Zia Pia is a boutique importer specializing in fine, authentic regional Italian foods. Our suppliers are non-industrial, family-owned producers who combine traditional principles of authenticity and flavor with Italian design and style to create superior products, beautiful on the inside and out.
“Even more than its Roman ruins or Renaissance art or the plain fact that lemons, tomatoes, and capers burst with more flavor on this boot-like stretch of Mediterranean soil than anywhere else on the planet, it’s the everyday life of Italy that makes it so addictive and extraordinary.” – Chris Bollen, Departures Magazine
Founder
Victoria is half-Italian and grew up appreciating the pure flavors of simple authentic Italian home cooking. Zia Pia is the result of the combination of her greatest passions: great food, Italian heritage, travel and business. She believes in the nutritional and cultural value of these foods, the pleasures they bring and way of life they represent. It’s a way to honor the memory of her beloved Zia Pia from Orvieto, who was a continuous source of inspiration in the kitchen and in life.
Administration
Originally from Naples, Italy, Alessandra brings her deep love for Italian culture, traditions, and cuisine to Charlotte through Zia Pia. With her unique attention to detail and commitment to quality, she manages daily operations, works closely with our Italian suppliers, and handles all administrative functions. Alessandra moved to the United States in 2016 with her husband and two children.
Account Management
Suzanne is from Georgia where her love of food and cooking was inspired by watching her grandmother make biscuits from scratch. She first pursued a career in medicine but found she could not resist the pull of the kitchen and graduated from Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte, NC. She loves all types of cuisine and finds inspiration across all tradition, though she may have a special fondness for Southern (her roots) and Italian (what she gets to do every day).
Operations & Logistics
Zander has been in the warehousing and transportation logistics field for over a decade. He got his start as a Logistician with The U.S. Army. Since that time, he has worked extensively in the freight industry, as well as in E-Commerce warehousing and distribution with a specific emphasis in CpG verticals. He, his wife, and their two children have called Charlotte, North Carolina their home for the past five years.
Creative Director
Laurel Evans is a cookbook author, recipe developer, blogger, and culinary guide based in Milan, Italy. Fully immersed in a foreign culture, she has discovered in food both a common language and a symbol of home. She brings to the team her love for Italian food and culture, as well her as extensive experience in digital communications and content creation.
Marketing Associate
A native of Charlotte, NC, Lily was a ballet dancer for many years while getting her degree in Health Sciences from Arizona State University. After retiring from ballet, she spent a year living in Rome where she fell in love with all things Italian. Her travels led her to research and write on preserving Italian food, culture and traditions, launching her into the world of Italian food. Now, she brings that passion and dedication to her work at Zia Pia.
