Invoice discounting supports wholesale firm through management buyout

Industry: Wholesale

Product: Invoice discounting

Facility size: €750,000

The client

A third-generation wholesale company with a proud 50-year legacy, this family-run firm has built its reputation supplying poultry and fish to a wide range of food outlets, including restaurants and catering businesses. With deep industry roots and a loyal customer base, they are a trusted name in the industry.

The challenge

As part of a strategic succession plan, the current generation of siblings divided the family’s operations into two distinct entities - a butcher’s shop and a dedicated wholesale business. This transition would allow each sibling to focus on their individual strengths and drive progress in that area.

For the wholesale arm, the ambition was clear: expand the product offering to include complementary lines such as sauces, oils, and condiments, while also investing in infrastructure to support future development. To achieve this, the company required a funding solution that would enable a smooth management buyout and supply working capital for recruitment, innovation, and customer acquisition.

Given the importance of maintaining day-to-day operations throughout the transition, the business sought a finance partner with expertise in succession planning and provide a timely, personalised approach.

The solution

Close Brothers Commercial Finance provided a €750,000 invoice discounting facility, offering the flexibility and speed the client needed to complete the buyout and begin executing their strategic plans.

Invoice discounting is an excellent fit for the wholesale sector, where customer payment terms can vary significantly, leaving money tied up in outstanding invoices. This type of finance releases this cash, giving access to ongoing working capital. Crucially, this type of funding grows with turnover, making it a sustainable solution for businesses with long-term growth ambitions.

The result

With the buyout successfully completed, the firm is now well-positioned to pursue its seven-year expansion strategy. An experienced industry salesperson has already joined the team, focusing on new client acquisition. Meanwhile, the company is actively exploring new opportunities and investing in the development of additional product lines to enhance the company’s offering.

Using invoice finance, the business has entered a new chapter with confidence and momentum.