Hiring Warehouse Associate in Tolleson

Gourmet Foods International is a leading U.S.-based distributor of specialty and gourmet food products, with over 30 years of experience supplying restaurants, luxury hotels, fine grocery stores, catering companies and institutional food service providers across the country. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, we operate 12 distribution centers nationwide, including our high-traffic site in Tolleson, AZ, which serves the Phoenix metropolitan area, southern Arizona and cross-border markets in northern Mexico. We are known for our rigorous food safety standards, reliable on-time delivery track record of 98.7% and commitment to supporting local and international artisanal food producers. We are currently expanding our Tolleson team to meet growing demand from regional clients, and are hiring Warehouse Associates to join our day and rotating shift teams.

In this role, you will be a core member of our warehouse operations team, responsible for handling high-value, temperature-sensitive gourmet food products including imported cheeses, cured meats, specialty condiments, fresh produce and frozen delicacies. Unlike standard warehouse roles, this position requires strict adherence to food safety regulations (FDA, HACCP) in addition to standard logistics best practices, making it a great fit for candidates looking to build experience in the specialized food distribution sector. You will work closely with a team of 40+ warehouse staff, supervised by an operations lead with 10+ years of experience in food logistics.

Your core responsibilities will include:
1. Receiving, verifying and inventorying incoming shipments of food products, checking for damage, correct temperature levels (fresh products between 0°C and 4°C, frozen products at -18°C or below) and accurate order documentation, maintaining an inventory error rate of less than 0.5%.
2. Picking and packing customer orders for restaurants, hotels and retail clients using barcode scanners and our Manhattan Associates Warehouse Management System (WMS), achieving a 99.8% order accuracy rate and processing standard orders within 30 minutes of receipt.
3. Loading and unloading delivery trucks using powered pallet jacks or forklifts (forklift certification is a plus; we offer free certified training for uncertified hires), following OSHA safety protocols and ensuring temperature-controlled products remain within required ranges during the loading process to avoid spoilage.
4. Participating in weekly cycle counts and the annual full inventory audit, contributing to a 15% reduction in inventory discrepancies year-over-year.
5. Maintaining cleanliness and organization of storage areas, cold rooms and picking zones following 5S methodology, reducing product search time by 20% and ensuring full compliance with health inspection standards.
6. Reporting all incidents (damaged goods, temperature anomalies, equipment malfunctions) to the warehouse supervisor within 1 hour of detection, and logging all incidents in the Jira Service Management system with full documentation.
7. Completing all mandatory food safety, equipment handling and emergency response training sessions, with 100% participation in scheduled quarterly training.
8. Collaborating with the logistics planning team to optimize storage locations for fast-moving products, reducing order processing time by 10% per quarter through process improvements.

Our Tolleson distribution center is a 25,000-square-foot climate-controlled facility, with dedicated cold storage zones for fresh and frozen products, a dedicated packing area and a staff break room with complimentary coffee and snacks. We prioritize a safe, inclusive work environment where all staff are encouraged to share process improvement ideas: over 30% of our current operational process updates were proposed by frontline warehouse associates. We offer flexible break schedules, free on-site parking and a supportive team culture with no punitive management approach for minor errors, as long as safety and quality standards are respected.

To qualify for this role, you must have:
- A minimum of 1 year of full-time warehouse experience, preferably in the food, beverage or consumer goods distribution sector
- The ability to stand for 8 hours per shift, and regularly lift loads of up to 25kg (55lbs)
- Basic proficiency with warehouse software (we provide full training on our Manhattan Associates WMS and Zebra barcode scanners for all new hires; prior experience with SAP EWM, Manhattan or similar systems is a strong plus)
- A valid forklift certification (we provide free in-house certification training for candidates without a current certification)
- The ability to work in a food-safe environment, with willingness to follow all HACCP and FDA hygiene protocols (including wearing required PPE, regular hand washing and temperature checks)
- Strong attention to detail, ability to follow written procedures accurately and work effectively as part of a team
- Availability to work occasional overtime during peak periods (holiday season, promotional campaigns) with 2 weeks' advance notice.

You will work with industry-standard tools and technologies including: Manhattan Associates WMS, Zebra DS3600 barcode scanners, Caterpillar and Raymond forklifts, electric and manual pallet jacks, Jira Service Management for incident reporting, digital temperature monitoring systems for cold storage, and basic Excel for inventory reporting tasks.

This role offers clear career growth pathways: 80% of our current warehouse supervisor and operations lead positions are filled by internal candidates who started as warehouse associates. We offer a 6-month internal leadership training program for high-performing associates, covering team management, inventory planning and logistics coordination, with all training costs covered by the company. High-performing associates may also be eligible for tuition reimbursement for logistics and supply chain certification programs.

We offer competitive compensation and benefits for this role:
- Hourly pay rate between $17.50 and $19.50 per hour, dependent on experience and certifications, with a $1 per hour shift differential for night shifts and 1.5x overtime pay for hours worked over 40 per week, in compliance with federal labor laws
- Full benefits package effective after 90 days of employment: 70% employer-paid health insurance, free dental and vision coverage for you and your dependents, 10 days of paid time off per year, 7 days of paid sick leave and 10 paid company holidays
- Free work-provided equipment: branded uniforms and steel-toe shoes replaced every 6 months at no cost, plus all required PPE (gloves, hairnets, safety vests) provided free of charge
- Access to on-site wellness programs, including monthly free health screenings and discounted gym memberships.

Hiring process and next steps:
As announced in our recent LinkedIn post, we are hosting a 4-day open house for this role with no appointment required: bring your resume directly to 10401 W Van Buren, Tolleson, AZ 85353, between Tuesday April 21 and Friday April 24, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. On-site interviews last approximately 20 minutes, and you will have the chance to meet the warehouse supervisor and current team members during your visit. If your application is successful, you will receive a formal job offer via email within 48 hours of your interview, with a start date of Monday April 28, 2025, following a 2-hour onboarding session on your first day. If you are unable to attend the open house, you may submit your resume to [email protected] with the subject line "Warehouse Associate Application - Tolleson", and our hiring team will contact you within 5 business days to schedule a phone or video interview.