Unionized Produce Clerk at Metro Inc - Career Growth in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
This is a permanent, unionized full-time role at Food Basics (a Metro Inc. banner), offering strong job security and a clearly defined wage scale of CAD $18.00–$21.35/hour. For entry-level grocery retail in Ontario, this is competitive — union protection ensures wage progression and fair treatment, which is a notable green flag.
Skills developed in this role include:
- Inventory management and stock rotation (FIFO method)
- Food safety and sanitation compliance
- Customer service and product knowledge
- Visual merchandising and display creation
- Physical stamina and time management in a fast-paced environment
These are foundational retail and supply chain skills that transfer well into roles like department supervisor, store manager, or even food distribution and logistics positions. Metro Inc. is one of Canada's largest grocery chains, offering internal advancement opportunities for motivated employees.
Work-life balance considerations: The role requires availability for nights, weekends, and holidays — a common trade-off in retail. There is no mention of flexible scheduling or remote options, so candidates should expect a traditional shift-work structure.
Green flags: Union membership, permanent employment status, inclusive hiring policies, and AI transparency in recruitment. Potential red flag: Physical demands (lifting 30–50 lbs, standing for extended periods) may not suit everyone long-term. This role is ideal as a stable entry point into retail or as a long-term career for those who enjoy hands-on, customer-facing work.
Position Title: Produce Clerk - Full Time
Position Type: Full Time
Job Requisition ID: 49560
Banner: Food Basics
Employment Type: Permanent
This position is part of a unionized bargaining unit. The hourly wage for this position starts at $18.00 – $21.35 and is established in accordance with the collective agreement. Depending on a candidate's relevant knowledge, skills, education, and prior experience, a higher hourly wage may be offered. Any hourly wage offered for this role, whether starting or higher, will fall within the wage scale established for this position in accordance with the collective agreement.
This is a posting for an existing permanent full-time position.
Experience a rewarding role at Food Basics as a Produce Clerk! You'll be the go-to person for ensuring our produce section is always fresh, well-stocked, and beautifully presented. Share your enthusiasm for fresh fruits and vegetables with our customers and help them find exactly what they need.
Our produce team is crucial to Food Basics' success, and we're looking for energetic individuals who love working with fresh food and enjoy helping others. If you thrive in a lively environment and are passionate about quality produce, we want you on our team!
What You'll Do- Unload shipments of produce and sort items in the backroom and cooler.
- Stock shelves and displays with fresh produce, ensuring items are rotated (first-in, first-out method) to maintain freshness.
- Create visually appealing displays and arrange items neatly.
- Inspect produce for freshness and quality, removing any damaged or spoiled items.
- Ensure that all produce meets the store's quality standards.
- Monitor temperature and humidity levels in the produce section to maintain optimal storage conditions.
- Assist customers with locating specific items and provide information about different produce or products in other departments.
- Offer recommendations on how to select and store produce.
- Answer customer inquiries and address concerns.
- Keep the produce section clean and organized, including sweeping and mopping as needed.
- Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, and tools regularly.
- Dispose of waste and compostable materials properly.
- Monitor inventory levels and restock items as needed.
- Perform regular inventory counts and report any discrepancies.
- Notify management of low stock or out-of-stock items.
- Ensure all produce is correctly labeled with prices and product information.
- Update signage for promotions, sales, and seasonal items.
- Verify that prices in the system match the displayed prices.
- Reduce and price items as needed.
- Adhere to food safety and sanitation guidelines.
- Use equipment and tools safely and properly.
- Report any safety concerns or incidents to management.
- Assist with gathering shopping carts or baskets and putting them away when needed.
- Assist with special promotions, events, or projects as assigned by management.
- Collaborate with other departments as needed.
- Additional duties assigned by Management.
- Customer service driven.
- Able to stock merchandise and create displays.
- Good product knowledge and attention to detail.
- Able to lift between 30 to 50 pounds.
- Retail experience is considered an asset.
- Able to stand for extended periods of time.
- Must be available to work flexible shifts which may include nights, weekends, and holidays.
Disclosure on Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment: At METRO, we are committed to transparency and fairness in our hiring practices. In compliance with Ontario's Employment Standards Act (Bill 149), we disclose that METRO and certain third-party job boards we use incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) technology to assist in screening, assessing, or selecting applicants for positions. The use of AI helps us efficiently review the large volume of applications we receive, ensuring that every candidate's profile is considered promptly and consistently. This technology supports our goal of providing an equitable and streamlined recruitment experience for all applicants. While AI tools support our recruitment procedures, all decisions throughout the process are made exclusively by METRO's Talent Acquisition team or METRO employees. At no stage does AI determine recruitment outcomes.
METRO is committed to providing an inclusive work environment that reflects the communities we serve. The company values, respects and relies on the diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and points of view because it allows us to innovate, make better decisions and better understand our customers. We will consider qualified applications from all walks of life to build the best team.
We encourage you to let us know if your current condition requires accommodation in the recruitment process so that we can accommodate you.
Please note that we will only contact those whose applications are selected.
We respectfully request that agencies do not contact us or send us unsolicited applications.
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