With over 30 years of continuous growth, DCS Group has become the UK’s leading distributor of major household and personal care brands. As a trusted supply chain organisation, it delivers an unmatched range of market-leading products to its customers. As DCS expands, it relies on Coface as a vital partner in reaching its goals.
A leading distributor of household and personal care brands
Founded in 1994, DCS Group is the UK’s leading distributor of FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) brands, representing huge giants within the industry. Serving over 500 customers, from independent wholesalers to major retail chains, the company not only excels in distribution but also operates its own manufacturing facility. Here, it produces private-label toiletries and its own Enliven range, further diversifying its portfolio.
Growth without growing pains
DCS has achieved significant and rapid growth by focusing on its core strengths. As CFO, Johnathan Berry explains, “Focusing on what we know and what we’re good at” underpins the company’s strategy.
This approach includes seizing opportunities, like partnering with major retail chains to expand its health and beauty offering. A collaboration that Jonathan Berry describes as a “great success” and a testament to DCS’s ability to deliver value to its customers.
Despite its impressive growth trajectory, DCS is facing financial challenges familiar to many businesses: rising interest rates, labour costs, and transport expenses. To maintain its sustainable growth, DCS relies on its own internal Risk Committee’s strategies, including effective credit management and trade credit insurance, which it considers mission-critical in navigating these pressures.
Doubling sales, avoiding bad debts: how Coface's solution helps DCS focus on growth
For over a decade, Coface has supported DCS Group with its TradeLiner policy, a flexible trade credit insurance solution that includes:
- Real-time credit risk monitoring for customer accounts.
- Insurance against payment defaults, protecting up to 90% of unpaid invoices.
- Debt collection services to recover overdue payments quickly and effectively.
Tailored to DCS’s needs, the TradeLiner policy provides additional cover options when required and empowers the company to focus on growth with confidence. Over the past decade, Coface has supported DCS as it doubled its sales and avoided potentially painful bad debts. “Coface trade credit insurance just makes life easy,” says Johnathan Berry, CFO of DCS Group, highlighting how it gives DCS the freedom to concentrate on its growth strategy.
Insights to make timely decisions and avoid losses
Coface’s partnership with DCS has played a pivotal role in the distributor’s success.
We’ve probably escaped a few bad debts over the years because Coface flagged risks early on, their insights helped us make timely decisions and avoid losses. It’s that peace of mind that allows us to focus on growing the business.
Johnathan Berry
When an invoice is overdue, DCS relies on Coface to either collect the outstanding amount or cover up to 90% of the debt. “It might not necessarily become a claim,” Johnathan Berry explains, “but having a third party with authority to chase payments is very effective.”
A vital support to accelerate toward the future
Marking its 30th anniversary with ~€350m in annual sales, DCS has set ambitious goals to reach €500m. With its unique ability to simplify supply chains and add value to its customers, the company is well positioned to achieve these targets. “We need service providers that can go on the journey with us. We’ve more than doubled our sales growth in my time at DCS and Coface has always supported us as we’ve grown by giving us more cover when we've needed it.” – analyses Jonathan Berry.
As DCS scales, Coface remains a partner of choice, providing the credit management tools needed to protect its balance sheet and seize new opportunities. "Coface’s consistent support has been crucial to our journey," adds Johnathan. "Their team is knowledgeable, collaborative, and always ready to provide the cover we need. We’d certainly recommend them to any business looking for comprehensive trade credit insurance.”- says Jonathan Berry.
Why choose Coface?
For almost 80 years, we empowers businesses, like DCS Group, to transform credit risk into opportunities for growth.
As a global leading player in trade credit risk management, we leverage our unique expertise and cutting-edge technology to help 100,000 clients grow across some 200 markets.
Explore our tailored solutions and expertise and contact us now to meet us and see how we can help your business achieve sustainable growth and stability.
