Client Manager - Foodservice Beverage

The Affinity Group; Richmond Hill; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Affinity Group Canada is seeking a Client Manager, Beverage to act as the primary liaison between assigned beverage manufacturer clients, distributor partners, sales teams, and internal stakeholders.

This role translates client objectives into successful marketplace execution across the foodservice channel, managing client relationships, coordinating beverage programs and promotions, and ensuring alignment between client expectations and field execution.

Qualifications

• Experience within beverage manufacturing, beverage distribution, foodservice beverage sales, brokerage, or category management.
• Understanding of the Canadian foodservice beverage channel.
• Experience working with distributors, chain operators, and foodservice customers.
• Knowledge of beverage categories including soft drinks, water, coffee, tea, juice, energy beverages, specialty beverages, or functional beverages.
• Experience supporting product launches, promotions, pricing programs, and customer activations.
• Strong presentation and product-training skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a strong understanding of beverage trends, products, and market opportunities.
• Support beverage menu and program development initiatives.
• Work closely with distributor and operator partners to identify beverage growth opportunities.
• Assist clients with promotional planning, product launches, and category expansion strategies.
• Monitor beverage category performance and marketplace activity.
• Collaborate with distributor beverage specialists and sales teams.
• Conduct beverage product presentations and training sessions.
• Participate in beverage-focused foodshows, customer meetings, and industry events.
• Support beverage menu presentations, product evaluations, sampling initiatives, and customer activations.
• Support internal reporting, tracking, and documentation requirements.
• Ensure timely and accurate information flow between clients and internal teams.

Job description

Affinity Group Canada is a leading foodservice brokerage representing premier food manufacturers across the country. Locally owned and operated, we are known for our strong relationships, category expertise, and outstanding execution. Our success is driven by our people and our commitment to delivering value to our clients, customers, and partners.

About the Role

We are seeking a Client Manager, Beverage to act as the primary liaison between assigned beverage manufacturer clients, distributor partners, sales teams, and internal stakeholders.

This role is responsible for translating client objectives into successful marketplace execution across the foodservice channel. The successful candidate will manage client relationships, coordinate beverage programs and promotions, support distributor initiatives, identify growth opportunities, and ensure alignment between client expectations and field execution.

This position is ideal for an individual with experience in foodservice beverage sales, manufacturing, distribution, brokerage, category management, or account management who enjoys building relationships and driving results in a dynamic marketplace. Beverage industry experience is strongly preferred.

Primary Responsibilities

Beverage Category Management

• Maintain a strong understanding of beverage trends, products, and market opportunities
• Support beverage menu and program development initiatives
• Work closely with distributor and operator partners to identify beverage growth opportunities
• Assist clients with promotional planning, product launches, and category expansion strategies
• Monitor beverage category performance and marketplace activity

Distributor & Operator Engagement

• Collaborate with distributor beverage specialists and sales teams
• Conduct beverage product presentations and training sessions
• Participate in beverage-focused foodshows, customer meetings, and industry events
• Support beverage menu presentations, product evaluations, sampling initiatives, and customer activations

REPORTING & INTERNAL COORDINATION

• Support internal reporting, tracking, and documentation requirements
• Ensure timely and accurate information flow between clients and internal teams

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Experience within beverage manufacturing, beverage distribution, foodservice beverage sales, brokerage, or category management
• Understanding of the Canadian foodservice beverage channel
• Experience working with distributors, chain operators, and foodservice customers
• Knowledge of beverage categories including soft drinks, water, coffee, tea, juice, energy beverages, specialty beverages, or functional beverages
• Experience supporting product launches, promotions, pricing programs, and customer activations
• Strong presentation and product-training skills

AI DISCLOSURE

Affinity Group Canada discloses that AI enabled tools may be used to support certain stages of recruitment (e.g., screening applications based on job related criteria), with human review and oversight.

ACCESSIBILITY & ACCOMMODATION (AODA)

Affinity Group Canada welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.

The Affinity Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.