Bangkok, 5 May 2026 – TOPS, under Central Retail, in collaboration with the School of Culinary Arts, Suan Dusit University, has launched the “TOPS Leadership Internship Program,” a program designed to provide undergraduate students with hands-on experience in modern retail business. The program aims to equip students with essential skills in management, consumer insight, and store operations, which are core elements of today’s retail business and essential to supporting long-term business growth. This collaboration between the education and business sectors reflects a shared commitment to developing Thailand’s talent and preparing students to become future store leaders. It also reinforces TOPS’ position as a leading food retailer committed to supporting quality employment and fostering sustainable career development in the long term.

Mr. Thanawat Jirajariyavej, Managing Director, Central Food Retail under Central Retail, said, “At a time when the retail industry is undergoing rapid transformation driven by shifting consumer behavior, technological advancements, and intensifying competition, people are a critical driver of strong and sustainable organizational growth. According to a report by Robert Walters, Thailand’s labor market in 2026 continues to face a significant shortage of skilled and experienced talent, with 67% of organizations facing this challenge. TOPS is therefore committed to proactively developing talent while strengthening collaboration with the education sector to enhance talent capabilities in line with evolving business needs, while building a strong organizational foundation through talent development across all levels.”

The TOPS Leadership Internship Program, under the collaboration between TOPS and the School of Culinary Arts, Suan Dusit University, serves as a key strategic mechanism in advancing talent development and building a high-quality talent pipeline, particularly at the department and store management levels, which represent critical touchpoints between the brand and consumers. The program is designed to go beyond traditional internships under the ‘Career Acceleration Pathway’ concept, enabling participants to fast-track their progression into management roles, from department manager to store manager levels. In addition, the program builds upon Central Group’s DVE Program, which focuses on vocational talent development and has already produced more than 500 qualified professionals who have joined TOPS. This reflects the organization’s continued success in talent development and its commitment to shaping the next generation of retail leaders with strong business acumen, management capabilities, and the ability to meet the needs of today’s consumers.

Mrs. Sujita Phengoun, Chief Operating Officer of Central Food Retail under Central Retail, said, “The ‘TOPS Leadership Internship Program’ is designed as a ‘Career Acceleration Pathway’ that goes beyond traditional internships for undergraduate students. It aims to fast-track students toward a structured management career in the retail business, providing opportunities to progress from Department Manager to Store Manager in the future. This reflects the organization’s objective of building a tangible Retail Leadership Pipeline. In its initial phase, the program aims to recruit approximately 50 students per year, while targeting the development of a talent pipeline of more than 200 individuals within the next three to five years. Participants will receive comprehensive development, including hands-on work experience, essential retail competencies, and a clearly structured pathway toward management roles.”

• On-the-Job Experience through hands-on training at TOPS large-format stores over a 4–6 month period (one semester), providing end-to-end exposure to retail operations in a real-world environment, from product management and in-store operations to customer service, which are core to delivering differentiated experiences in modern retail.
• Multi-Functional Exposure across key areas of the food retail business, including Food Business, Culinary, and Retail Operations, as well as core in-store departments such as Produce, Meat & Seafood, Deli, Bakery, and Food Story, enabling participants to develop an in-depth understanding of products, processes, and consumer behavior.
• Mentorship Program where participants are closely guided by mentors, including Department Managers and Store Managers, who transfer knowledge, management expertise, and real-world experience to develop practical capabilities alongside leadership skills.
• Structured Career Pathway with the program designed as the starting point for a career in retail, featuring a clear career pathway from Intern to Department Manager and ultimately to Store Manager, ensuring readiness in both leadership capability and business performance delivery at the store level.
• Fast-Track to Management High-potential participants will have the opportunity to progress into the role of Department Manager Trainee (DMT) upon completing the program, setting this initiative apart from traditional internships and serving as a key mechanism to accelerate the development of a strong retail leadership pipeline for the organization in the long term.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pornchanit Kaew-nate, Vice President for Academic and International Affairs, Suan Dusit University said, “This collaboration between Suan Dusit University and TOPS reflects a strong and concrete partnership between the education and business sectors in developing high-quality talent. It aims to provide students with opportunities to learn and gain hands-on experience in real business environments, strengthening their knowledge, professional skills, and practical experience, while also developing essential attributes such as teamwork, discipline, and responsibility. At the same time, the program helps strengthen students’ capabilities in line with the evolving needs of the retail industry. It also jointly contributes to building a learning ecosystem that connects academic knowledge with real-world practice, in alignment with the ‘SDU The Power’ concept and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to support the development of high-quality human capital for the nation in the long term.”

To mark the launch of the “TOPS Leadership Internship Program,” the ceremony was presided over by Mrs. Sujita Phengoun, Chief Operating Officer of Central Food Retail under Central Retail. The event featured a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between senior executives from both organizations. Representing TOPS as the official signatory was Mr. Jimmy Techottiussanee, Assistant Managing Director – Human Resources of Central Food Retail under Central Retail. Representing Suan Dusit University as the official signatory was Assist. Prof. Dr. Pornchanit Kaew-nate, Vice President for Academic and International Affairs.

The ceremony was further honored by the presence of several distinguished guests and executives who attended as official witnesses. The delegation was led by Assist. Prof. Acting Sub Lt. Dr. Thanapat Saengrungrueang, Dean, School of Culinary Arts, Suan Dusit University, alongside executives from the School of Culinary Arts and the management team from Central Food Retail. Together, they have joined forces to drive this project forward and build a sustainable learning ecosystem at Suan Dusit University.

“This program reflects TOPS’ role in bridging the gap between the education and business sectors to reduce the skill gap and develop talent into future store leaders. It is in line with the ‘Small Acts Together’ concept and the ‘12 Missions to Sustainable Retail’, particularly under Community Engagement, which aims to create an accessible, scalable, and sustainable learning ecosystem. Moving forward, we will continue to expand this collaboration and extend opportunities across a broader network of educational institutions,” Mr. Thanawat concluded.

For more information, please visit www.TOPS.co.th, Facebook: TOPSThailand, and LINE Official Account: @TOPSThailand

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