Hot Deli Product Development & Merchandising Manager

Location: Multi-Store Role Supporting Talpa Supermercados Locations in Georgia and Tennessee Position Type: Full-Time Reports To: Director of Operations or Designated Operations Leader Language Requirement: Bilingual English/Spanish Preferred Travel Requirement: Frequent travel between store locations required.

About Talpa Supermercados

Talpa Supermercados is a growing multicultural grocery retailer dedicated to serving our communities with authentic products, exceptional customer service, and a consistent shopping experience. We are committed to product quality, operational excellence, food safety, continuous improvement, and creating opportunities for our associates to grow and succeed. 

Position Summary

We are 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.

This role is responsible for developing authentic, high-quality prepared foods, including roasted chicken, barbecue, hot entrées, side dishes, family meals, grab-and-go offerings, and seasonal programs. The ideal candidate combines culinary expertise, merchandising knowledge, operational experience, and leadership skills to drive sales growth, product consistency, customer satisfaction, and profitability throughout the Hot Deli department. 

Key Responsibilities

• Develop new Hot Deli products, seasonal offerings, meal solutions, and menu enhancements based on customer preferences, cultural traditions, sales trends, and market opportunities.
• Improve existing 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 all 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 that enhance customer appeal and drive sales.
• 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 on food preparation, cooking techniques, food safety practices, merchandising execution, and operational standards.
• Validate associate proficiency through hands-on demonstrations, coaching, retraining, and continuous development programs.
• Coordinate product rollouts, promotional programs, family meal offerings, and seasonal initiatives across multiple store locations.
• Analyze sales performance, margins, yields, waste, customer feedback, and operational execution to identify opportunities for improvement.
• 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. 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Success in this role will be measured by the ability to:

• Successfully develop, test, and launch new Hot Deli products, menu items, and seasonal programs.
• Maintain consistent recipe execution, product quality, portion control, yields, and presentation standards across all participating stores.
• Improve Hot Deli sales performance, product profitability, and overall category growth.
• Reduce waste and improve production efficiencies through recipe optimization and operational improvements.
• Deliver effective training programs that improve associate knowledge, skills, and execution.
• Ensure merchandising standards, displays, signage, freshness, rotation, and presentation guidelines are consistently executed.
• Increase adoption of approved recipes, procedures, display standards, and operational best practices across store locations.
• Complete product development projects, pilots, and launches according to approved timelines and operational requirements.
• Maintain high food safety, sanitation, allergen control, labeling, and product quality compliance standards.
• Utilize customer feedback, sales trends, and business results to continuously improve products, assortments, and merchandising programs. 

Required Qualifications

• Five (5)+ years of progressive experience in restaurant operations, grocery deli departments, commissaries, prepared foods, foodservice, or related fresh-food environments.
• At least two (2)+ years of experience training, coaching, supervising, or leading Hot Deli teams and cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of prepared-food production, recipe development, recipe 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 when supporting product launches, training programs, or operational initiatives. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual English and Spanish communication skills.
• Experience within 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. 

Why Join Talpa Supermercados?

This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in product innovation, merchandising excellence, associate development, and category growth across a rapidly growing organization. You will have a direct impact on improving the customer experience, expanding product offerings, strengthening operational consistency, and driving the success of the Hot Deli business across multiple locations.