Hammonds Hard Candy Cook

Ampersand Brands; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Hammond's Candies, part of Ampersand Brands, is seeking a Production Cook to support candy production operations in a fast-paced environment. You will contribute to successful daily output by following recipes, ensuring quality, and maintaining safety standards.

The role emphasizes teamwork, reliability, and the ability to handle physical tasks, including lifting heavy materials, while assisting with ingredient management and equipment use.

Qualifications

• 1+ year of food manufacturing or industrial production experience (candy, snack, bakery, dairy, or similar).
• 1+ year of confectionery production or sugar cooking processes experience is preferred.
• Clean criminal history, valid SSN/ID.
• Maintain a drug- and alcohol-free work environment.
• Demonstrate reliability and longevity in prior roles.

Responsibilities

• Achieve production objectives by contributing information, preparing action plans, and ensuring quality, safety, and customer-service standards.
• Control costs by coordinating with team leads, managing portions, and evaluating productivity.
• Improve quality by following production records, recipes, and continuous improvement ideas.
• Follow recipes and specifications by reviewing product specs and procedures.
• Maintain a safe and healthy work environment by adhering to sanitation regulations and safety plans.
• Manage ingredients and supplies, monitor storage, and control costs.
• Assist with equipment use and maintenance as needed to keep operations running.
• Support team and respond to new requests to help achieve overall goals.
• Perform physical duties including lifting and handling heavy materials (80–100 lbs).

Skills

People leadership

Communication

Active listening

Time management

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Decision making

Teaching others

Cost awareness

Job description

Ampersand Brands is a growing portfolio of beloved confectionery brands, including Hammond’s Candies, the iconic hand-crafted candy maker, and Lolli & Pops, a premium retail and gifting brand with a national presence. The company is backed by strong growth ambitions, combining innovation, brand storytelling, and operational excellence to expand its reach and solidify its position as a leading player in the U.S. confections industry.

Production Cook

Hammond's Candies

Key Responsibilities

• Achieves production operational objectives by contributing information and preparing and completing action plans; production, productivity, quality, customer-service, safety, security, and health standards.
• Controls costs by consulting with production team leaders; overseeing product portion size; evaluating and improving productivity; providing candy preparation personal expertise; evaluating time-saving production techniques; monitoring finished product.
• Improves quality and consistency following production records, following standardized production recipes; quality improvement; studying, evaluating, and re-designing processes; offering ideas to implement changes.
• Implements recipes and specifications by reviewing product specifications; applying established procedures and techniques.
• Maintains safe, secure, and healthy work environment by establishing, following, standards and procedures; complying with sanitation and federal, state, and local legal regulations; following food preparation, safety, and security plans.
• Maintains food ingredients, food preparation, and general supplies by evaluating the quality of ingredients; maintaining general supplies; storage requirements, and cost-controls.
• Maintains food preparation equipment by helping other staff in equipment use; following operating instructions; calling for repairs
• Contributes to kitchen and organization success by welcoming related, different, and new requests; helping others accomplish job results.
• Performs physical production duties, including regularly lifting, carrying, and handling heavy materials and ingredients weighing approximately 80–100 lbs.

Qualifications

• One year or more of food manufacturing or industrial production facility (candy, snack, bakery, dairy, or similar).
• One year or more of experience in confectionery production or sugar cooking processes.
• Clean criminal history, valid SSN, valid ID.
• Maintain a work environment free of drugs and alcohol.
• Demonstrate responsibility and longevity in previous employment: punctuality, reliability and dependability.

Skills

• Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
• Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Teaching others how to do something.
• Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• The chance to lead not one, but two iconic brands — with very different but equally lovable personalities.
• A small, scrappy team that punches above its weight.
• A culture rooted in thoughtfulness, creativity, and joy.