Global logistics giants Geodis and Ceva to lay off hundreds in Ohio

Global logistics giants Geodis and Ceva have filed paperwork for major layoffs this week in Ohio, with plans to cut a total of about 450 jobs by Sept. 30.

French logistics company Geodis said Thursday in a letter to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services that it will close all business operations at its facility in Columbus, eliminating 302 jobs by the end of September.

According to Geodis’ Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice, its customer, Columbus-based Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE:DBI), parent company of  Designer Shoe Warehouse, “has decided to move their operations to another location on the East Coast.”

WARN notices are required under federal law for companies to provide employees 60 days’ notice of a possible plant closure or mass layoff. 

Geodis has more than 46,000 employees and operates in more than 60 countries. The company reported revenues of US $12.2 billion in 2021, according to Statista.

Ceva Logistics to cut 146 workers

Ceva Logistics, which is owned by French container carrier CMA CGM, said in a letter to the state on Tuesday that it will close the east portion of the Groveport facility, located near Columbus, by Sept. 30. An active Ceva business will continue operations on the west side of the facility.

According to the 3PL’s WARN notice, the first employee cuts will take place the week of June 13, with additional separation dates scheduled for the weeks of July 18 and Aug. 15.

Supply chain operations specialists, dock supervisors and material handlers are among the affected nonunion employees who will lose their jobs, according to the notice.

As of publication time, Ceva Logistics had not responded to FreightWaves’ request seeking comment about the closure. 

Worldwide, Ceva Logistics employs about 98,000 employees in 160 countries and recorded $12 billion in revenue in 2021.

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