Quality Controller – Fresh Fruit & Vegetables

About the role

The Quality Controller will ensure that all fresh fruit and vegetable products meet strict quality and safety standards from receipt through processing to final release. Reporting to the Quality Assurance Manager, you will work on‑site in Firgrove, overseeing raw material inspections, in‑process checks, and final product verification.

Key responsibilities

• Inspect incoming raw materials and vehicles against specifications and food‑safety requirements.
• Record findings, reject non‑conforming items, and issue non‑conformance reports.
• Conduct shelf‑life, pH, Brix and organoleptic tests at various production stages.
• Verify that Certificates of Analysis (COA) match product specifications before release.
• Oversee product sampling for microbiological, heavy‑metal and MRL testing and retain batch samples.
• Perform daily calibration of scales, thermometers, refractometers and pH meters.
• Maintain driver, cleaning, glass & plastic registers and conduct personal hygiene checks.
• Handle customer queries and complaints, providing feedback and corrective actions.
• Order chemicals and consumables, control stock issuance, and update Sage ERP.
• Participate in internal quality and food‑safety audits and report to the Quality Assurance Supervisor.

Required profile

• Food Technologist qualification or equivalent (mandatory).
• 2–3 years experience in fresh fruit and vegetable quality control.
• Willingness to work shift patterns.

Required skills

• Shelf‑life testing
• pH measurement
• Brix (refractometer) testing
• Organoleptic evaluation
• Microbiological and heavy‑metal analysis
• MRL (Maximum Residue Level) testing
• Calibration of measuring equipment (scales, thermometers, refractometers, pH meters)
• Sage ERP for stock and batch release
• Food safety audit procedures