing fine,” he said.
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