Packaging Operative

Role overview

Avoca’s Central Bakery & Kitchen in Bray is seeking a Packaging Operative to support the daily packaging workflow. Avoca has 13 locations nationwide and combines long-standing food traditions with a modern retail and hospitality approach, offering award-winning cafés, restaurants, and food markets.

This position is focused on food packaging activities. The role involves preparing, packing, and labelling food items on the production line while maintaining product quality and complying with food safety standards, including HACCP. The work takes place in a busy environment that may move between ambient and chilled conditions, and it calls for accuracy, good teamwork, and steady manual handling skills.

Key duties

• Pack, seal, and label food items quickly and accurately, often at pace.
• Check products carefully for damage, defects, or contamination before they are packed.
• Prepare packing equipment, run machinery, and carry out small adjustments when needed.
• Follow all hygiene, safety, and PPE requirements, including items such as hairnets, beard snoods, gloves, coats, and safety footwear.
• Maintain clean and sanitary workstations and equipment throughout the shift.
• Complete everyday paperwork and packaging or labelling logs.
• Transfer finished goods to racks, dispatch crates, or designated storage areas.

What the job requires

The role suits someone with a sharp eye for detail who can work to exact standards. It involves standing for long periods and repeating manual tasks during the shift. You should be comfortable working alongside others, escalating machine or product issues to a supervisor, and handling basic reading, labelling, and quantity checks. Reliability, punctuality, and a solid work ethic are important. No formal experience is needed because full training will be provided, although background in manufacturing, food production, or warehouse work would be an advantage. The role also demands the ability to work in a busy setting and meet deadlines.

Working pattern and benefits

The position is a daytime role, scheduled Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Benefits include staff discount, an Employee Assistance Programme, a Cycle to Work Scheme, and a pension scheme.

Additional information

Applicants should be prepared to work in food production conditions where strict HACCP, hygiene, and safety procedures are part of daily practice.

The role is based in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.