Production Lead

Orchardlea Foods (Previously Isca); Exeter; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A family-run food production company in Exeter is seeking a dedicated Food Production Operative for a part-time olive production role. Responsibilities include producing and packing award-winning olives while ensuring quality control and managing stock. The ideal candidate is passionate about food, detail-oriented, and reliable. Flexible working hours from Wednesday to Friday with the potential to transition into a full-time role based on workload.

Qualifications

• Passionate about food, especially olives.
• Strong attention to detail and pride in work.
• Reliable and flexible, able to work independently and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Produce and pack award-winning West Country Olives.
• Manage stock, batch control, and labelling.
• Ensure quality control and production standards.

Skills

Passion about food

Attention to detail

Reliable

Flexible

Comfortable with manual handling

Education

Food Hygiene certification (desirable)

Job description

This is primarily a Olive Production lead role, stock and quality control, passion to help develop this growing part of the business. Developing new flavours and products.

Hours:Part-time, Wednesday–Friday, 5am–1pm (Start & finish time can be flexible - overtime available in peak periods). Potential to move into full-time depending on workload.

West Country Olives is part of Orchardlea Foods, a long-established, family-run wholesaler in Exeter.

We’re passionate about quality food and supply a wide range of chilled, frozen, and ambient products across the South West, focusing on supporting local producers and products.

Our award-winning olives have developed a strong following — and as demand grows, we’re looking for a dedicatedFood Production Operativeto join our friendly team.

The Role

This is a varied, hands-on role with a focus on olive production, but you’ll also support other areas of our food preparation business.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Producing and packing our award-winning West Country Olives (following recipes and quality standards).
• Stock management, batch control, and labelling.
• Quality control, passion and care in the production role.
• Assisting in other production areas, including cheese cutting, meat slicing, and vacuum-packing.
• Operating food processing and weighing equipment.
• Working safely in a chilled environment (approx. 4°C).
• Keeping work areas clean, tidy and sanitised in line with food safety standards.
• Helping to develop the role further with new product ideas and innovation.

About You

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about food (and ideally olives!).
• Keen to help develop future products and bring creativity to the role.
• Proud of their work, with strong attention to detail.
• Reliable, flexible, and enthusiastic.
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Comfortable with manual handling and working on your feet for long periods.
• Aware of the importance of food hygiene and safety.
• Interest in helping in outside food events/trade shows in the future.

Desirable (not essential):

• Experience in food production or manufacturing.
• Food Hygiene certification.
• Knowledge of HACCP, COSHH, and Health & Safety.