Flowers

**

The Flowers sector, encompassing a relatively small sample size of three companies, demonstrates concerning payment behaviour. The average payment time of 79 days significantly exceeds what is considered standard practice across many other UK sectors. While specific sector-wide averages are constantly fluctuating, anecdotal evidence suggests that many industries aim for payment terms within the 30-60 day range. A substantial proportion of payments, only 17%, are settled within the initial 30-day window, indicating a strong tendency towards delayed settlements. This is further supported by a relatively high late payment rate of 33.33%, implying that a significant portion of invoices are not being honoured within the agreed-upon terms, whatever those may be.

These figures highlight a potential liquidity risk for suppliers to the Flowers sector. The extended payment cycle can strain working capital, impacting the ability of suppliers to invest in their own businesses and meet their financial obligations. Suppliers should be acutely aware of these prevalent delays and factor them into their financial forecasting and budgeting processes. It is crucial to negotiate payment terms rigorously and implement robust credit control procedures to mitigate the adverse effects of slow and late payments.

**