merchandising specialist

route driver

shipper

general assistant

route sales representative

Alpha Baking Company

Alpha Baking is a fast-paced manufacturing environment where no two days are the same. The work is driven by real operational and labor realities, and success depends on strong strategic partnerships with leadership as well as a genuine respect for the hard-hat, lunch-pail workforce.

Balancing operational demands with multi-union labor relations and workforce needs can be complex, particularly in a high-volume production setting. My prior experience in similar environments enabled me to navigate these dynamics effectively and deliver practical, business-focused solutions.

The most rewarding aspect of the role was seeing tangible results — improved workforce stability, stronger labor relationships, and leaders growing into their responsibilities. The organization values accountability, ownership, and results, and individuals who take initiative and consistently deliver tend to thrive.
The role also offered meaningful opportunities for professional growth. 

On any given day, responsibilities could range from handling grievances for 3 different Unions and supporting corporate hiring to mentoring HR team members, collaborating on strategic initiatives, addressing executive-level issues, supporting workforce needs across multiple bakeries, and contributing to major HR systems implementations. For those in HR who appreciate variety and a degree of controlled chaos, this environment can be especially engaging.

As my responsibilities and leadership impact continued to expand, I reached a point where it was simply time to move on. I remain grateful for the experience and hold Alpha Baking and its people in high regard.

Overall, Alpha Baking is a strong environment for professionals seeking challenge, rapid development, and the opportunity to make a measurable impact.

Where to start!?

Culture here is awful on the merchandiser side. Poor management, lack of communication, lack of time off. There is no life work balance with 1 day off a week, and most of the time they guilt you into working your only day off. 

Pay is below average with only one raise per year for everyone. Which means you will always make the same amount as someone new coming in, even after 10 years.

Health insurance is hot garbage. No dental or vision. No discounts. High deductible, co pays are high.

You put ALOT of miles on your car, don't let them full you! You're asked to drive to the Chicago plant to pick up product at least one time per week. To other stores 1 to 2 times a week!

Training is bare bones, with less than a week before you're thrown to the Lions.

You get no paid time off your first year, no sick days, and if you need a day off they give you a hard time about it.  If you need to call in sick they give you a hard time about it.

In the summer between May and August you absolutely have no life except working there 60 to 70 hours a week and maybe you'll get one or two days off per month.

The people in charge don't care about the merchandisers, they usually treat them pretty poorly and disrespectfully with the way they talk to them. 

Schedule comes out last minute, changes to the schedule happen on the fly depending upon if there's a call in or someone just decides to quit without notice which happens quite often.

Turnover is extremely high, you'll be expected to pick up the slack due to vacant spots at stores and because other people are not fast enough.

I could go on and on and on, overall if you need a job really bad and you're desperate this is the perfect place for you. Usually you'll get hired in less than a week and they pretty much hire anyone. Just do a clean drop and you are in!

What is the best part of working at the company?
Nothing at all during holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving how most jobs show there's appreciation by giving you extra money or throw a party or even give you a turkey this job does none of that,I was at the company for years got a raise and 3 or 4 months later they laid us off, horrible company to work for and not being bitter cause I was cut a severance package but what I'm saying is FACTS AND YOU CAN ASK ANY DRIVER WHO IS FROM THE MICHIGAN BRANCH 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The communication is poor and they the company refused to listen to the drivers,they don't hear or see what we see and you would think they would take that in consideration but they don't they're very selfish and this is just one of the reasons Costco decided to cut ties with this company.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It's decent I really didn't have any problems but if so we knew how to address the problem amongst each other on uh positive way cuz going to the district supervisors nothing would happen it fell on deaf ears FACTS 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Picking my truck up then showing up to the warehouse receiving my paperwork then loading my pallets onto my flatbed 26 ft box truck and taking off going to start my route.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Leaving for your shift that place is a toxic workplace starting from upper management. They are constantly disrespectful to everyone. they are extremely unproffesional and this company is nephotisim at is finest. If you are not part of there little click they have you are treated like your trash. Management always have something slick to say about emplooyes and everyone else in other depots 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Upper management and other co workers people do not care about there job at all 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It is very stressful enviornment. The guys with more senority treat all over emplooyes like kids. No real team atmosphere at all. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
You will get there and start hearing upper management bad mouthing someone else in the previous shift or you. The day is a bit slow and the guys with seniority take there sweet time and walk away from work and look for the easiest task too do all day.

