Factory Hand / Trainee Kitchen & Freeze-Dryer Operator

Factory Hand / Trainee Kitchen & Freeze-Dryer Operator

Real Meals – Stoke, Nelson

Full-time | 40 Hours per Week | Growth Opportunity

Real Meals is a growing New Zealand food business producing premium freeze-dried meals for outdoor adventures. We cook every meal from scratch in our commercial kitchen, then freeze-dry, pack and ship them to customers around New Zealand and beyond.

We're looking for a practical, reliable and hardworking person to join our production team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with food industry experience who enjoys hands-on work and wants to grow into a specialist production role.

About the Role

You'll work across our kitchen, freeze-drying and packing areas, helping the team meet daily production targets while maintaining our high standards for quality and food safety.

Key duties include

• Preparing and weighing ingredients
• Assisting with batch cooking
• Loading meals onto freeze-dryer trays
• Assisting with packing and order preparation
• Learning to operate freeze-drying equipment
• Following food safety, cleaning and quality procedures
• Helping maintain a clean, organised production environment

As the business grows, there will be opportunities to take on greater responsibility, including freeze-dryer operation, stock control and potentially leading weekend production.

About You

You'll ideally have

• Experience in a commercial kitchen, food manufacturing, catering, bakery, butchery or similar environment
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
• A practical, hands-on approach and willingness to learn
• Mechanical or technical aptitude
• Good physical fitness, as the role involves lifting, carrying and standing for extended periods
• A reliable, team-focused attitude
• Availability for occasional Saturday work and flexibility for future weekend rostering

• Chef qualifications are a bonus but not essential.
• What's in It for You?

• Full-time employment with a growing New Zealand business
• Training in specialist freeze-drying and food production
• Career development opportunities
• A positive, hardworking team culture
• The chance to create quality meals for people who love the outdoors

Apply Now

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining

• Your food or kitchen experience
• Why you're suited to a physical production role
• Any mechanical or technical experience

Join Real Meals and help create great-tasting meals for real adventures.