plant manager

operations lead

line operator

Kenlake Foods

While I was only a Co-Op/ Intern, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Kenlake. From day one I was treated with respect and had so much help that the associates made it feel like one big family. While the schedules can be rigorous due to supply/demand of the grocery business, you can really tell that the management cares about you as an individual. During my time in the engineering department, i developed working relationships with Kenlake associates as well as many vendors. I was tasked initially with supporting the maintenance engineering department and the Senior Engineering Leader Ken Metz, and was introduced to a lot of engineering concepts from the start. 
Ken is viewed at Kenlake as someone who you either love/hate. I have bumped heads with him but ultimately Ken strives to develop every intern so they can really hit the groiund running once they complete school. This man not only was my boss, but also my friend. He did more than his job required and was also there to listen when I had any problems going on. I will forever be grateful for all the lessons you gave me and I really feel that i will be a better engineer due to it.
Even though it was a fast paced environment, everyone in the department was always willing to lend a hand to make sure my questions were answered. You can really feel the team atmosphere because it takes so many individuals to achieve a goal in manufacturing world. 
Though my employment didn't end as I wanted it to, i cant find anything negative to say. Granted, there are always those in various jobs who can be the bad apples and Kenlake has them, however,  I was always treated with respect during my tenure at Kenlake Foods! I cant thank everyone there enough for the opportunity i was afforded!

Absolutely horrendous management that makes never-ending poor, short sighted decisions. Since the upper management bonuses are tied to meeting deliveries, it causes endless and pointless schedule changes. Work wasn't too hard but it's clear there was a disconnect between what upper management thought was possible and what was actually possible. Safety was a complete joke. Kenlake trains employees that they have the right away on foot vs forklifts. As a result, it leads to people not paying attention and wandering in the path of forklifts. Plenty of OT if that's your thing. Pay was decent but the transition HPWS is gonna deter new hires. It's expected that you pursue your HPWS training but the company isn't going to assign time for you to do it. An employee is supposed to do it when on the clock and when they have time or come in and work OT solely for training.

What is the best part of working at the company?
This was a great place to work. The wages are fair for the area and management was very friendly and helpful in keeping the daily work load smooth and functional. One of the best places in Kentucky. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Withholding of crucial information by peers makes the work a bit more challenging. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It’s a really great place to work so long as you focus on your responsibilities and goals.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Finding peers who will communicate and share information is the key to keeping up with the daily productivity challenges. Once you have identified those, staying organized and ready for any necessary changes in productivity scheduling is key to having a positive impact and a good day.

Start with a 5 minute meeting about where you're working that day unless have a specific job. Get a break every 2 hours and a thirty minute lunch break. Better not be late coming back because they watch you on camera constantly.
The work is pretty easy and gets physically easier the higher you get.
I really enjoyed working with most of the people her but some are terribly petty amd will tattle on you for anything and everything to get you canned. If management doesn't like you start looking for another job because they'll find a reason to fire you.

The pay hasn't increased in 4 years amd they've made it more difficult to get raises through HPWS.

For the first week of orientation, I was paid a lower wage than I was owed. They told me this was my fault, even though my paperwork was right. Then, I was supposed to receive my second check (the first one at the correct pay rate), and it never arrived. They told me this was also my fault. I fixed any error on my end and still had not received my check. More than a month after I was supposed to receive this check, I was admitted to the hospital for stress-related issues, and under doctor's orders I quit the next day. If you value your mental health and expect to be paid for your hard work, I would definitely recommend working somewhere else.

If you enjoy working everyday of the week (mandatory overtime) fighting to against the same issues because management doesn't care to fix what doesn't effect them then this is the job for you. They think high pay means that they can treat you however they want, and for most people there that seems to be the case. Family seems to get promoted before others even though they supposedly have a nepotism policy. A lot of good people work here and you will grow attached through the struggles of the job but sadly the whole work environment is toxic. People are always mad and always tired because the work is endless and no one ever fixes any issues.

A typical day at Kenlake Foods begins with lively team meetings led by Kerri Pagareski; where daily goals & safety protocols are discussed, fostering a spirit of collaboration. As Kerri moves through her responsibilities; overseeing production lines and troubleshooting equipment issues, she remains focused on detail and quality control to uphold product standards.  While unexpected challenges can add stress; the reward comes when she sees finished products on store shelves, knowing her efforts help feed families and support the local community.

Rewards such as dinners and gifts to employees
The hardest part of the job was to get the H.R department to act on a situation before it got out of control
They offered great training and it was very helpful
They needed more support offered to supervision and between supervisors. It was every man for himself instead of working togeather. no supervisor felt secure in their position so alot of out for yourself conduct took place.

Management always finds a way to screw people over. If they don't like you you won't last for long. They are not understanding of personal needs outside of work. You could be in a car wreck and physically not able to call in and if your in points trouble they'll fire you. They idolize the people who can show up everyday but literally sit on their butt and do NOTHING. But the ones who literally bend over backwards for them they'll fire you in a heartbeat it doesn't matter if your the best at your job. They truly don't appreciate their hardest working employees

Absolutely, it's a fantastic place to work. Best of luck to you! I thoroughly enjoy my time there. The environment is welcoming, and the team is incredibly supportive. I highly recommend you go ahead and join us. The place is not only enjoyable but also offers great benefits. You can expect a competitive salary, comprehensive health coverage, and opportunities for professional growth. Plus, they really value work-life balance, which is a big plus in today's fast-paced world. Working there could be a great step forward in your career

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Plant manager 1 salary reported	$117,500 per year
Operations lead 1 salary reported	$117,500 per year
Line operator 1 salary reported	$28.67 per hour

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