BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Another fulfillment service in Pennsylvania is laying off employees, this time in the Lehigh Valley.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice, DHL Supply Chain, at 3893 Courtney St. in Bethlehem, is expected to close late February.
The notice says it will affect 66 employees.
Three other fulfillment services filed notices this month, warning of closures all taking place before the end of the year.
DHL's Northampton County facility closure comes after what the company called "peak season" in a Sept. 23 release.
“We’re entering peak season with a clear focus: helping our customers turn complexity into competitive advantage,” said Mark Kunar, chief executive officer of DHL Supply Chain North America.
“As agility and visibility become the new currency of supply chain success, we’re building multi-node networks and scalable solutions that bring products closer to consumers and reduce exposure to cross-border volatility.”
'Focus on profitable core business'
The release said Kunar expects to see an increased demand "for nearshoring and regional fulfillment," supported by its acquisitions of IDS Fulfillment and Inmar Supply Chain Solutions.
The company acquired Inmar Supply Chain Solutions in January under former CEO Patrick Kelleher.
Kelleher said the move would "enhance the success of DHL Supply Chain" and supports DHL Group's "plan to achieve 50 percent revenue growth" by 2030.
In May, the company then acquired IDS Fulfillment and Kunar took on Kelleher's role the following month.
On Sept. 23, DHL Group announced its strategic framework for the next half of the decade, called "Strategy 2030 — Accelerate Sustainable Growth."
DHL Global Forwarding Americas CEO Tim Robertson previously described shifting global trade trends as "the golden age of uncertainty."
The logistic company's new growth initiatives will let business divisions "continue to focus on their profitable core businesses, stimulating growth through service excellence," a release said.
Other companies also plan layoffs
The Bethlehem closure isn't the only WARN notice to come out of the Lehigh Valley.
Also this month, Air Products and Chemicals announced it would lay off 14 employees at its 7331 William Ave. office, effective Nov. 17.
And just last week, Iron Hill Brewery announced the imminent closure of all of its restaurants, including the company's new Whitehall location.
The brewery, in the Lehigh Lifestyle Center in the Lehigh Valley Mall, was open for just over a year.
The company told customers via social media and email that it hopes to return, but separate correspondence to employees warned of "ongoing financial challenges" that resulted in the "difficult decision" to file for bankruptcy.
