Warehouse Colleague – All Shifts

Company: Loblaw Companies Limited

Location: Freeport Distribution Centre (Calgary, AB)

Pay: Starting at $20.00 per hour + Bonus Incentives

Employment Type: Full-Time, Regular (Unionized Environment)

Clean Professional Job Summary

Loblaw, Canada’s leading food and pharmacy retailer, is seeking adaptable and physically active individuals to join the Freeport Distribution Centre as Warehouse Assemblers. This role is the backbone of the supply chain, ensuring that store shelves across the region remain stocked with essential goods. Working in a fast-paced, safety-first unionized environment, you will be responsible for accurately picking and palletizing orders in a temperature-controlled setting. Whether you are an experienced logistics professional or new to the workforce, Loblaw provides a structured path to success through comprehensive on-site training and a culture centered on “Living Life Well.”

Key Responsibilities

Order Assembly: Efficiently pick and assemble cases of product onto pallets based on specific store inventory requests.
Palletization & Wrapping: Secure and wrap completed orders to ensure stability and safety during transit and shipping.
Equipment Operation: Safely operate an electric pallet jack (EPJ) to navigate the distribution centre efficiently.
Inventory Accuracy: Maintain high levels of precision while working within a timed environment to meet daily production quotas.
Safety Compliance: Adhere to all “Blue Culture” safety protocols, ensuring a hazard-free workspace for yourself and your team.
Environmental Adaptability: Maintain productivity while working in temperature-controlled zones ranging from 5°C to -28°C.

Required Qualifications & Skills

Physical Stamina: Ability to repeatedly lift and carry items up to 50 lbs, with occasional lifts up to 65 lbs.
Work Ethic: A positive attitude aligned with CORE values: Care, Ownership, Respect, and Excellence.
Reliability: Availability for various shifts in a 24/7 distribution environment.
Clearance: Candidates 18+ must be willing to complete a standard criminal background check.
Resilience: Comfortable working in extreme cold (freezer) environments for extended periods.

About the Company

Loblaw Companies Limited is a Canadian icon and the nation’s largest retailer. The Freeport Distribution Centre in Calgary is a high-volume hub essential to the Western Canadian food supply chain. Loblaw is consistently recognized as one of “Canada’s Top Employers” and “Best Diversity Employers.” They operate under a “Blue Culture” philosophy that prioritizes colleague engagement, safety, and community impact. As a unionized workplace, it offers a structured environment with clear advancement paths and robust advocacy for worker rights and benefits.

Market & Industry Context: Grocery Logistics (2026)

In 2026, the grocery distribution sector in Calgary is experiencing a technological renaissance. While automation is increasing, the “Warehouse Assembler” remains an indispensable human element for handling irregular items and complex pallet builds.

The “Freezer” environment at Freeport is one of the most challenging but high-reward areas in logistics. In the 2026 Calgary market, workers in temperature-controlled roles often receive specialized “premium” incentives or structured warm-up breaks that general dry-goods warehouse workers do not. Furthermore, Loblaw’s emphasis on Employee Share Ownership (ESOP) in 2026 allows colleagues to build long-term wealth alongside their hourly wages, a significant differentiator in the retail sector.

Career Growth & Progression Path

Certified Trainer: Move into a role teaching the 5-day paid orientation program for new hires.
Lead Hand / Supervisor: Oversee specific zones of the distribution centre, managing throughput and safety for a large team.
Inventory Control Specialist: Transition into a role focused on stock auditing and supply chain data management.
Operations Management: Leverage Loblaw’s “Leaders at Every Level” philosophy to move into corporate logistics or regional management roles.

Interview Preparation Insights

The “Alex” Interaction: Your initial conversation will likely be with “Alex” (Loblaw’s automated or AI-assisted screening tool). Ensure your responses clearly highlight your physical capability and availability.
Safety First: Be prepared to provide an example of how you have prioritized safety in a high-pressure or timed environment.
Cold Weather Resilience: Be honest about your comfort level in -28°C environments. Mentioning any past experience in outdoor work or cold storage is a major plus.
CORE Values: Think of a time you demonstrated “Ownership” or “Excellence” in a past job; these are the specific traits Loblaw recruiters look for.

