Case Study

How a 70-Year-Old Food Manufacturer Unlocked $4M in Working Capital

In the competitive food and beverage industry, managing supplier relationships and cash flow can make or break a business. Even established manufacturers with decades of trading history can find themselves constrained by inflexible traditional financing. This case study explores how one Australian family-owned manufacturer partnered with Octet to transform their working capital strategy, ultimately doubling their facility size to support continued growth and supply chain stability.

$4,000,000

Supply Chain Accelerate

The challenge

Traditional banking couldn't keep up with supplier payment demands

This family-owned food and beverage manufacturer had been producing quality food items for Australian and international markets since 1954. Despite their strong track record and stable financial performance, the company faced a common industry challenge: their existing bank finance facility wasn't flexible enough to meet their evolving supplier payment needs.

The business needed to pay specific suppliers on accelerated, industry-standard terms to maintain strong relationships and secure preferential pricing. However, doing so would have strained their cash flow and limited their ability to invest in growth opportunities. They required a tailored finance solution that understood the unique dynamics of the food manufacturing sector.

The solution

A flexible supply chain finance facility that grew with the business

The company partnered with Octet to implement a Supply Chain Accelerate facility—a working capital solution designed specifically for their operational requirements.

Based on the company's long trading history and solid financial performance, Octet initially approved a $2.5 million facility. This gave the business the flexibility to pay suppliers on their preferred terms while benefiting from Octet's extended repayment schedule, effectively bridging the gap between supplier payments and their own revenue cycles.

The result

From $2.5M to $4M: strengthened supply chain and enhanced resilience

The impact was immediate and significant. With improved cash flow management, the company could maintain strong supplier relationships while preserving working capital for other business priorities.

Following the successful implementation, the business expanded their facility to $4 million—enabling them to purchase larger volumes of ingredients and engage with additional suppliers across their supply chain.

The company operated with:

Reduced cash flow pressure from supplier payments
Decreased risk of supply price increases and production delays
Enhanced resilience to weather future industry disruptions
Greater flexibility to capitalise on growth opportunities

Tailored working capital solutions for your business

Whether you're in food and beverage, retail, manufacturing, or another industry, cash flow challenges shouldn't hold your business back. Octet specialises in flexible finance solutions designed around your unique operational needs—not rigid banking structures.

Our product suite includes Trade Finance to fund import transactions, or Debtor Finance (also known as invoice finance) to unlock cash tied up in outstanding invoices. Each solution is tailored to your business's trading history, cash flow cycles, and growth objectives.

Ready to improve your cash flow?

Talk to our team today to discuss how Octet's working capital solutions can support your business growth. We'll take the time to understand your specific challenges and design a facility that works for you.

The Octet Product Suite

Built for every kind of business.

OctetDebtor

Get paid today. Not someday.

Debtor and invoice finance that provides working capital faster by giving you immediate access to cash tied up in your receivables without waiting for your customers to pay.

Up to 85% advanced within 24 hoursSeamless integration with Xero or MYOBNo personal security required

A man views a screen displaying "Funds available today" and an option to draw down $340,000 from unpaid invoices, highlighting Octet's invoice finance solution.

OctetTrade

Pay suppliers upfront. Repay Octet later.

Trade finance that opens up global and local trade opportunities by accessing extended payment terms and built-in supplier verification to secure your transactions.

Pay local and international suppliers upfrontRepayments of up to 120 days (60 days interest free)Earn Frequent Flyer Points

A smiling man on the phone sees an early payment discount unlocked for a $120,000 international invoice from China.

OctetPay

Pay global and domestic suppliers with ease.

Make quick, secure payments to local and international suppliers, even if they don’t accept cards.

Pay domestic and international suppliersCompetitive ratesFast approval process

A smiling woman holds a credit card, with a notification confirming supplier payment and showing various card options for OctetPay.

Term Loan

Get extra capital. On your terms.

Pair with Trade Finance or Debtor & Invoice Finance to unlock up to $5M in flexible funding. No extra security required.

Boost cash flow with a lump sum loan of up to $5MFlexible terms ranging from 6 months to 3 yearsFast approval process

A smiling woman discusses business finance with a colleague, with an overlay showing a $6M facility limit and $1.34M remaining for working capital.

Buyer Protection

Protect your business from customer non-payment.

Pair with Debtor & Invoice Finance to safeguard your revenue against bad debts. We carry the risk, so you don’t have to.

Protect up to 90% of your invoice valueSafeguard your business against customer insolvencyPeace of mind in every transaction

A smiling man discusses payment protection with a colleague, showing a screen with 'Protected from non-payment' and customer protection details.

Points4Pay

The smarter way to pay and get paid in health & dental care.

Whether you’re a Practice, self-employed Practitioner, or a Supplier, Points4Pay helps you simplify payments, boost cash flow and earn rewards.

Pre-approved line of creditEarn Frequent Flyer PointsImprove your cash flow

A smiling dentist with a patient, overlaid with "Frequent Flyer Points unlocked" and a $200,000 business line of credit.

Disclaimer: The above article content and comments are our views and should not be construed as advice. You should act using your own information and judgment. Although information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources the author believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. All opinions and estimates constitute the author’s own judgment as at the date of publication and are subject to change without notice.