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Affineur, Packer & Make Room Cover

Trethowan Brothers
Hewish, North Somerset

Posted: 8 Oct 2025

Deadline: 31 Oct 2025

Compensation: Starting at £14 per hour

Living Wage employer

Paid

Job description

The Role:

This is a varied and crucial role within our dairy, encompassing the accurate and efficient packing of customer orders, maintaining the highest standards of cheese quality through effective stock management and maturation practices, and when required providing essential cover in the cheese make room. The successful candidate will be a highly organised, detail-oriented, and adaptable individual with a strong work ethic and the ability to work both independently and as part of a small team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Cheese Maturation & Store Management:
  • Manage the cheese storerooms, ensuring optimal environmental conditions for maturing cheeses.
  • Develop and document a clear turning, brushing, and hoovering schedule for all maturing cheeses.
  • Communicate and ensure other relevant staff members follow the established maturation schedule.
  • Maintain the cleanliness and organisation of the cheese storerooms.

• Order Fulfilment:
  • Accurately pick and pack customer orders for Trethowan's cheeses according to order specifications.
  • Select the correct cheese batches, ensuring they meet customer requirements for age and quality.
  • Carefully handle and package cheeses to maintain their integrity during transit.
  • Prepare orders for dispatch, including labelling and ensuring all necessary documentation is included.

• Stock Management:
  • Regularly monitor cheese stock levels to ensure sufficient availability for order fulfilment.
  • Implement and maintain a system to minimise cheese wastage through careful stock rotation and management.
  • Ensure orders are fulfilled using cheese that best meets the customers' needs in terms of maturity and quality.
  • Identify and report any potential stock shortages or quality issues.

• New System Implementation:
  • Collaborate closely with the Office Manager to implement a new cloud-based computer system for order processing and stock management.
  • Learn and become proficient in using the new system for receiving orders, processing them, recording weights and specific batch codes.
  • Accurately input data into the system to ensure detailed stock tracking and contribute to accurate stock records.
  • Provide feedback and support the effective implementation of the new system.

• Make Room Cover:
  • Provide cover in the cheese make room during periods of staff sickness or holidays.
  • This will involve assisting with the cheese-making process, which may include tasks such as:
    • Preparing equipment and ingredients.
    • Following established recipes and procedures.
    • Monitoring the cheese-making process.
    • Cleaning and maintaining the make room and equipment.
  • Full training will be provided for make room duties.

• General:
  • Maintain a clean and organised work environment.
  • Adhere to all food safety and hygiene regulations.
  • Undertake any other reasonable tasks as required to support the smooth operation of the dairy.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven experience in a packing or stock management role, ideally within the food industry.
• A keen eye for detail and a commitment to accuracy.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• The ability to work independently and manage their own workload effectively.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Competency in using cloud-based computer systems and data entry.
• Physical capability to safely lift and handle whole cheddar cheeses weighing up to 25kg on a regular basis.
• Willingness and physical ability to undertake physically demanding work in the cheese make room when providing cover.
• A passion for food and an appreciation for artisan cheese.
• A basic understanding of food hygiene principles (training will be provided if necessary).

Benefits

• Competitive salary (commensurate with experience).
• Opportunity to work with award-winning artisan cheeses.
• Be part of a small, passionate, and friendly team.
• Potential for training and development, including cheese making.

About Trethowan's Dairy:

Trethowan's Dairy is a small family owned and run cheese makers. The dairy started almost 30 years ago on Todd and Maugan Trethowan’s Parents farm in Wales where they made Gorwydd Caerphilly. 11 years ago, they moved the dairy from Wales to finding a new home in Somerset. Within a few years of moving to Somerset they developed a second cheese: Pitchfork cheddar. Pitchfork is one of only 3 cheddars to be recognised and admitted to the Slow Food movements Presidia for artisan Somerset Cheddar.

Application information

lease submit your CV and a covering letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are interested in this role to: Info@trethowanbrothers.com

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