I’m Kayla, and I worked at a Food 4 Less in Anaheim, CA. I started as a cashier and later did a few months on night crew. I’m not fancy. I just bagged carts, ran a register, and learned how to stock heavy stuff without wrecking my back. If you’re wondering what a career there feels like day to day, I’ve got real stories and real numbers. For the full, unfiltered version of my Food 4 Less story, you can also read this expanded review.
If you want to see how these roles stack up against other retail positions nationwide, check out the wage and advancement snapshots at CareerBuilderChallenge.com.
For anyone ready to throw their hat in the ring, the quickest way to get started is through the official Food 4 Less application page.
What I Did There
I got hired part-time first. My title was Cashier. I also did Courtesy Clerk tasks: carts, spills, restroom checks, and returns. After six months, I picked up extra hours on the night crew, stocking dry goods. That shift ran from about 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.
We used NCR registers up front. Price checks were on handhelds (ours were Zebra scanners). It sounds techy, but it’s just a scanner with a screen. If you can use a phone, you’ll be fine.
Oh, and yes—most folks bag their own groceries at Food 4 Less here. Still, you’re always helping. Reusable bags are a thing in California. People forget them all the time. You’ll hear, “Do you sell bags?” fifty times a day.
Pay, Union, and Benefits (My Experience)
- My start pay in 2023: $16.50/hour as a cashier
- After six months: $17.35/hour (union step increase)
- Night crew shift: a bit more per hour, plus more steady hours
My store was union (UFCW). I paid dues after my first month. In return, I got step raises and a clear wage chart. I got health insurance after I passed the hours mark (I had to average close to full-time for a bit). I also got a 401(k) option and some paid time off after a year.
Employee discount? We had 10% off Kroger brands (like Simple Truth and Private Selection). It’s not huge, but on a big grocery run, it helps.
Schedules That Made Sense (Most Days)
Schedules are a mix of early, mid, and late shifts. I worked:
- Openings: 5 a.m.–1 p.m. on truck days
- Day shifts: 11 a.m.–7 p.m. on weekends
- Closings: 3 p.m.–11:30 p.m. during holidays
- Night crew: 9:30 p.m.–6 a.m. (stocking and facing shelves)
Seniority mattered. Folks there longer got first pick of hours and holidays. There were blackout periods near Thanksgiving and Christmas. That’s retail life. I learned to keep my phone charged and my meals packed. Cold aisles can zap you.
Clocking out at strange times can also put a dent in your social life. If you ever finish a 1 a.m. shift and still want to meet people who are awake, a few crew members pointed me toward Fuckbook—an adults-only local meetup site that lets you line up casual chats or dates on a schedule that fits retail hours.
On nights when the crew piled into cars for a post-shift beach run or mini-road-trip, someone would always mention Camarillo’s under-the-radar late-night scene; before we went, I checked out the USA Sex Guide Camarillo playbook to see which lounges stay open, what etiquette locals expect, and whether the vibe matched our off-hour energy.
Training: Quick but Real
Training was short. I watched computer videos, did safety stuff, and shadowed a lead cashier for a few shifts. After that, they trusted me on a register. You learn fast when the line wraps past frozen foods. My manager said, “Keep it friendly, keep it moving.” That stuck.
On night crew, one lead showed me how to stack cases so the aisle looks full, not messy. Front labels out, no crushed boxes, no “leaning towers.” It’s a small art. You’ll get it.
Real Shift Moments I Still Remember
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The Thanksgiving Rush:
We had lines that ran from the front end to frozen pies. One customer asked me if the pies were “worth the hype.” I laughed and said, “I bought two.” She bought four. My feet ached, but we kept the line moving. We handed out wipes for cart handles. People were stressed but kind. -
WIC and EBT:
I handled WIC checks and EBT cards a lot. Once, a mom’s WIC yogurt didn’t match the brand on the list. She looked tired. I ran a quick price check—grabbed the right one—problem solved. She smiled like I’d just fixed her whole week. That felt good. -
Rain Checks and Price Confusion:
A sale item ran out. Folks got cranky. I wrote rain checks and called the department to ask when the truck landed. You live on that handheld scanner. If you hate talking to people, this part’s tough. But most people just want straight answers. -
Aisle Spills and “Code” Calls:
We had a milk spill on Aisle 4. Called it in. I put out the wet floor signs and grabbed the mop. Slip-and-fall is no joke. Shoes matter here. I wore black sneakers with good grip. Do not skimp on shoes. -
Night Crew Reality:
It’s quiet, almost peaceful. You face the shelf, listen to the hum of the coolers, and stack cans like Tetris. Then 4 a.m. hits, and a truck shows. Pallets everywhere. We worked as a squad. No hero stuff—team or it won’t get done.
Growth Paths I Saw (and Tried)
I saw three co-workers move up:
- Courtesy Clerk to Cashier to Front End Supervisor (about 1.5 years)
- Grocery Clerk to Dairy Lead (knew dates and temps cold)
- Night Crew to Assistant Manager (liked the back-end work)
I applied for Front End Lead once. Didn’t get it the first try. I did get trained to cover breaks and handle voids. That helped my next review. If you show up, learn produce codes (bananas are 4011!), and help with price tags, managers notice.
Curious what positions are open right now in Southern California? You can skim the latest Los Angeles postings on Glassdoor to see what’s out there before you apply.
What I Liked
- Steady hours once I proved I could handle rush times
- Union step raises—no guessing games
- Coworkers who watch out for you (we traded shifts like family)
- Hands-on work—time flies when you’re busy
- Discount on basics I already buy
What Bugged Me
- Holiday chaos—zero chill, lots of “Do you have more hams?”
- Breaks could shift when lines got wild
- Heavy boxes on night crew (water, soda, dog food)
- Some customers get rude when sales end or limits apply
- Music loop. If I hear that one pop song again, I might scream
A Small Thing That Helped Me
I kept a pocket notebook. I wrote down PLU codes, out-of-stock notes, and reminders to stretch my hands. Simple little thing. Saved me time at the register, saved a headache later.
Who Will Like Food 4 Less Careers
- You like moving, not sitting
- You don’t mind learning by doing
- You can smile even when the line snakes
- You want union structure and clear steps
- You’re fine with weekends and holidays (they’re busy)
- Prefer the open-air side of the food business? My inside look at Ora Farms careers shows what farm shifts feel like.
Who Might Not
- You need the same shift every week
- You avoid customer talk
- Heavy lifting is a hard no
- You’re considering a pivot to tech or remote support roles—peek at how my stint at BlueSky Careers went to compare.
My Bottom Line
Food 4 Less gave me steady work and growth I could see. It’s not fancy, but the path is real. Show up, learn the codes, help your team, and you can move up. Some days are rough. My back and my feet told me so. Still, I left each shift feeling like I did something that mattered. People got their food. Families ate. That counts.
Would I work there again? Yeah, I would. I’d bring better