**Pastry Associate**

**Location:** Natchitoches, LA

**Company Overview:** Brookshire Grocery Company (BGC) is a family-owned enterprise based in Tyler, Texas, operating over 180 stores across Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, alongside three distribution centers and a corporate office. BGC is committed to providing its partners with one of the most extensive benefits packages in the industry, which includes medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, paid time off, stock ownership, a 401k retirement plan, incentive plans, employee discounts, educational scholarships, and access to BGC's expansive outdoor recreation area.

****Position Summary****

The Pastry Associate is responsible for packaging, labeling, and pricing bakery items. This role ensures product quality and stock levels by monitoring expiration dates, visual appeal, and storage temperature controls.

****Key Responsibilities****

• Complies with quality control and food safety standards by organizing and rotating baked goods.
• Assists bakery staff in preparing, packaging, labeling, and maintaining attractive product displays.
• Encourages product sales through effective suggestive selling techniques.
• Organizes pallets and sorts products into designated locations in accordance with company efficiency standards.
• Maintains a clean, safe, and sanitary working and shopping environment by following company safety protocols.
• Exhibits a friendly and customer-focused demeanor by greeting customers, addressing inquiries, and processing orders both in-person and over the phone.

****Required Skills and Qualifications****

• Ability to read and operate digital equipment, meters, dials, and calibrated scales.
• Capability to safely use hazardous tools and equipment, such as a bread slicer and commercial oven.
• Willingness to learn new systems, methods, or processes.
• Proficiency in using both precision and non-precision hand tools.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with team members and foster a cooperative work environment.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to interact with customers and colleagues.
• Flexibility to work varied schedules, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

****Education and Experience****

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Food Handler certification is required.
• Typically involves on-the-job training.

****Physical Requirements****

• Constantly required to use close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and focus.
• Regularly required to stand or walk for extended periods.
• Frequently required to use hands for reaching, touching, or handling.
• Regularly required to communicate verbally and audibly.
• Occasionally required to lift or maneuver objects weighing up to 75 lbs.

****Work Environment****

Work is primarily conducted in a retail setting. Employees may be exposed to hot surfaces, extreme cold, and wet or slippery conditions. Safety measures are in place to handle equipment with sharp edges and cleaning agents. The noise level is generally quiet to moderate.

**Brookshire Grocery Company is dedicated to providing a safe, drug-free, and alcohol-free workplace for its partners and customers. The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or military status, as well as any other trait protected by law.**