Production Assistant

Join Our Growing Team – New Mississauga Location!

Wholesome Kids Catering is excited to announce the opening of our new location in Mississauga!

Wholesome Kids Catering is a leading provider of nutritious, delicious, and thoughtfully prepared meals and snacks for childcare centres and schools. Our team is committed to food safety, exceptional service, and creating healthy meals that children love.

If you are passionate about making a difference, working collaboratively, and contributing to a purpose-driven organization, we would love to hear from you. Join Wholesome Kids Catering and become part of One Team One Dream as we deliver healthy food and exceptional service—one meal at a time!

Position Information

Position Title: Production Associate (PA) – Mississauga
Reports To: Production Supervisor
Direct Reports: None
Available Shifts: 5:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Vacation: Two weeks of vacation per year plus five paid Wellness Days

Flexibility may be required to support operational needs, training, production demands, audits, special projects, and coverage across shifts.

The Role

As a Production Associate, you will contribute to the daily production of thousands of nutritious meals and snacks in a fast-paced, high-volume food manufacturing and commissary kitchen environment.

You will work collaboratively with Production Leads, Supervisors, and fellow team members to ensure products are prepared, assembled, packaged, labelled, staged, and distributed safely and efficiently. You will help ensure that every product meets Wholesome Kids Catering’s food safety, quality, accuracy, and customer service standards before it leaves our facility.

This role requires reliability, attention to detail, flexibility, physical stamina, and a strong commitment to teamwork and food safety.

Key Responsibilities

Production Operations

As a Production Associate, you will:

• Assemble meals, snacks, and meal components according to daily production schedules, work instructions, production plans, recipes, and customer specifications.
• Accurately count, portion, weigh, sort, assemble, label, and package products while maintaining established quality and quantity standards.
• Verify product quantities, production labels, packaging materials, route information, and customer orders to ensure accuracy before distribution.
• Pack meals and snacks efficiently while maintaining product quality, presentation, packaging integrity, and temperature-control standards.
• Organize and stage completed products for shipping according to route schedules, customer requirements, and delivery timelines.
• Assist with production-line setup, changeovers, equipment preparation, and workstation organization before, during, and after production.
• Replenish ingredients, labels, packaging materials, containers, and other supplies to support a continuous and efficient production workflow.
• Safely transport products, ingredient bins, rolling racks, carts, pallets, and production materials throughout the facility.
• Rotate between production areas and workstations based on daily schedules, operational requirements, and production priorities.
• Assist with inventory movement, product transfers, and stock replenishment while maintaining product traceability and inventory accuracy.
• Process returned products according to company procedures, document discrepancies, and escalate concerns when required.
• Maintain accurate production records, counts, labels, checklists, and other required documentation.
• Consistently work toward daily production targets while maintaining exceptional quality, accuracy, efficiency, and attention to detail.
• Immediately notify the Production Lead or Supervisor of shortages, delays, production errors, damaged products, or other concerns that may affect production or customer orders.

Food Safety, Quality and Compliance

• Follow all Standard Operating Procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices, HACCP requirements, allergen-control procedures, and company food safety policies.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, personal hygiene, sanitation, and safe food handling throughout all production activities.
• Verify that products meet company requirements for appearance, portion size, weight, packaging, labelling, quality, temperature, and order accuracy.
• Recognize and immediately report quality concerns, product defects, packaging issues, contamination risks, equipment malfunctions, shortages, and production delays.
• Follow allergen-management procedures to prevent cross-contact and ensure allergy-sensitive meals are handled according to established protocols.
• Follow colour-coding, utensil-control, handwashing, glove-changing, and sanitation requirements when moving between products or production areas.
• Maintain product traceability by accurately completing production records, batch documentation, temperature logs, product counts, and operational checklists.
• Follow FIFO—First In, First Out—inventory rotation procedures to minimize waste and support product quality and freshness.
• Protect ingredients and finished products from contamination, damage, temperature abuse, incorrect labelling, or unauthorized use.
• Immediately stop work and notify a Lead or Supervisor if a product, process, ingredient, label, or piece of equipment may create a food safety or quality risk.
• Participate in food safety inspections, audits, corrective actions, and training activities as required.

Equipment and Material Handling

• Safely operate production equipment, scales, label printers, packaging equipment, rolling racks, carts, pallet jacks where trained, and other authorized production tools.
• Inspect equipment and tools before use and immediately report damage, defects, missing guards, or unsafe operating conditions.
• Use equipment only after receiving the required training and authorization.
• Handle products, ingredients, packaging materials, tools, and equipment carefully to prevent damage, contamination, product loss, or workplace injury.
• Assist with equipment setup, cleaning, disassembly, and basic operational care according to established procedures and manufacturer instructions.
• Follow lockout, cleaning, and equipment-safety procedures applicable to the duties being performed.
• Keep aisles, emergency exits, production areas, and access points clear of products, carts, packaging, and other obstructions.

