grocery associate

produce clerk

chef de rayon

produce manager

grocery manager

FreshCo

I could go on forever about this place.

Some of the managers were okay, and most of the employees were good people, but there definitely was a "clique" feeling and if you weren't in the clique you got the brunt of it. For example, some workers would get in trouble for taking "extended lunch breaks" and not punching the clock, while certain employees would be able to go to get lunch and come back as large groups without ever punching out for their lunch break. Certain employees seemed to never have to do the harder tasks. There's also a lot of nepotism, so much so as one of the employees had quit/been fired at least 3 times to my knowledge but was related to management so allowed to stay. Many employees there were related in some way, but I was specifically told that they avoid hiring family members when trying to help a relative get employment.
 
I was written up for many small things, where when I was being handed the write up and asked to explain the minute details of a task I may had worked on a week before (at that point I wasn't 100% sure on the details due to the time frame, but I was sure I hadn't been guilty of what I was accused), then chastised and told that even if I hadn't done it, it was my fault because my co-worker was newer to the job. Conveniently, I also got a write up after writing a report about abusive language/behaviour of one of the department managers towards me to my boss.

Eventually they docked my hours so much, and hired people on top of me (someone was added to the schedule and immediately received a steady 28-32 hours a week, meanwhile my hours dropped in half, at least). I felt entirely like my hand was being forced, and when I stayed, they eventually found reason to terminate employment. The one time I did try a new job, I remained on the schedule at FreshCo. When it didn't work out, management would  harass/tease me with Cheshire grins about my "new job" and what happened, as if they were sore I had tried to leave. This of course all depends on the store managers but it seems like a lot of them are just there for the paycheque and toe the line to keep their jobs. 

The co-workers were enjoyable but working on certain shifts with certain managers stressed me out so much my heart would be racing wondering what kind of conflict may arise. Dealing with certain managers was like being interrogated, you were never allowed to defend yourself or explain without being cut off or yelled over for "talking back" or "giving attitude". I was cussed at by my boss many times in front of customers.

Was also asked on a regular basis to stay and work 15-20 minutes extra after already clocking out and leaving the building. 

Overall, the co-workers are good, the work isn't hard and theres enough variation to keep you sane. But, depending on which store you go to, the managers can be hard to work for unless you really suck up.

My time at Fresh Co was perfectly fine. It was not the most glamorous job but it gave my high school self a sense of responsibility and allowed me to learn the value of money and how to save for university. A typical day would mean punching in, looking at the clipboard to see what till I was stationed at for the day, and then starting my work of greeting customer's and ringing through their purchases.  At the end of my shift, I'd clean up my till and punch out, and that was it. There was not much variety in a day's work, I did enjoy the customer interactions but at times it became repetitive. 

From this job I learned how to properly greet customer's as well as assist in dealing with any complaints (often getting my manager to speak to them). I was always polite and found it quite easy for the most part. As a teenager, I think the main thing it taught me was about responsibility. I was always responsible and a good kid, but having to work made me realizing the importance of showing up to work and doing your part. On days where two cashiers would call in sick and the lines to cash out would be 6 people long, I really realized how important it is to come in to work and do your part. 

Management was alright. Being pretty young and having a lower position, I didn't really speak to the store manager much except for saying "Hi". My department manager was good with dealing with customers and such. Though sometimes she could be a little short with me, which as a straight-A student who always wanted to please authorities found a little hard to deal with. But I'd always try and put a smile on my face and say I'd do it right next time, learning from any mistakes. As a big store with many departments, I pretty much only knew my department well. I got to talk to co-workers during slower periods and made some work friends, but being pretty young it wasn't the type of friends where we'd go out for food or drinks after work. 

The hardest part of the job for me was maybe dealing with boredom. It was quite an easy job, but not much of it was incredibly engaging. Overall though, I think it was a fine first job, and I had a decent time there. The most enjoyable part would probably have been ringing out really friendly and genuine customers, sometimes they just brighten your day.

this company deserves two reviews: one if you work for the meat or bakery department, another if you work for any other department in the store.

Bottom line: DO NOT WORK FOR MEAT/BAKERY!

