Pasta

This report aims to analyse the current payment behaviour within the Pasta sector, drawing upon a dataset of 12 distinct companies. The sample provides a focused snapshot of financial discipline and liquidity management across the industry. Upon reviewing the central tendency metrics, the sector demonstrates a relatively stable payment culture. The average payment time stands at 34.7 days, which is closely aligned with the median payment time of 37 days. This proximity between the mean and the median suggests a balanced distribution without significant skew caused by extreme outliers. Furthermore, the standard deviation of 13.1 days indicates that whilst there is some variance in settlement speeds, the majority of companies cluster reasonably close to the monthly payment cycle, reflecting a standard 30-day term adherence with a slight administrative lag.

When we organise the data into specific distribution bands, it becomes evident that the centre of gravity for this sector lies in the moderate category. The largest cohort, representing 41.7% of the sample (5 companies), settles invoices between 31 and 45 days. Combined with the 33.3% of companies (4 entities) that fall into the 'Fast' category of 0–30 days, it is clear that three-quarters of the sector manages to settle obligations within a standard commercial timeframe. Crucially, there are no companies recorded in the 'Very Slow' (61–90 days) or 'Critical' (90+ days) categories. This absence of extreme delinquency suggests that credit risk professionals specialising in this market can expect a lower probability of bad debt write-offs compared to more volatile industries. However, whilst the lack of critical delays is positive, one must realise that a quarter of the companies still fall into the 46–60 day bracket, indicating that cash flow pressure or administrative inefficiencies persist in a minority of cases.

A deeper examination of the performance breakdown and quartile analysis provides further insight into the reliability of these firms. The 25th percentile sits at a prompt 25 days, whilst the 75th percentile extends to 47 days, creating an interquartile range of 22 days. This range implies that amongst the middle 50% of companies, payment terms are generally respected, though vendors should be prepared for settlements to drift into the second month. The performance breakdown highlights that 46.3% of invoices are paid within 30 days, yet a notable 15.9% of payments are classified as late. The swiftest payer in the group settles accounts in just 8 days—an exceptional performance that contrasts sharply with the slowest payer at 57 days. Nevertheless, the fact that the worst performer is still under 60 days reinforces the view that the sector maintains a cap on excessive delays.

Finally, the geographic distribution of the sample heavily favours the East of England, which accounts for one-third of the companies analysed, followed by an equal split between Yorkshire and The Humber and London. Whilst the sample size prevents definitive regional conclusions, the concentration in the East of England and London suggests these hubs are significant for the Pasta sector's financial activity. In conclusion, the Pasta sector displays a disciplined payment profile. Vendors trading with these companies should anticipate a median wait of 37 days, but can take comfort in the data showing zero instances of payments stretching beyond 60 days, indicating a robust and reliable payment behaviour across the board.