Case Study
How Passione Vino runs their entire import & distribution business through Fero’s operating system
An artisanal Italian wine importer replaced a patchwork of manual processes with one platform – cutting operational costs by 66% while growing sales and improving margins.
The Challenge
A passionate wine merchant drowning in operations.
Passione Vino is the archetypal wine merchant. Luca and his team specialise exclusively in small, artisanal Italian producers, bringing wines to London’s finest sommerliers and restaurants that would never otherwise reach an English table. The business thrives on relationships, storytelling and deep knowledge of Italian wines, producers and unique terrior.
But the operational reality of running a wine import business was consuming the team. Procurement from nearly 100 Italian producers, cross-border logistics, inventory tracking, invoicing on-trade clients and managing working capital were all handled manually across disconnected systems. All that work pulled resource away from what actually makes the business great – selling great Italian wines.
The Solution
One operating system for procurement, inventory and trade sales
Procurement orchestration
Fero platform manages purchasing across nearly 100 Italian wineries – coordinating orders, consolidating shipments and handling cross-border logistics. Embedded funding means Passione Vino now buys upfront, transforming their reputation with producers who previously demanded payment on delivery.
Inventory management
All stock is tracked through the platform from the moment it leaves Italy to the moment it reaches a London restaurant. Real-time visibility into stock levels, valuations, and sales velocity. The Fero platform replaces the manual spreadsheets that previously consumed operational hours.
Direct-to-on-trade sales
Fero’s Trade Sales module handles allocation, fulfilment to restaurants and customers, invoicing and collections – automating the administrative burden so Luca’s team can focus on what they do best: selling great Italian wine and building relationships with producers, exisiting clients and new customers.
“The digital infrastructure that Fero provides — that operating system layer for the industry — really allows businesses like Passione Vino to focus on where it counts.”
Mitch, Founder & CEO - Fero
“The producers are coming to us now because they know we buy upfront. As soon as we pick up the goods, you get paid. That’s unheard of in this market.”
Luca, Founder - Passione Vino
“Fero will be my best partner in this because they oblige me to focus on cost. And when you are an ebullient personality like me — that matters.”
Luca, Founder - Passione Vino
The Platform
Replacing manual processes with digital infrastructure
Supplier management
Nearly 100 producer relationships coordinated through one system — orders, payments, shipping and compliance all in one place.
Automated fulfilment
From Italian vineyards to London restaurants, all logistics are orchestrated through the platform, including import/export documentation.
Inventory intelligence
Real-time stock tracking, valuation and sales velocity data – the same system that manages stock also generates the insight to optimise it.
Invoicing & collections
On-trade customer invoicing and payment collection is automated, which removes the administrative overhead that was consuming operational resource.
Embedded funding
Capital to purchase stock upfront flows through the platform invisibly. Passione Vino went from negotiating payment terms to paying producers on delivery. This is a competitive advantage in the Italian market.
Cost control & margin visibility
Complete visibility into landed costs, carrying costs and margins per SKU, enabling data-driven portfolio decisions in a market where costs have doubled in a decade.
The Results
From manual operations to a platform-powered wine business
Passione Vino replaced manual procurement, inventory tracking and sales administration with one integrated operating system. The team that used to spend their days on spreadsheets and invoicing, now spends it with sommeliers, restaurateurs, producersand clients. They focus on the the work that actually grows the business.
With embedded funding flowing through the platform, Passione Vino transformed from a business negotiating payment terms with Italian producers to one that pays upfront on every purchase. This is a real competitive advantage that has exclusive producers now actively seeking them out. Operating margins have improved, capital efficiency is up and the business runs on two-thirds less operational resource than before.
Luca's team can focus on Wines. Fero’s operating system handles everything else.
66%
Reduction in operational resource requirement
98+
Wineries managed through one platform
Improved operating margins and capital efficiency
0
Outstanding debts to Italian producers – all paid upfront
Ready to run your business on one system?
See how Fero’s operating system can transform your supply chain.