The department is poorly run, understaffed, undertrained and generally poorly managed by an absentee department head who would rather spend all her time in the manager's office doing anything other than training you or helping you succeed. Expect to be trained by someone who has probably been with the company less than six months. No one had worked in this department longer than a year in all my time there.

Good News: You can work literally anywhere else in the store and be in a fair job.

Produce, Front End and Grocery are all well managed, with department heads that work with you and your schedule (childcare, medical appointments, etc.) As long as you aren't trying to work off every weekend I've never seen reasonable requests for time off get denied.

The customers are what you can expect from a discount grocery franchise like this one: want the world and unwilling to settle for less. Sale items will be out of stock all the time, and there's not a lot you can do except take the complaints.

Be aware that the store also serves alcohol (including on holidays the LCBO and Beer Store are closed), so be prepared for the kinds of customers that brings with it.

Advancement is difficult if not impossible. The only real positions to move up into are full-time department heads, who have not changed in the last two years. So expect to be at about 24 hours a week at minimum wage your whole time there.

I can't speak for all freshco but if you are a student and are fine with small hours (5) a couple times a week and you are living with your parents then apply. I have not received more than 5 , on occasion maybe schedule for a 6 hours but wont always go the full 6. The only people who get "full" 8 hours shift are managers or supervisors.  But if you are paying rent and have expenses to pay this job is not enough at all. Freshco is good if you want to gain experience as a new cashier or such , but if you looking for a place to grow and climb up then not here. If your looking to have a raise not here, overall you are not paid enough for the amount of headache some customers may give you. But they are not generous with the hours maybe avg 15/wk if your lucky, and if they like you or you have seniority you will get more hours on the schedule (this can be different for each store). But all departments don't enjoy the low hours because its not enough to pay for anything if your a mature adult. The most enjoyable for me is the coworkers but different stores may have different people. 

Also want to add the perks which are barely any ...it is a discount of your purchase when you shop at freshco. Now this is like 10% so it may cents off or a couple of dollars off never a huge change. Also when you think about it, it forces you to shop at the store you work to get this discount so you are essentially putting back the money into the place that gave you it.. So all your hard earn money goes back to the company. 

The workload at this establishment is meant only for the strong-willed. Oftentimes they are too understaffed to run things correctly, 1 person managing a department, with 1 clerk stocking, shelving, running for price checks and customer service calls, all on top of pushing shopping carts across a parking lot for customers to use and place back in the same place you just pushed them from. The store owners seem to believe that the entire product load should be the responsibility of 1 person, so they will place a person on a shift for 8 hours to work in a freezer or cooler alone. I have been told various times by customers that (especially as a female), I should not be pulling skids of water bottles, or glass containers, or pushing carts for 30 minutes outside in the snow or rain, for minimum wage. The only relief recently was the hiring of students to work on the carts outside, and to handle price checks, but the workload is still insane. The owners also like to give tasks which they do not want to other employees, and spend too much time at the coffee shop nearby. Nice, friendly individuals, staff is friendly enough as well, but they the staff all need to be paid more or at least be rewarded more for their hard work and dedication to that awful workplace. Very high turnover rate. The owners are not mean people, just cheap. No abuse or neglect goes on, just blatant disregard for the effort and life that the employees bring to that establishment, and they need to go easier on the work given.

I get to work for 5:55am to start filling out my log forms such as temperature logs for the coolers, maintenance logs for the machinery  we have in the store and a few other log forms. After that's done I start on CAO (Computer Automated Ordering) which helps keep track of inventory in the store and in the start of my day is the most enjoyable part because no one is in the store I can listen to light music on my phone until about 7:40. Around 8am people have started showing up such as cashiers. I get along with everyone but know the limits within a workplace so I try to just stay neutral with everyone but the few good friends I have within the workplace. The hardest part of my job is running back and forth to get CAO done and receive 10-15 trucks throughout the day which in all honesty keeps me on my feet and moves the day along, so I don't mind it. Receiving requires me to fill out the paperwork and unload the trucks. When I've finished CAO I start on credit were I will throw out damaged or spoiled goods for store credit from that vendor. My management doesn't really bother me unless I ask for some assistance, but overall they are great and keep everything running swimmingly.  If I get everything done early I will start putting product out on the shelf or facing the store to make it look presentable. At 1:30pm my day is done and I head on home.

