Hiring Warehouse Associate in Tolleson, AZ

Gourmet Foods International is a leading U.S.-based distributor of premium, artisanal food products, serving over 12,000 commercial clients including fine dining restaurants, luxury hotels, boutique grocery stores, and catering operations across 38 states. Our 120,000-square-foot distribution hub in Tolleson, AZ is a critical node for our Southwest region operations, handling more than 4,000 unique SKUs of perishable and shelf-stable gourmet goods, from imported French truffles to small-batch Texas BBQ sauces. We prioritize food safety, operational efficiency, and sustainable practices across all our facilities, with a track record of zero major food safety violations at our Tolleson location over the past 5 years.

We are expanding our Tolleson warehouse team to support growing demand for gourmet food products across the Phoenix metro area and broader Southwest region, and are hiring 12 Warehouse Associates to join our day and afternoon shifts. This role is ideal for candidates with hands-on warehouse experience who are detail-oriented, committed to food safety standards, and comfortable working in a temperature-controlled environment. Unlike generic warehouse roles, this position offers consistent exposure to high-value, perishable food products, opportunities to develop specialized logistics skills, and a clear path to advancement within our operations team.

Your core responsibilities will include:
1. Pick and pack customer orders for gourmet food products (including perishable items requiring cold chain compliance) with a 99% accuracy target, using our SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) system to locate SKUs, verify quantities, and apply proper labeling, processing an average of 50+ orders per 8-hour shift while meeting daily productivity targets.
2. Operate OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178-certified sit-down and stand-up forklifts (including Toyota and Caterpillar models) to move palletized inventory weighing up to 2,500 lbs, positioning stock in designated ambient, refrigerated (35°F–40°F), and frozen storage zones, with a zero-incident safety goal for all material handling tasks.
3. Conduct inbound receiving of vendor shipments, verifying product temperatures for perishable goods, checking expiration dates and packaging integrity, and logging discrepancies (damaged goods, incorrect SKUs, temperature deviations) in our Jira-based inventory tracking system, with a target of reducing receiving errors by 15% quarter over quarter.
4. Stage outbound shipments for regional delivery routes, ensuring proper weight distribution, FDA-compliant labeling, and cold chain maintenance for perishable items, coordinating with drivers to meet a 95% on-time delivery target for Phoenix metro area clients, including high-end restaurants and boutique retailers.
5. Maintain cleanliness and organization of warehouse floor, racking, and cold storage areas, adhering to 5S workplace organization standards to reduce slip/trip hazards, completing daily 10-minute safety walkthroughs, and supporting quarterly health department inspections with zero documented compliance gaps.
6. Participate in monthly cycle counts and annual full inventory audits, counting stock levels for high-value items (truffle products, imported olive oils, artisanal chocolates) and reconciling variances with the finance team, contributing to a 2% annual reduction in inventory shrinkage.
7. Support the company’s sustainability initiatives by separating and recycling cardboard, plastic packaging, and organic food waste (diverting 90% of non-edible waste from local landfills) and operating electric material handling equipment to reduce warehouse carbon emissions by 10% year over year.
8. Train new hires on warehouse safety protocols, SAP EWM navigation, and FDA food handling standards, ensuring 100% of new team members pass their 30-day onboarding assessment with a score of 4 out of 5 or higher.

Our Tolleson warehouse operates in a fast-paced, team-focused environment with clear standard operating procedures for all tasks. All team members are provided with required personal protective equipment (PPE), including non-slip shoes, insulated gloves for cold storage work, and high-visibility vests. Shifts are scheduled 8 hours per day (Monday–Friday) with a 1-hour unpaid lunch break and two 15-minute paid rest breaks per shift. Overtime is optional and offered on a rotating basis, with premium pay rates of 1.5x standard hourly wages for all hours worked over 40 per week. Our team holds monthly safety huddles and quarterly team-building events, including product tastings of new gourmet items added to our distribution catalog, to keep morale high and ensure all team members feel connected to the products we handle.

To qualify for this role, you must meet the following requirements:
- 1+ year of experience working in a warehouse, distribution center, or similar logistics environment; prior experience handling perishable food products is a strong plus but not required
- Valid, current OSHA forklift operator certification (we will cover recertification costs for candidates with expired certifications)
- Ability to lift and move 50 lbs repeatedly throughout an 8-hour shift, and stand or walk for the majority of the shift
- Ability to read and write English at a functional level to follow safety instructions, complete inventory logs, and communicate with team members and drivers
- Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug screening, in compliance with FDA food handling regulations
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to following safety and food handling protocols, with no prior history of food safety violations in previous roles

You will be trained on all job-specific tools during onboarding, but familiarity with the following technologies is a strong advantage: Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), particularly SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM); Jira or similar ticketing systems for inventory discrepancy reporting; sit-down and stand-up forklift operation (Toyota, Caterpillar, or similar models); cold chain monitoring and temperature logging tools for perishable goods; and barcode scanning and picking software for order fulfillment.

We offer competitive compensation and benefits designed to support our team members’ financial and personal well-being:
- Hourly pay rate of $18.50 to $22.00 per hour, based on prior experience and forklift certification status, with a $0.50 per hour shift differential for afternoon shifts
- Performance bonuses of up to $1,000 per quarter for teams that meet or exceed accuracy, safety, and on-time delivery targets
- Full benefits package available after 90 days of employment, including medical, dental, and vision insurance with 80% of premium costs covered by the company for employees and 50% for dependents
- 10 days of paid time off (PTO) per year, plus 5 paid sick days annually, with additional PTO awarded for tenure with the company
- Free on-site meals during shifts, including leftover gourmet products from customer orders, with access to a break room equipped with refrigerators and microwaves
- Reimbursement for work-related certifications, including forklift recertification, food safety manager certifications, and supply chain management courses
- 401(k) retirement plan with 3% company match, available after 6 months of employment

This role is a gateway to long-term career growth within Gourmet Foods International’s operations team. Top-performing Warehouse Associates are regularly promoted to Team Lead, Shift Supervisor, and Warehouse Operations Manager roles, with average promotion timelines of 12 to 18 months for high-performing team members. We also offer cross-training opportunities in inventory management, logistics coordination, and quality assurance for team members interested in expanding their skill sets, with dedicated budget for professional development courses and industry certifications each year.

Hiring Process & Next Steps:
We are hosting a four-day open hiring event for this role from Tuesday, April 21 to Friday, April 24, 2025, at our Tolleson warehouse located at 10401 W Van Buren, Tolleson, AZ 85353, open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. No appointment is required: walk in with your resume, complete a brief application, participate in a 15–20 minute on-site interview with a hiring manager, and take a 10-minute food safety knowledge assessment. Qualified candidates will receive a conditional job offer on the same day, with final offers extended after successful background check and drug screening results. For candidates unable to attend the open house, you may submit your resume directly to [email protected] with the subject line “Warehouse Associate Application – [Your Full Name]” for review by our hiring team; we respond to all qualified applications within 2 business days. All selected candidates will begin onboarding on April 28, 2025, with a 2-week paid training period before moving to regular shift assignments.