Case Study
How Dublin Whiskey Distillery scaled sales with new routes to market & without tying up working capital
The challenges of international expansion and working capital were slowing growth. Accessing new retailers in new markets, bulk spirit procurement, transport, bottling and 60-day customer terms – all needed to grow, to be in place and be funded out of pocket – before a single bottle was sold. With Fero as the route to market, the contracting and invoicing entity behind the scenes, DWD was able to expand into new markets, free up the cash trapped in the supply chain and unlock the headroom to take on bigger orders.
The Challenge
A complex and capital–intense supply chain – constraining the ability to scale.
Dublin Whiskey Distillery, an Irish whiskey brand selling into EU markets, operates a complex supply chain – from sourcing bulk spirits to bottling and final distribution.
As demand grew and new market oppportunites landed, fulfilling larger orders required new routes to market and increased the amount of upfront capital needed – constraining the ability to scale.
The Solution
An end-to-end solution that funds and manages the compex journey from procurement, to new markets, through to final sale.
New routes to new markets
Fero provides access to new routes to export markets – reducing regulatory and legal complexity required to expand into new markets, reducing lead times to capitalise on new sales, reducing operational costs and improving unit economics.
Pay your suppliers up front
Fero users procure bulk spirits through the platform, paying suppliers up front (funded by Fero) and automating purchase orders, payments, customs compliance and logistics — reducing operational costs and improving unit economics.
60-day terms, fully funded
Once bottled, product is sold on terms agreed directly between DWD and their customers. Fero invoices the customer, manages collections and funds the full 60-day payment window – removing the working capital burden.
Fund bottling end-to-end
Fero funds the bottling process and associated costs — from labelling and packaging to quality control — converting bulk spirits into finished goods ready for sale.
What makes Fero different
Unlike traditional lenders, Fero supports both the physical supply chain and the commercial sale – on a single platform.
New routes to cross-border markets, handled
Managing movement of goods from supplier to bottling to customer, including import/export processes. Reducing complexity that hinders growth.
From procurement through to final sale
One platform spans every stage — procurement, production, sales, logistics, regulatory, invoicing, collections.
Remove the administrative burden
Fero handles invoicing, collections and access to new markets — the admin layer that usually scales with sales.
Offer terms without cash-flow impact
Brands can offer competitive payment terms to customers without the cash flow drag.
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You lead every commercial decision
Fero facilitates the transaction as the contracting and invoicing entity, while the brand retains full control of pricing and customer engagement.
From constraint to growth enabler
Removing legal complexity to access new markets and working capital constraints across the entire supply chain, turns new markets opportunities and cash into a growth levers, not ceilings.
The Results
More markets accessed & demand fulfilled. Less capital locked up.
Reduction in upfront capital
Fero reduced DWD's upfront capital requirements by up to 85% — by funding bulk procurement, bottling, and the 60-day customer payment window end-to-end.
Increase in YoY Revenue
DWD had a unique opportunity when their product was picked up by a new retailer in a new market – they needed to quickly scale. With Fero’s routes to market already in place and the working capital to both commit to procuring more goods, shipping larger orders fast, DWD was able to seriously increase year-on-year revenue. Without tying up working capital.
Surge in YoY profits
The operational costs and complexity that come along with building new routes to market can kill margins. Working capital needed to fund procurement can also be costly. With Fero market access set up costs are minimised, time to market reduced and economies of scale across the Fero network, meant DWD was able to scale margins in line with revenue.
Not have to sacrifice them to do it.
End-to-end with new routes to market
Fully funded supply chain — from bulk spirit procurement, to new routes to market through to final sale.
Funded 60 days terms
Customer payment terms enabled without cash-flow impact on DWD.
One platform
Cross-border logistics, invoicing and collections – operational and sales admin burden reduced.
"What stood out was Fero's ability to fund the entire journey — from bulk spirit through to final sale."
Dublin Whiskey Distillery
"From procurement to customer payment, Fero removed the cash flow pressure that comes with growth."
Dublin Whiskey Distillery
"We're now able to scale sales and fulfil demand in a way that simply wasn't possible before working with Fero."
Dublin Whiskey Distillery
The Outcome
A complex and capital-intensive supply chain, transformed into a scalable, capital-light model.
With Fero, Dublin Whiskey Distillery can confidently fulfil demand, access to new markets, offer competitive terms and grow sales – without being constrained by the legal complexities of accessing new markets or working capital.
Fero acts as the engine room behind the supply chain and the sale: the brand controls pricing and customer relationships; Fero manages funding, logistics, invoicing and collections; the process remains seamless to DWD's clients.
By removing working capital constraints across the entire supply chain, DWD can fulfil existing demand without capital limitations, offer competitive payment terms to customers, take on larger orders with confidence, and reduce friction in closing deals.
In one line
Fero unlocked new markets and turns working capital from a constraint into a growth enabler.
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