Hiring Warehouse Associate in Tolleson, AZ

Gourmet Foods International is a leading U.S.-based distributor of premium gourmet food products, serving over 12,000 professional and retail clients across the Southwest, including fine dining restaurants, luxury hotels, specialty grocery stores, and catering companies. For over 30 years, we have specialized in importing and distributing high-quality cheeses, cured meats, artisanal pantry goods, fresh produce, and international specialty items, with a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of product quality and food safety. Our 120,000-square-foot distribution center in Tolleson, AZ, located in the heart of the Phoenix metropolitan area, is a critical logistics hub for our operations across Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Southern California.

We are currently expanding our warehouse operations team to support growing customer demand, and are hiring multiple Warehouse Associates to join our on-site team in Tolleson. This role is ideal for candidates with hands-on warehouse experience who are detail-oriented, committed to safety, and interested in working with high-value, perishable food products in a fast-paced, structured environment.

Key responsibilities for this role include:
1. Receive, inspect, and sort incoming shipments of gourmet food products, verifying accuracy against purchase orders, checking for damage, temperature compliance, or expiration, and logging all entries into our warehouse management system (WMS) with a target accuracy rate of 99% or higher.
2. Pick, pack, and stage customer orders for professional and retail clients, ensuring correct product selection, proper packaging for temperature-sensitive and fragile items, and adherence to daily order cutoff times to guarantee 98% on-time delivery rates.
3. Operate industrial forklifts, pallet jacks, and other material handling equipment to move, stack, and store palletized and case-packed goods in designated warehouse zones, including ambient, refrigerated, and frozen storage areas, following all OSHA safety protocols and completing daily pre-operation equipment checks.
4. Conduct regular cycle counts and full physical inventory audits of high-value and perishable stock, identifying discrepancies, reporting damaged or expired products, and updating WMS records to maintain overall inventory accuracy above 98%.
5. Maintain cleanliness and organization of all warehouse work areas, including receiving docks, storage racks, packing stations, and cold storage units, complying with all HACCP food safety regulations to prevent cross-contamination and ensure product integrity for all client shipments.
6. Load outbound delivery trucks in coordination with our transportation team, verifying shipment contents against delivery manifests, securing loads for safe transport, and updating shipment tracking systems to provide real-time visibility to customers.
7. Support the warehouse leadership team in troubleshooting operational issues, including delayed shipments, inventory discrepancies, or equipment malfunctions, escalating problems promptly to minimize downtime and maintain consistent service levels for all clients.
8. Participate in monthly safety training sessions, adhere to all personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, follow correct lifting techniques, and report workplace hazards immediately to maintain a zero-incident work environment.

Our Tolleson warehouse operates with a structured, team-focused culture, where supervisors and team members collaborate closely to solve problems and maintain high standards of work. Shifts are fixed, with regular breaks provided throughout the day, and all team members receive ongoing training on our specific product lines, safety protocols, and warehouse systems. We prioritize employee well-being, with a dedicated break room, access to free parking, and regular team events to celebrate milestones and achievements.

To qualify for this role, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Minimum of 1 year of experience working in a warehouse, distribution center, or food logistics environment; prior experience handling perishable food products is a strong advantage.
- Ability to lift and carry boxes weighing up to 50 lbs repeatedly throughout 8 to 10-hour shifts, stand for extended periods, and work in temperature-controlled environments ranging from 35°F (frozen storage) to 75°F (ambient warehouse areas).
- Valid forklift certification is preferred; candidates without certification will be enrolled in our fully funded in-house forklift training program upon hiring.
- Strong attention to detail, ability to follow written and verbal instructions accurately, and demonstrated commitment to maintaining food safety and quality standards.
- Basic proficiency with inventory tracking tools and warehouse software; full training will be provided for our internal WMS and SAP shipment tracking systems.
- Ability to work occasional flexible shifts during peak seasonal periods (including holiday season and summer catering peak months) if required.
- Must be able to pass a background check and pre-employment drug screening, in compliance with food safety and company policies.

We use industry-standard tools and systems across our warehouse operations, including Manhattan Associates WMS for inventory management, SAP for shipment and order tracking, Caterpillar and Raymond industrial forklifts, Honeywell barcode scanners for order processing, and Microsoft Excel for inventory reporting. All team members are trained on these tools during their onboarding period.

This role offers a competitive compensation package aligned with the Phoenix metropolitan area market: hourly pay ranges from $17 to $21 per hour, depending on your prior experience and forklift certification status. Full-time employees are eligible for the following benefits starting on their first day of employment:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
- 10 days of paid time off (PTO) per year, plus 7 paid sick days
- Annual performance-based salary increases
- Employee stock purchase plan with discounted share pricing
- Free weekly gourmet food products for all team members
- Provided safety equipment, including steel-toe boots, gloves, and branded work jackets
- Fully funded professional development opportunities, including forklift certification, HACCP training, and leadership development programs for employees interested in advancing to supervisory or coordination roles.

Many of our current warehouse leadership team members started as Warehouse Associates, and we prioritize internal promotions for employees who demonstrate strong performance, reliability, and a commitment to our company values. Career growth paths include roles such as Warehouse Shift Supervisor, Inventory Control Specialist, Transportation Coordinator, and Logistics Manager.

Hiring Process & Next Steps:
We are hosting a four-day open house for all interested candidates from Tuesday, April 21 to Friday, April 24, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at our warehouse location: 10401 W Van Buren, Tolleson, AZ 85353. No appointment is required: simply walk in with a copy of your resume, complete a short application, and participate in a same-day on-site interview. Candidates selected at the open house will receive a formal job offer within 24 to 48 hours of their interview, with a start date ranging from April 28 to May 5, 2025.
If you are unable to attend the open house, you can submit your resume directly to our hiring team at [email protected] with the subject line "Warehouse Associate Application - [Your Full Name]". We review all submitted applications within 3 to 5 business days, and will contact qualified candidates to schedule a phone or in-person interview at our Tolleson facility. All candidates must be able to provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States, in compliance with federal immigration laws.