Compensation & Comprehensive Benefits

Wage: $20.00/hour starting rate with regular union-scale increases.
Bonus: Performance-based incentives for hitting production targets.
Training: 5-day onsite paid training including EPJ certification.
Discounts: Colleague discounts at Loblaw corporate stores (Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Shoppers Drug Mart).
Financials: Group RRSP and Employee Share Ownership Program.
Footwear: Annual allowance for steel-toed boots and provided safety gear.

Work Environment & Diversity Statistics

The Freeport Distribution Centre is an inclusive workplace that actively tracks and reports on its diversity targets.

Demographic Snapshot (2026): In alignment with Loblaw’s diversity goals, the Alberta workforce reflects a strong representation of visible minorities (approximately 42%) and Indigenous peoples (approximately 5%).
Gender Inclusion: Loblaw has actively increased the recruitment of women in warehouse roles, with women now making up nearly 30% of assembler positions—a record high for the sector.
The Shift: Expect a physically demanding but highly social environment where collaboration across different backgrounds is a daily requirement.

Short Compliance & Equal Opportunity Note

Loblaw is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating accessible environments. We actively recruit women, visible minorities, Indigenous people, and persons with disabilities. Accommodations for candidates with disabilities (visible or invisible) are available upon request at any stage of the recruitment process.

Category	Details & Specifications
Employer	Loblaw Companies Limited (Freeport Distribution Centre)
Location	Calgary, AB (Freeport)
Employment Type	Full-time, Regular (Unionized environment)
Starting Pay	$20.00 per hour + bonus incentives
Shifts	All shifts available (Flexible schedules)
Physical Req.	Repeat lifting up to 50 lbs; occasionally up to 65 lbs
Work Environment	Temperature-controlled (5°C to -28°C)
Training	5-day onsite paid training (Includes pallet jack certification)
Requirements	Age 18+; successful criminal background check

Key Responsibilities & Training

As a Warehouse Assembler, you are responsible for the physical flow of products from the distribution center to store shelves.

Order Assembly: Picking and stacking cases of product onto pallets based on store inventory requests.
Equipment Operation: You will be trained and certified in-house to operate an electric pallet jack.
Logistics Prep: Wrapping completed orders and staging them for outbound shipping.
Productivity: Maintaining accuracy while meeting performance targets in a timed environment.

Total Compensation & Benefits

As one of Canada’s Top Employers, Loblaw offers a robust benefits package to its distribution colleagues:

Financial: Employee Share Ownership Program, Group RRSP, and yearly footwear allowance.
Health: Medical and Extended Health Care (Single and Family options).
Perks: Colleague Discount Program at Loblaw corporate stores and discounts at GoodLife Fitness, Koodo, and Loblaw Optical.
Safety: All necessary safety equipment is provided by the company.

Workforce & Diversity Statistics (Calgary Logistics)

Loblaw emphasizes a commitment to a diverse workforce. Based on 2025-2026 labor market data for the Calgary region and the transportation/warehousing sector:

Racial Diversity: In Calgary, approximately 41% of the population identifies as a visible minority. In the Canadian warehousing sector, visible minorities make up roughly 37.1% of the workforce. Specifically, South Asian (24.4%), Chinese (13.7%), and Black (7.8%) Canadians are significantly represented in these roles.
Indigenous Representation: Indigenous peoples make up approximately 3.9% of the workforce in the broader transportation and warehousing industry nationally.
Gender Balance: While traditionally male-dominated, women’s participation in Canadian warehousing has grown to approximately 26% as of early 2026.
Economic Climate: The Calgary Economic Region added over 31,200 jobs last year, though the youth unemployment rate remains elevated at 16.5%, making stable, full-time roles at major retailers highly competitive.

Application Insider Tips

The “Alex” Interview: The posting mentions a conversation with “Alex.” This is likely an AI-driven screening tool or a specialized recruitment assistant. Be prepared for a digital or automated first-stage interview.
Cold Weather Readiness: Because parts of the facility reach -28°C, mention any previous experience working in cold storage or your comfort with extreme temperature shifts during your interview.
Safety First: Loblaw is highly safety-focused. When discussing your background, highlight any previous experience following strict OHS protocols.

To apply for this job please visit careers.loblaw.ca.