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Caterina Italian Food Imports Ltd. is an established specialty Italian food retailer and delicatessen located in Victoria, British Columbia. Operating for over 40 years, the business has built a strong reputation for authentic Italian products, quality prepared foods, personalized customer service and a welcoming neighbourhood atmosphere.

Under new ownership in 2026, Caterina is entering an exciting phase of modernization and strategic growth while preserving the heritage, relationships and traditions that have made the business a valued part of Victoria's community. We are seeking a Director of Product Development & Retail Operations to help lead this modernization and strategic growth.

Position Overview

The Director of Product Development & Retail Operations leads day-to-day retail operations while directing the development of new food products, brand initiatives, merchandising and growth opportunities. This is a hands-on senior management role combining staff leadership, supplier management, operating systems, customer experience and commercial product development. The Director works closely with company ownership and is accountable for operating within ownership-approved budgets and strategic parameters.

Retail Operations & Performance

• Direct, coordinate and evaluate daily deli and retail operations, maintaining consistent standards for service, food presentation and operational performance.

• Develop, implement and improve operating procedures, workflows, service standards and performance reporting.

• Monitor sales, inventory, purchasing costs, product margins and operating results; recommend corrective actions and improvements.

• Manage purchasing and operating expenditures within budgets established and approved by ownership.

• Coordinate with internal leads to maintain product availability, efficient workflow and an excellent customer experience.

People Leadership & Staffing

• Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, schedule, supervise, train, coach and, where necessary, dismiss employees in accordance with company policy and applicable employment legislation.

• Establish clear performance expectations, staff development plans and training procedures.

• Develop team leads and foster a positive, professional, service-oriented workplace culture.

• Assess staffing requirements and allocate labour resources within approved budgets.

Product Development & Private Label

• Lead the creation and improvement of specialty-food, prepared-food, grab-and-go and proprietary or private-label product offerings.

• Coordinate product concepts, recipe development, sourcing, specifications, costing, packaging, merchandising and launches with relevant staff and suppliers.

• Evaluate product quality, customer demand, pricing, margins and commercial viability.

• Identify opportunities to convert successful in-house products into repeatable retail or wholesale offerings.

Brand, Marketing & Merchandising

• Direct in-store merchandising, product presentation, display concepts and customer experience

initiatives.

• Develop brand positioning, product packaging concepts and promotional initiatives in collaboration

with ownership and external partners as needed.

• Plan and implement marketing campaigns, product launches, seasonal promotions and community

engagement initiatives.

• Use customer feedback, market trends and sales results to refine merchandise and product offerings.

Graphic Design & Creative Production

• Manage the development of graphic design assets for the company, including product labels,

packaging artwork, in-store signage, menus, promotional materials and digital marketing content.

• Develop and maintain consistent visual brand standards across retail displays, private-label products,

print materials, website assets and social media.

• Finalize production-ready artwork and coordinate print specifications, proofs and revisions with

packaging and print suppliers.

Suppliers, Wholesale & Growth

• Manage supplier relationships, product selection, purchasing negotiations and supply continuity

within approved budgets.

• Identify prospective suppliers, specialty products, wholesale customers and distribution

opportunities.

• Develop and implement practical initiatives to grow retail and wholesale revenue, subject to

ownership approval for material commitments.

• Explore commercially appropriate events, tastings, classes and other specialty-food experiences.

Reporting, Accountability & Decision Authority

• Report operational results, product-development progress, staffing matters and proposed growth

initiatives to ownership.

• Exercise delegated authority over day-to-day operations and employee hiring and dismissal, subject

to company policies and applicable law.

• Operate within budgets set by ownership; obtain approval for material unbudgeted expenditures,

major capital commitments and strategic changes.

• Ownership retains authority over corporate financing, approval of operating budgets and major

investment decisions.

Position Requirements:

• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in retail, wholesale, specialty food, hospitality or a

related consumer-facing business.

• 5+ years of management experience involving staff leadership and business performance.

• Experience managing customer-facing operations, suppliers, purchasing, merchandising and

operational procedures.

• Demonstrated ability in new product development, brand or merchandising initiatives and

commercial growth.

• Strong people leadership, communication, planning, cost-awareness and problem-solving skills.

• Strong design experience, including proficiency with professional design software, brand identity,

packaging artwork, print-ready files and digital promotional materials.

• Experience with specialty or imported foods, prepared foods, private-label commercialization or

wholesale distribution is an asset.

• Education or training in business, graphic design, retail management, hospitality, marketing, food or a

related field is an asset.

Employment Terms

The position is full-time, permanent working 40 hours per week. The successful candidate is expected to

work on-site at 1114 Blanshard St, Victoria BC. There is no remote work option.

Salary range is $90,000 - $110,000, based on skills and experience.

How to apply:

Please submit a CV and brief cover letter outlining relevant retail operations, people leadership, product

development and merchandising experience to:

invoices@italianfoodimports.ca

Pay: $90,000.00-$110,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person