Business

Zelo, a leading digital financing platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Watermelon Ecosystem, the UAE’s premier food and beverage (F&B) platform, to transform supplier cash flow management. The collaboration introduces a 24–48 hour invoice financing solution, eliminating the industry’s long-standing 60–90 day payment cycles.

The initiative directly addresses one of the F&B sector’s most pressing challenges: delayed payments that restrict suppliers from covering operational costs and pursuing growth. Through Zelo’s AI-powered automated financing platform, suppliers in Watermelon’s network of more than 1,000 F&B outlets can now convert unpaid invoices into working capital within a single business day.

Dhanush Arjun, co-founder and CEO of Zelo, said: “Cash flow is the lifeblood of any F&B supplier. Our partnership with Watermelon ensures suppliers never have to choose between taking on new business and maintaining healthy cash flow. They can now say ‘yes’ to larger orders and invest in growth opportunities immediately.”

The partnership is powered by a seamless technology integration between Zelo’s financing platform and Watermelon’s F&B ecosystem. Suppliers can select invoices for financing in just a few clicks, with funds disbursed under a transparent pay-as-you-go pricing model.

Omar Al Shamsi, CEO of Watermelon Ecosystem, added: “We’re creating a more resilient F&B ecosystem. When our supplier partners have the financial resources they need to succeed, it creates a more stable and reliable supply chain for our entire network.”

Key benefits of the partnership

For F&B suppliers:

• Access cash in 24–48 hours instead of waiting 60–90 days

• Take on larger orders without cash flow constraints

• Invest in equipment, inventory, and expansion opportunities

• Maintain competitive pricing with stronger liquidity

For F&B outlets:

• Strengthen supplier relationships through faster payments

• Ensure supply chain reliability

• Benefit from a financially stable supplier network

• Reduce risks of supply chain disruptions

The collaboration not only strengthens the UAE’s F&B sector but also sets a new benchmark for supply chain financing in the region. Both companies plan to expand the partnership into other GCC markets and introduce additional financial products such as equipment financing and supply chain-focused solutions.

Zelo operates under full compliance as a licensed entity with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in Abu Dhabi Global Market. The platform ensures high security standards through encrypted transactions and strict data privacy protocols.

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