Assembled Brands Provides Senior Credit Facility to Cream Co. Meats to Scale Ranch-Direct Supply Chain

Assembled Brands is proud to announce the closing of a new senior line of credit for Cream Co. Meats, a 100% natural whole-animal butchery and distributor of sustainable and regenerative proteins. This facility provides the non-dilutive working capital needed to scale their ranch-direct supply chain and meet growing regional wholesale demand, supporting their mission to revolutionize a highly commoditized industry and create new ways for people to enjoy animal proteins responsibly. 

Bridging the Wholesale Cash Gap

The American meat industry is defined by extreme consolidation, with just four major corporations controlling the vast majority of the market. By operating a transparent, whole-animal supply chain, Cream Co. Meats is building the critical infrastructure required for a more resilient, sustainable, and regionalized food system. They provide a sophisticated alternative to industrial meat, connecting an elite roster of wholesale partners directly to the regenerative stewards of our land. 

Operating three distribution facilities spanning two major markets requires a partner that understands the wholesale gap, the timing delay between paying independent ranching partners and receiving payment from large-scale buyers. 

“Revolutionizing the meat industry requires more than just better ranching; it requires a financial partner that understands the velocity of a transparent supply chain,” said Clifford Pollard, Founder & CEO of Cream Co. Meats. “Assembled Brands recognizes that our regional, ranch-direct model is a strategic asset, not a risk. This facility provides the non-dilutive backbone we need to scale on our own terms, ensuring that as we grow, our focus remains exactly where it should be: creating exceptional, high-quality products championed by the integrity of our land, animals, and ranching partners.” 

Liquidity Without Dilution

While venture capital (like Cream Co.’s recent Series A) is essential for infrastructure, it is not an effective way to fund daily cash-flow cycles. Assembled Brands’ model allows founders to scale without equity dilution.

Key features of the partnership include:

• Scalable Accordion Feature: The credit line expands as Cream Co. lands larger wholesale contracts.
• Operational Autonomy: No lockboxes or personal guarantees, leaving Cream Co. in 100% control of their bank accounts.
• Capital Velocity: Converting money in transit (accounts receivable) into immediate working capital to fund the next shipment.

"Too many great brands hit a ceiling with their lender right when momentum is building," says Kunal Kohli, Managing Director at Assembled Brands. "Cream Co. had outgrown its previous structure; it was too narrow to support where they were headed. We refinanced them into a facility built for scale and flexibility without the restrictive terms or the equity trade-off.”

The Foundation for Sustainable Growth

“What stood out from an originations perspective was the strength of Cream Co.’s customer base,” said Abby Jonathan, VP of Originations at Assembled Brands. “Because they serve such high-caliber customers, their accounts receivable are incredibly high-quality assets. Our goal was to provide the liquidity needed to bridge the gap between production and payment, allowing the team to reinvest in their supply chain the moment a shipment leaves the dock.”

What’s more, by optimizing their cash flow, Cream Co. can provide more consistent, predictable off-take agreements for West Coast ranchers transitioning to regenerative practices—a crucial component in stabilizing the regional food economy. 

Through this facility, Cream Co. is positioned to deepen its roots in the West Coast food community while maintaining the independence that defines the brand.

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