If you aspire to work in the food industry or are looking for opportunities in food science, biology, distribution, or business management, Orange County’s prominent Golden State Foods (GSF) is a company you want to know! GSF is one of the largest diversified suppliers to the retail industries and Quick Service Restaurants like Chipotle and Denny’s! With its headquarters located right here in California, GSF employs approximately 6,000 associates and has several internships and leadership training opportunities for Panthers. 

Fast Facts about Golden State Foods (GSF) 

  • Forbes’ “America’s Largest Private Companies” 2019 
  • GSF exports products to more than 40 countries on five continents 
  • $6.9B in revenue and has 7,000 employees 
  • 68% of the company’s U.S. workforce is comprised of women and minorities 

At a recent panel event with Golden State Foods, industry professionals shared information about the company culture and areas of expertise, internship application, and interview tips. They also talked about how their employees are encouraged to grow in their positions and move up in the company. The speakers were Gianna Salcito (Human Resources Manager), Melissa Vieira (Director, Organizational Development), and Erik Bunte (National Account Manager). 

Core Values at GSF   

  • Treat others like you want to be treated 
  • Make the best product 
  • Give the customer a fair deal 
  • Maintain the highest standards 

Grow with Golden States Food 

Internship Opportunities 

“As an intern, what you will enjoy is the hands-on experience about learning the functions of the business. We have a wide range of internship opportunities including IT, Human Resources, Manufacturing, Logistics, and many more.” – Melissa Vieira 

Key Features 

  • 3-months paid internship 
  • Opportunities in Human Resource, Logistics, IT, Supply Chain, Logistics, Legal Engineering, Food Science and Safety 
  • Must graduate with a degree within one year of internship completion

Leadership Training Opportunities 

This is for recent graduates who are interested in how to become a leader in the organization. It’s a great building-block to develop your career, especially when you start thinking about what you’re passionate about and challenge yourself to explore other roles. You will get the chance to learn the foundations of leadership, the dynamics of the business environment, and how to achieve a culture of excellence. 

Key Features

  • For recent graduates 
  • Open to former interns and internal associates 
  • Relocatable 
  • 9 – 12 months rotational program 

Q&A Session

Q: What is the timeline for the internship program? 

Generally, our internship programs are within the summer, but you will find other sectors like the Manufacturing environment with available internships all year round. A great way to keep track is to reach out to us on LinkedIn. You can also follow GSF’s Career Portal to see when new opportunities are posted. 

Q: Do I have to be a former intern or an internal associate to be part of the Leadership Training program or is it open to others? 

No, it only opens the door for the person, but we are still interested in anyone who hasn’t even had logistics experience and is looking for that growing opportunity.  

Q: I’m on active duty in the military and transitioning out next year after a career as a logistics officer. Do you have any internships for the military? 

No, we don’t have a specific program, but we encourage you to apply for either a critical role or a leadership training program. It’s always great to reach out if you have any questions about your experience and what roles may be a good fit. We encourage you to get in touch for other mentorship opportunities you’re looking for, we’re happy to set time aside and communicate with you.