When Beam Suntory rolled out their Finance & Strategy workshops, the goal was to build commercial acumen across teams. It did more than that.

One Production group leader came away from the Income|Outcome workshop with a new understanding of cash flow. They realized that excess inventory wasn’t just a storage issue — it was a working capital drain.

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By taking a closer look at agave stock levels, they set a goal to reduce unnecessary inventory, freeing up 294,000 Mexican pesos (about $15,000 USD) in working capital.

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The change wasn’t a one-off. It became a cornerstone of Beam’s supply chain strategy, proving how financial insight can optimize day-to-day operations.

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What Happened Here?

Insight: The leader applied cash flow principles to reassess inventory management.

Action: They set a target to reduce excess stock, freeing up capital.‍

Result:

• 294,000 pesos freed up in working capital.
• A lasting shift in supply chain strategy to focus on leaner inventory management.

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→Control of Working Capital is a Better Business Result!

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The Program

This was a 2-day Finance & Strategy program, tailored to include some dynamics specific to the beverage industry. Over a 2-year period, the program was rolled out to over 500 people in the Americas and Europe. We partnered with Percept Research to conduct pre- and post-workshop surveys measuring the impact. Six weeks after the workshop, participants reported significant improvements in their business acumen, with noticeable gains in decision-making, alignment with company goals, and understanding of financial health.

Today Beam Suntory continues to build commercial acumen using the Income|Outcome business simulation.

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