Teamwork and Operational Excellence

• Work collaboratively with Production Leads, Supervisors, Warehouse, Quality Assurance, Sanitation, Logistics, and other Operations team members to achieve daily goals.
• Communicate production updates, shortages, quality concerns, equipment issues, and operational challenges promptly and professionally.
• Demonstrate flexibility by supporting multiple production lines, workstations, and operational areas based on business requirements.
• Follow instructions and respond positively to changing production priorities, customer needs, menu changes, and scheduling requirements.
• Support the onboarding and cross-training of new Production Associates when assigned.
• Share relevant information during shift transitions to support continuity, accountability, and efficient production.
• Contribute ideas and participate in continuous-improvement initiatives that enhance productivity, efficiency, food safety, quality, and operational performance.
• Maintain a positive attitude and contribute to a respectful, inclusive, collaborative, and team-oriented work environment.
• Treat coworkers, leaders, customers, and visitors with professionalism and respect.
• Take ownership of assigned duties and follow through on commitments.

Our Values

At Wholesome Kids Catering, our values guide how we work, make decisions, support one another, and serve our customers:

• My Word My Promise: We do what we say we will do and take responsibility for delivering on our commitments.
• Serve with Passion: We bring care, energy, and purpose to our work because the meals we prepare support children and families.
• Raise the Bar: We pursue high standards and continuously look for ways to improve quality, safety, service, and performance.
• One Team One Dream: We work collaboratively, support one another, and recognize that our success depends on the strength of the entire team.
• Nurture Growth: We welcome learning, feedback, development, and opportunities to help ourselves and others grow.
• Deliver WOW: We aim to exceed expectations through outstanding quality, accuracy, reliability, and service.

Production Associates are expected to demonstrate these values consistently through their attendance, communication, teamwork, performance, and commitment to food safety.

Health, Safety and Housekeeping

• Comply with applicable workplace health and safety legislation, company policies, procedures, and safe work practices.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and hazard-free workstation by following clean-as-you-go principles throughout the shift.
• Clean and sanitize work surfaces, tools, containers, and equipment according to established procedures.
• Properly dispose of food waste, recyclables, damaged products, packaging materials, and other waste according to company requirements.
• Immediately report unsafe conditions, near misses, hazards, injuries, incidents, spills, damaged equipment, and food safety concerns to the Production Lead or Supervisor.
• Wear and properly maintain all required personal protective equipment.
• Follow food manufacturing hygiene requirements, including handwashing, hair and beard restraints, protective clothing, footwear, and restrictions concerning jewellery or personal items.
• Use appropriate lifting, pushing, pulling, and material-handling techniques to prevent injury.
• Follow emergency procedures and cooperate with incident investigations, corrective actions, and safety training.
• Perform all duties safely while protecting coworkers, visitors, equipment, and the integrity of the products we produce.

Additional Duties

• Support special production projects, seasonal menu changes, customer requests, new product launches, and operational initiatives.
• Participate in departmental meetings, training sessions, food safety programs, workplace inspections, and continuous-improvement activities.
• Assist other departments or production areas when trained and assigned.
• Perform other reasonable duties as assigned to support the Production Department and Wholesome Kids Catering’s operational objectives.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

The Production Associate must be able to safely perform the following duties, with accommodation where required:

• Lift and carry materials weighing up to 60 pounds.
• Stand and walk for extended periods during the shift.
• Frequently bend, reach, twist, push, pull, lift, and carry.
• Perform repetitive tasks requiring consistent speed, coordination, and attention to detail.
• Work in refrigerated environments with temperatures of approximately 4–10°C.
• Work around industrial kitchen equipment, moving carts, production machinery, noise, food products, and cleaning activities.
• Safely use authorized food preparation tools and production equipment.
• Push and move rolling racks, ingredient carts, pallets, and production equipment.
• Operate a pallet jack when appropriately trained and authorized.
• Maintain concentration, accuracy, and awareness in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Work safely around common food allergens while following established allergen-control procedures.
• Wear required personal protective equipment and food manufacturing clothing throughout the shift.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent is preferred.
• Previous experience in food manufacturing, catering, institutional food service, commercial kitchens, packaging, warehousing, or high-volume production is considered an asset.
• Basic understanding of food safety, sanitation, and safe food handling is preferred.
• Ability to read and follow production sheets, labels, work instructions, schedules, and safety procedures.
• Basic math skills for weighing, measuring, portioning, counting, and verifying quantities.
• Ability to work independently while also contributing positively within a team.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and product accuracy.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate concerns and production updates clearly and professionally.
• Willingness to learn, accept feedback, and work in different production areas.
• Reliable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to work the assigned shift and demonstrate flexibility when operational needs change.

Success Profile

A successful Production Associate consistently helps produce safe, nutritious, accurate, and high-quality meals while supporting efficient daily operations.

They demonstrate adaptability by moving confidently between production, assembly, packaging, labelling, staging, and sanitation-related tasks. They take ownership of their work, communicate concerns promptly, support their coworkers, and remain focused during busy production periods.

Most importantly, they understand that every meal represents a promise to the children, families, childcare centres, and schools we serve. They help ensure that every product meets Wholesome Kids Catering’s food safety, quality, and accuracy standards before it leaves our facility.

Join Wholesome Kids Catering

This is an exciting opportunity to join Wholesome Kids Catering as we open and grow our new Mississauga location. You will have the opportunity to contribute to a new team, support the development of strong operating practices, and help create an environment built on safety, collaboration, accountability, and service.

If you are reliable, hardworking, safety-conscious, and passionate about producing nutritious food for children, we encourage you to apply.

Join us in living our values, supporting One Team One Dream, and delivering WOW—one meal at a time.

Wholesome Kids Catering is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates participating in all stages of the selection process.