FreshDirect to Hire 200 Over Next 3 Months

Online grocer FreshDirect has revealed plans to hire at least 200 employees for various positions over the next three months as it strives to keep pace with operational growth and customer demand.

Since the company is currently preparing to move to, and expand in, the South Bronx, FreshDirect expects residents of the New York City borough will fill many of the new positions. To that end, FreshDirect is coordinating with local organizations – among them the Green Bronx Machine, an organization that encourages healthy eating and living, and Health People: Community Preventive Health Institute, which helps residents in low-income communities address chronic health problems -- to make sure that Bronxites know about the job opportunities and submit their applications.

At the present time, the company employs almost 500 workers from the borough, but hopes to create up to 1,000 new jobs in addition to its present 2,400-member workforce, once its new state-of-the-art facility is up and running, with no limit to the number that can go to Bronx residents.

“As FreshDirect continues to grow as a company, we’re proud to be hiring so many new employees in such a short time frame,” said company co-founder and CEO Jason Ackerman. “In anticipation of our move to the Bronx, we want to be sure Bronx residents fill many of these positions.”

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. praised the company as “a good neighbor” to the area, and pledged that “together we will work to bring healthy food options and new jobs to the people of the Bronx.”

The new positions FreshDirect hopes to fill include about 75 plant jobs, including sortation, shipping and kitchen positions, in addition to 125 transportation jobs, among them delivery associates and drivers. Hourly plant and transportation employees who’ve worked at the company for a minimum of six months earn on average $12.24 per hour. Pay varies depending on the position; for example, new freezer workers earn between $11.25 and $12.00 per hour.

Prospective applicants can visit FreshDirect’s career site, where they can access current job openings, submit online applications, and check the status of existing applications.

FreshDirect delivers to customers in the greater New York, New Jersey, Connecticut metro area and Philadelphia.