Bakery Operative

Allied Bakeries | part of Associated British Foods plc; Greater London; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ongoing training and development

Employee Pension Contributions

Extra Slice Benefits Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Charitable Giving

Job summary

Allied Bakeries, part of Associated British Foods plc, invites applications for a Production Operator role based in Walthamstow. You will safely operate bakery plant and equipment, work as part of a team to meet production targets and uphold product quality standards.

The role offers a competitive salary (£34,242.36 rising to £40,823.10 after training), ongoing training, and a supportive environment in a fast-paced manufacturing setting focused on safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Health and safety awareness is essential.
• Numeracy and accurate information recording are required.
• Ability to follow standard operating procedures.
• Clear communication and teamwork are important.
• Attention to detail in tasks and records.

Responsibilities

• Safety First: actively promote safety culture and report hazards.
• Product Quality: maintain quality and report issues.
• Production Performance: meet production plan and operate safely.
• Learning & Development: discuss training needs with line manager.
• Continuous Improvement: suggest improvements to processes.
• Housekeeping Standards: keep area clean and organized.
• Record Keeping: complete production, quality and traceability records.
• Waste Reduction: minimise waste while upholding safety and quality.

Skills

Health and safety awareness

Numeracy

Following procedures

Clear communication

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Job description

Allied Bakeries are owned by Associated British Foods. ABF is a diversified international food, ingredients and retail group with sales of £20.1bn and 138,000 employees in 56 countries. It has significant businesses in Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia and Australia. Our sister companies in ABF UK Grocery produce products under many market-leading household brands, including Jordans, Ryvita, Pataks, Blue Dragon & Silver Spoon.

We are proud of our brands: we make top 10 UK grocery brand Kingsmill as well as Allinson’s and Sunblest. You’ll know us best through our white, wholemeal and seeded market-leading loaves, as well as Kingsmill 50/50, the nation’s favourite Healthier White, and our delicious pancakes, crumpets, hot cross buns and other bakery products.

The success of our business depends on us having the right people on the team. We are incredibly passionate about our business, but it isn’t for the faint-hearted – it’s pacey and demanding so our people need to have a positive attitude and to want to work inclusively. We take massive pride in what we do, not least in how colleagues based in our bakeries and depots have one of the best safety performance records in the industry.

Our Grocery Service Centre, based near Liverpool, is a hub for transactional activity across multiple ABF companies within the ABF Grocery division. Supporting some of our well-known brands such as Kingsmill, Pataks, Blue Dragon, Jordans, Ryvita and Silver Spoon, amongst others. We deliver Shared Service activities across a wide range of disciplines including Customer Services, Consumer Care, Finance, Payroll, HR and IS.

If you’re looking to join a business that is passionate, encourages you to be the best you can be, and values its people, we’d love to hear from you.

Overview Of Role

Location: Walthamstow

Salary: £34,242.36, increasing to £40,823.10 upon successful completion of training.

Safely and efficiently operate bakery plant and equipment as instructed and in accordance with agreed procedures. Work as part of a team to achieve production targets, customer satisfaction, and product quality standards. Contribute positively to the team environment and actively seek learning and development opportunities to build personal knowledge and skills. This role does not include supervisory or people-management responsibilities.

Key Accountabilities

• Safety First: Actively support and promote the Safety First culture by reporting hazards and near misses and complying with internal policies and procedures.
• Product Quality: Maintain product quality by following agreed procedures and using available systems to monitor, record, and report quality issues.
• Production Performance: Contribute to delivery of the production plan by completing allocated tasks and operating bakery plant safely and efficiently in accordance with instructions.
• Learning & Development: Identify and discuss personal training and development needs with the line manager, consistently follow agreed processes, and actively participate in learning opportunities.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing processes, contribute practical ideas, and participate in agreed continuous improvement activities.
• Housekeeping Standards: Maintain a clean and organised work area by following clean-as-you-go and contamination-control procedures.
• Record Keeping: Complete allocated production, quality, and traceability records accurately and promptly.
• Waste Reduction: Help minimise product damage, material waste, and unnecessary downtime while maintaining safety and quality standards.

Additional Accountabilities

• Demonstrate a flexible, positive, and proactive approach to work.
• Occasionally support other areas of the business by providing assistance within personal skills and training.
• Use these opportunities to develop individual capabilities and broaden business knowledge.

The Right Person

Essential

• Good level of health and safety and food safety awareness.
• Numeracy, reading, and accurate information-recording skills.
• Ability to follow standard operating procedures and written and verbal instructions.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Attention to detail when completing tasks, checking products, and recording information.

Advantageous

• Basic engineering competencies and mechanical awareness.
• In-depth knowledge and practical application of Food Hygiene and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
• Understanding of the baking process.
• Basic understanding of continuous improvement tools and techniques.
• Computer literacy, including the ability to understand and interact with Human-Machine Interface (HMI) screens.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary starting at £34,242.36
• Salary progression to £40,823.10 upon successful completion of training
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• A supportive team environment
• Opportunity to work within a fast-paced manufacturing environment focused on quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Up to 10% Employer Pension Contributions (including Life Assurance)
• ‘Extra Slice’ Benefits Scheme – Discounts at over 500 retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Curry’s, and more!
• Electric Car / Cycle to Work Scheme – Get a great bike or EV deal to support your commute
• Employee Assistance Programme – Free & confidential support for financial, legal, and personal matters
• Charitable Giving – Be part of our partnership with Save the Children and give back through payroll donations

Why Join Us?

• A strong team culture – Be part of a friendly, supportive workforce that values safety and teamwork
• A respected brand – Deliver products from well-loved brands like Kingsmill, Allinson’s, and Sunblest
• Opportunities for career progression – We’re committed to helping you grow and develop within our company