Freshco was a great experience to never ever show loyalty to the store you work at! At the time I was working there the rest of the employees were fantastic and many of which I would call my friends. The OWNERS on the other hand who boy they have a massive chip on their shoulders.
ZERO disability support! ZERO empathy for people with autism,(like me) with one of the owners comparing autism with druggies and alcoholics!! 
ZERO understanding as to why people are leaving/quitting there jobs fast! I was railroaded hard and damaged my foot working there trying to manage not only bringing in carts,NOT ONLY making sure their clean but also trying to manage the customers coming in with ZERO help for 2/3 of my shift!! For three months!!  
 All that plus the response to being put back into proper grocery being "too slow" and the gross delusions of the manager expecting everyone to clear 5 palates of grocery each!  I wish for the store itself to survive but not with with the current owners! STAY.FAR.AWAY!!

A typical day working at FreshCo was very fun.
I loved working there, the people and customers were always such a joyful bunch. I worked there a little over two years and would probably still be working there. I learned a lot about myself working here.  I learned that I could train people very well and I was a great supervisor and great with the public. The most enjoyable part of this job was making people happy. At FreshCo they do a price match guarantee, I learned very quickly how to work the system and could do this very quickly. I also would read up on flyers for the following week so I already would know the sales from our competition. Doing this I was able to be fast. This made the customers very happy and i started getting regular customers who would only come to my register when i was working. I loved the customers, and not to mention the management, they were a wonderful bunch of people who always made you feel welcome. The hardest part of this job would have probably be the angry customers that you just cant get through to. The people who just want to ruin your days. I learned very quickly how to deal with people such as them, but it still doesn't feel very good to have a rude customer. 'Just remember customers are always right' i always told myself.

I worked at the Freshco in Mission BC. The owner was nice to me but the grocery department manager has horrible to me. I worked graveyard shifts and the pay was a little above minimum wage. I was asked to work harder and faster even though I was working as fast as I possibly could. The night I was fired I was yelled at for a shift that didn't involve me. The manager said that the employees on that shift were going too slow. He gave myself and another employee an ultimatum. Finish putting away a bunch of orders by 2 AM or get out and don't come back. We set about doing what was in my mind an impossible task and weren't able to complete it. At 2 AM we were asked to leave and they locked the doors on us. I was by myself in the dark waiting for my cab without a job and fired even though I was early for all my shifts, worked really hard and put my all into my job. Many other employees have either quit or left crying and refuse to work with the grocery manager at this location.Overall the whole job experience, aside from some of the friendly employees and the owner who was pretty nice, was absolutely awful. It was my first job back in the workforce after being home with my kids for 14 years and hopefully I will now be able to find a job where my hard work is valued.

FreshCo is by far the worst place I have ever worked at and I worked in fast food. There is no HR that is willing to help you since the store owner of each location is essentially that store's HR. 
What your typical day at work looks like: you are extremely overworked and underpaid. They hire mostly students yet expect the employees to revolve their life around this job. Need to take a day or two off for exams? Your hours will be shorted for the next few weeks, even if you book these days off ahead of time 
Management does NOT care about you as they are all miserable. They also don't protect you from customers that harass or insult you. A customer could be calling you every name in the book and if you don't sit there and take it, management will yell at you. The workplace culture is stressful and unsupportive. 
They also pay below minimum wage since they're a franchise store.
I learned to never let myself get treated they way I have been bullied there.
The hardest part of the job was feeling belittled and taken advantage of and the only enjoyable thing was making friends with coworkers but it is not worth the stress of working here.
Please never shop here. A lot of food that goes bad goes back onto the shelves because there is no integrity in this store.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Grocery associate 13 salaries reported	$17.70 per hour
Produce clerk 11 salaries reported	$17.70 per hour
Chef de rayon 21 salaries reported	$41.36 per hour
Produce manager 6 salaries reported	$47,721 per year
Grocery manager 1 salary reported	$22.25 per hour

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