Revenue, margin and cash flow gaps identified within 48 hours of your evidence pack
FMCG Dumpling Manufacturer
Case Study
Industry
FMCG, chilled and frozen dumpling manufacturing
Engagement
Fixer48 Advisory was engaged to stabilise cash flow fast, stop trading losses, protect retailer supply continuity, and deliver a practical 30-day stabilisation and growth plan that management could execute with clear owners and due dates.
Starting position
The business faced acute cash pressure and operational instability. Service risk to major retailers sat high due to scheduling gaps, supply interruptions, packaging constraints, and 3PL performance issues. Margin and working capital controls required immediate tightening.
Key challenges
- Cash runway risk, urgent need to extend runway and improve collections and payables control
- Margin leakage across retailer terms, promo mechanics, pricing, and cost inputs
- Production inefficiency, weak schedule discipline, and recurring material availability issues
- Service failure risk across DIFOT and retailer compliance requirements
- Supply chain constraints including packaging lead times, pallet availability, and cold storage capacity
- Limited growth focus due to firefighting, with new range development needing a structured, data-backed pathway
Fixer48 approach
Stabilise first, then reset margin and working capital, then lock in execution discipline, then create 3 growth bets with clear rules to stop discounting and operational drift returning.
What Fixer48 delivered
- Rapid diagnostic and stabilisation actions
Cash controls and prioritisation to protect critical payments, maintain supply continuity, and extend runway. Immediate focus on collections, stock exposure, and stop-supply risk across key suppliers. - Commercial reset, sales and retailer management
Category and range reviews to remove low-return complexity and prioritise profitable lines.
Account plans by major retailer with clear targets on price, promo, mix, and compliance.
Data-led scan insights applied to pricing, promo evaluation, and range decisions.
New product development pipeline built with structured stage gates, resulting in 30+ concepts developed.
Retailer range wins secured across Woolworths, Coles, and Aldi, adding 9 new lines. - Operations reset and service recovery
Production scheduling rebuilt to improve throughput, reduce changeovers, and lift plan adherence.
Raw material purchasing and stock settings reviewed, supplier agreements reset, shortages eliminated.
DIFOT uplift programme implemented, with daily focus on root causes and constraints.
Packaging supply changed to reduce lead times and lower cost exposure.
Chep pallet supply secured and additional freezer capacity arranged to remove dispatch and storage bottlenecks.
3PL replaced to reduce cost, lift service, and improve retailer delivery performance.
Measured Outcomes:
- Stabilised the business and reduced immediate cash risk through tighter working capital control and supply continuity actions
- Improved DIFOT performance and customer confidence through disciplined scheduling and supply chain fixes
- Reduced cost and lead time exposure through packaging and 3PL changes
- Increased sales momentum through retailer account plans and range approvals, including 9 new lines
- Built a repeatable innovation engine with 30+ new product concepts supported by data and clear decision rules
What changed in the business:
- Management shifted from reactive firefighting to a controlled execution plan with weekly tracking
- Service performance moved from inconsistent to governed, with clear ownership across production, supply, and logistics
- Retailer conversations moved from price pressure to structured range and growth plans backed by scan data and performance facts
- The business regained the capacity to grow while holding margin and protecting delivery
Key Insight
Low-margin, high-volume food manufacturing needs daily operational discipline and weekly commercial control. Without tight scheduling, supplier reliability, and retailer term governance, cash and service risk escalate fast. When you lock those controls in, growth becomes achievable without destroying margin.
Fit for Fixer48 Offer
This engagement reflects the Fixer48 48-Hour Plan outcome, a fast diagnostic, immediate stabilisation actions, and a practical 30-day implementation roadmap focused on cash control, margin recovery, service reliability, and 3 clear growth plans.