Alpha Baking is all about one thing.  MONEY... If you are young, single, looking to work all the time, and just make money...this is a great job for you.  The only problem, you will have no time in your life to spend any of your hard earned money.  They expect your life.  In fact, I saw multiple co-workers die unfulfilled with their lives during my tenure here.  
It takes 2 years just to get 1 weeks vacation.  You do not get any paid personal days or paid sick time.  You do get 2 days off a week, but they are split.  So don't ever expect to leave town for a weekend.  
The hours are early...3AM start time.  So practically 3rd shift.  This alone makes the split days off even more unbearable.  
Some of your co-workers are pretty cool.  That is a plus.  Still, many are stressed and unhappy.  They think they have no alternatives.  
The best thing I ever did was leave.  It took me a while, but finally realized "MONEY" wasn't worth the cost of my life.  


Working at Alpha Baking was a great experience being I'm the type that enjoys a fast paced work environment. Daily it was nonstop work, constant movement and paperwork that needed to be filled out to its entirety for each trailer that pulled in. I learned a lot about the different slices of bread, how to operate electric pallet jack, forklift, & how to make final adjustments for each depot during my time there The hardest part of working there to me was the lack of communication between the new employees, management & supervisors which caused conflict being old associates had to teach the new employees while completing their work at the same time. I really enjoyed working there simply because I learned a lot about the various products throughout the factory, met a lot of interesting people and by it being so much work time flew!



However, there are several concerns regarding management and workplace culture. Vacation hours and sick leave are not compensated, which is a significant drawback. Additionally, leadership within the QA department lacks professionalism. There is noticeable favoritism, and some team members may feel excluded or treated unfairly.

Communication from QA leadership can come across as harsh or overly aggressive at times, which negatively impacts the work environment. Employees who are not part of certain internal circles may find it challenging to feel supported or valued.


I WORKED SECOND SHIFT I STARTED AS A FREEZER MAN FILLING ORDERS FOR 10 DEPOTS. I LIKE THAT THE COMPANY PROVIDED A SNOW SUIT, GLOVES, HAT TO GO PICK ORDERS. I LEARNED THAT ITS NOT HOW FAST U PICKED YOUR ORDERS ITS MAKING SURE YOU GET EVERYTHING ON THAT ORDER SHEET.MANAGEMENT JUST WANTS THE JOB DONE IN A SAFE AND TIMELY MANNER WITH NO MISTAKES AND I AGREE WITH THAT.I LOVED MY CO-WORKERS THEY WERE SO HELPFUL WITH TRAINING OF THE POSITION AND WHAT TO DO ON YOUR DOWN TIME AT WORK. THE HARDEST PART OF THE JOB WAS GOING IN&OUT OF THE FREEZER. BUT I ENJOYED GETTING THE JOB DONE WITHOUT ANY MISTAKES. I WISH I COULD HAVE A CHANCE TO WORK BACK AT ALPHA BAKING. EVER SINCE I LEFT THERE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GAIN FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT.

I was a transport driver at Polk st, and god I hated every moment there, no training no communication and the culture there is GHETTO and I live in the same area, it’s forced dispatch they won’t tell you that in the interview. Foreman’s get mad if you tell them that a trailer is expired and they will try to make you pull it. You will work your whole weekend, they will max out your hours 14 hours if they can. If you love to see your family and have a social life run from this place. I wish I never quit the job I left for alpha. Like I said if all you do is love to work and if you don’t have a life this place is perfect for you! And the uoin sucks there 734!

Drive to the retail location independently before they open in the morning and receive the stock. rotate the shelves and fill in with the new stock. i learned about sorting products by date, how to use a plan-o-gram, how to fill stock sheets, how to use a fax machine. my manager was a great guy always helpful and respectful honestly the best boss I've had he wasn't on the job often but was always helping when he was never critical or demeaning. The workplace is laid back and not very social so nice if your a thinker. the hardest part of the job had to been the lifting of heavy bread trays often exceeding 50 pounds. but the independence allows for you to work at a pace that is suitable to you.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Merchandising specialist 10 salaries reported	$17.70 per hour
Route driver 10 salaries reported	$42,000 per year
Shipper 1 salary reported	$17.43 per hour
General assistant 2 salaries reported	$18.99 per hour
Route sales representative 2 salaries reported	$53,750 per year

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