Hot Deli Product Development & Merchandising Manager
About The Position
Talpa Supermercados is seeking an experienced and innovative Hot Deli Product Development & Merchandising Manager to lead product innovation, recipe development, merchandising standards, training initiatives, and category improvements across multiple store locations in Georgia and Tennessee. This full-time, multi-store role reports to the Director of Operations or a designated Operations Leader and requires frequent travel between stores. The role develops authentic, high-quality prepared foods, including roasted chicken, barbecue, hot entrées, side dishes, family meals, grab-and-go offerings, and seasonal programs. It combines culinary expertise, merchandising knowledge, operational experience, and leadership to improve sales growth, product consistency, customer satisfaction, and profitability throughout the Hot Deli department. Bilingual English/Spanish skills are preferred. Success is measured by effective product development and launches; consistent recipes, quality, portions, yields, and presentation; improved sales, profitability, and production efficiency; effective associate training; consistent merchandising execution; adoption of approved procedures; timely project delivery; food safety compliance; and continuous improvement informed by customer feedback and business results.
Requirements
- Five or more years of progressive experience in restaurant operations, grocery deli departments, commissaries, prepared foods, foodservice, or related fresh-food environments.
- At least two or more years of experience training, coaching, supervising, or leading Hot Deli teams and cross-functional initiatives.
- Strong knowledge of prepared-food production, recipe development and scaling, product costing, portion controls, yields, cooking techniques, cooling procedures, reheating methods, hot and cold holding standards, sanitation, and allergen controls.
- Experience analyzing sales performance, product profitability, waste, and customer feedback to drive business improvements.
- Demonstrated ability to create attractive product presentations, merchandising programs, training materials, and operational procedures.
- Excellent organizational, communication, leadership, and project management skills.
- Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and ability to travel frequently between Georgia and Tennessee locations.
- Ability to work flexible schedules, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed.
Nice To Haves
- Bilingual English and Spanish communication skills.
- Experience in Hispanic grocery retail, Mexican or Latin American prepared foods, multicultural food environments, or high-volume Hot Deli operations.
- ServSafe Manager Certification or equivalent food protection certification.
- Culinary education or equivalent hands-on experience developing authentic Hispanic prepared foods, hot entrées, side dishes, meal solutions, and seasonal menu programs.
- Experience managing multi-store product launches, visual merchandising programs, associate training initiatives, or new store openings.
Responsibilities
- Develop Hot Deli products, seasonal offerings, meal solutions, and menu enhancements based on customer preferences, cultural traditions, sales trends, and market opportunities.
- Improve recipes, cooking methods, portions, product quality, freshness, flavor profiles, and production efficiency.
- Standardize recipes, ingredient specifications, portions, yields, preparation procedures, quality standards, and food safety guidelines across participating locations.
- Lead product testing, tastings, pilot programs, and new product launches.
- Create and implement Hot Deli merchandising standards, display programs, product layouts, and seasonal presentations.
- Develop visual merchandising guides and best practices for product placement, presentation, rotation, freshness, packaging, labeling, and signage.
- Train and coach Hot Deli leaders and associates in food preparation, cooking techniques, food safety, merchandising execution, and operational standards.
- Validate associate proficiency through hands-on demonstrations, coaching, retraining, and ongoing development programs.
- Coordinate product rollouts, promotional programs, family meal offerings, and seasonal initiatives across multiple locations.
- Analyze sales performance, margins, yields, waste, customer feedback, and operational execution to identify improvement opportunities.
- Partner with Operations, Procurement, Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, and Food Safety teams to support category growth and operational consistency.
- Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, allergen management, product labeling, safe handling, cooling, reheating, and holding standards.
- Maintain product development documentation, training records, pilot results, and program implementation reports.
- Travel frequently between store locations in Georgia and Tennessee.
- Work flexible schedules, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays, when supporting launches, training, or operational initiatives.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
