Food Preparation Associate

Food Preparation Associate

Starting Pay: $17.00/hour Part Time and Full Time Opportunities! Love food, working with people, and being part of a team that takes pride in doing things right? Join Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery and help prepare and serve quality food and cheese products that our guests love.

As a Food Preparation Associate, you'll play an important role in preparing, packaging, and merchandising food products while providing great customer service and maintaining high standards for quality, cleanliness, and food safety.

Why Join Our Team?

• Starting pay of $17.00/hour
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company-paid life insurance
• Opportunities for career growth and advancement
• Work with Wisconsin cheese and specialty food products
• Be part of a friendly, team-oriented environment
• Join a cooperative organization that values employees, members, guests, and our community

Position Summary

The Food Preparation Associate prepares, packages, and merchandises food and cheese products while providing excellent customer service. This position supports daily retail operations by maintaining product quality, inventory, cleanliness, food safety, and an organized work environment.

What You'll Do

• Prepare and package sandwiches, pizzas, fried cheese curds, and other retail food products
• Package cheese curds and complete cheese cut-and-wrap procedures
• Label, date, store, and rotate products according to food safety standards
• Maintain food preparation areas, equipment, and utensils in a clean and sanitary condition
• Complete required food safety, temperature, sanitation, and production records
• Monitor product quality, freshness, and inventory levels
• Restock supplies and retail displays
• Receive deliveries, verify shipments, and report discrepancies
• Provide friendly, courteous customer service and respond to customer needs
• Perform opening and closing procedures
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, safety, and PPE requirements
• Work independently and as part of a team to support daily operations

Certain duties, including food preparation and alcohol service, may be subject to minimum age requirements under federal and Wisconsin law. Employees who do not meet applicable age requirements will be assigned alternative duties consistent with applicable laws.

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• Positive attitude and strong attention to detail
• Ability to work in a fast-paced food and retail environment
• Ability to follow recipes, written and verbal instructions, and food safety procedures
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Good communication and customer service skills
• Ability to maintain a clean and safe work environment
• Food preparation, food service, grocery, retail, or customer service experience preferred
• High school diploma or equivalent preferred
• Basic computer skills preferred
• Ability to obtain required licenses and certifications, including a Wisconsin Responsible Beverage Server License and applicable food safety certifications

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for grasping, handling, and repetitive motions
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds
• Ability to bend, twist, reach, and perform repetitive motions
• Ability to work in refrigerated and heated food preparation areas

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Work Environment

This is an active retail food environment with frequent exposure to refrigerated and heated areas, commercial food preparation equipment, cleaning chemicals, and varying noise levels. Food safety, sanitation, safety procedures, and proper PPE are required.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Drug and alcohol screening
• General background check

About Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery

At Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, our team members are more than employees you're family, and we want you to succeed. Our culture has contributed to the longevity of our team, with careers spanning 10, 20, and even 50 years.

Our Ellsworth, Wisconsin facility specializes in producing our world-famous Cheese Curds, including natural and flavored varieties, as well as Cheese Curd Crumbles and sweet whey powder.

Committed to our Team, Craft & Community, Since 1910.

Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

*Indicates Full Time status benefits

**Indicates starting pay for 18+ years of age.

Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery