Ripener

D R Newitt & Associates; Tonbridge; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Cycle to Work

On-site Parking

Medicash Plan

EAP

Death in Service

Professional Development

Job summary

D R Newitt & Associates is seeking a hands-on Fruit Ripener to join a leading fresh produce operation near Tonbridge, Kent. You will plan and load ripening rooms, monitor quality, test dry matter, and collaborate with Production, Technical, Procurement and Commercial teams to meet strict customer specs.

We offer £32,593.60 per year, 6.6 weeks holiday, a company pension, Medicash and mental health support, cycle-to-work, on-site parking and opportunities for ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in ripening or fresh produce/food production.
• Strong grasp of fruit ripening across categories and origins.
• Comfort with data, dry matter testing and ripening trials.
• Clear communication and proactive teamwork for food safety.
• Relevant qualifications in horticulture or food science are a bonus, hands-on experience is key.

Responsibilities

• Plan and load ripening rooms to match customer briefs and maintain stock of 1.5–2 days.
• Assess fruit ripeness, run dry matter tests and trial ripening runs.
• Monitor stock rotation to minimise waste and maximise shelf life.
• Liaise with Production, Technical, Procurement and Commercial teams on performance.
• Maintain room controls, calibrate equipment and keep 5S working environment with BRC docs.

Skills

Ripening process

Fresh produce knowledge

Data handling

Quality testing

Communication

Education

Horticulture or Food Science qualification

Tools

BRC documentation

Job description

Fruit Ripener - Fresh Produce

Near Tonbridge, Kent

£32,593.60 per annum

40 hours per week | 05:30 to 14:00 (with a 30-minute break) | Working every other weekend

The Opportunity

I am currently working with a leading fresh produce organisation near Tonbridge, Kent, as they look to expand their ripening team. Known for supplying top-tier retail all year-round, they specialise in ripening high-quality stone fruit.

They are looking for a hands‑on Fruit Ripener to join the operation, reporting directly to the Head of Product & Ripening while working alongside Senior Ripeners to hit strict customer specifications and maintain exceptional quality standards.

Your Responsibilities

• Managing the Ripening Process: Planning and loading rooms to match customer briefs, keeping a solid stock holding of around 1.5 to 2 days.
• Quality & Testing: Assessing fruit ripeness, running dry matter tests, conducting trial ripening runs, and flagging any quality variations straight away.
• Stock Control & Waste Reduction: Keeping a close eye on stock rotation through the cycle to minimise waste and maximise shelf life.
• Cross-Functional Communication: Liaising with the Production, Technical, Procurement, and Commercial teams to update them on performance, yield, and any supplier issues before production kicks off.
• Compliance & Calibration: Monitoring room controls, calibrating equipment, keeping BRC documentation up to date, and maintaining a safe 5S working environment.

Your Skills & Experience

• Proven experience working as a Ripener or within a fresh produce/food production environment.
• A strong grasp of fruit ripening across various categories, origins, and varieties.
• Confident working with data, handling dry matter testing, and executing ripening trials.
• Clear communication skills with a proactive, collaborative approach to teamwork and food safety.
• Relevant qualifications in horticulture or food science are a great bonus, though hands‑on experience is key.

The Package & Benefits

• Salary: £32,593.60 per year
• Holiday: 6.6 weeks annual leave (including bank holidays)
• Pension & Shares: Company pension scheme plus optional share scheme
• Wellbeing & Support: Medicash plan, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and Death in Service benefit
• Perks: Cycle to Work scheme, on‑site parking, and ongoing professional development