The Marzetti Company Drives Fast, Efficient Credit Onboarding with D&B Finance Analytics

The Marzetti Company, known for its salad dressings, dips, New York Bakery frozen breads, pasta, and Sister Schubert’s rolls, serves both retail and foodservice customers throughout the United States. As demand grew, so did the complexity of managing new customer credit applications. The Accounts Receivable team, led by Joelene Lowe, AR & Credit Supervisor, needed a faster, more reliable, and more consistent process to evaluate credit risk and set appropriate terms.

The Challenge: Modernize Customer Application Workflows

For years, Marzetti relied on a manual, paper-based credit application process. Sales teams distributed forms to customers, who often returned them incomplete. Applications moved back and forth across Sales, Customer Service, and Accounts Receivable, with each stakeholder identifying missing or incorrect information. This caused delays, created inconsistencies, and added work across all teams.

If a salesperson left the company, applications stored in their email could be lost entirely, making it difficult to reference prior decisions or confirm recommended and approved credit limits. The company needed a centralized, structured, digital credit intake process — one that enforced required fields, delivered complete applications on the first attempt, and provided trusted third-party data to guide credit decisions and improve automation.

The Solution: Digital Transformation to Streamline AR Processes

Marzetti selected D&B Finance Analytics to modernize and streamline the credit application experience. With a customized online credit application, customers are now required to complete every essential field before submitting. This speeds up the customer application workflow and ensures the Accounts Receivable team receives complete, accurate applications from the start.

Applications are stored in a centralized portal, making it easy to reference historical information and validate returning customers. Joelene can quickly confirm updated business details and review Dun & Bradstreet’s recommended credit limits, helping the team make more confident, data-driven decisions.

Implementation was fast and straightforward. “Getting onboarded with D&B Finance Analytics was very easy — just a few meetings,” Joelene noted.

The Impact: Faster Credit Onboarding, Fewer Bottlenecks

The shift to digital credit onboarding created immediate improvements across Marzetti’s credit and sales functions. Due in part to automated credit decisions, approval turnaround times are now typically less than 24 hours — an important advantage for customers who are ready to place orders quickly.

With required fields and documentation captured upfront, the Accounts Receivable team spends far less time gathering missing information. Sales and administrative teams also benefit from a smoother handoff process, with complete customer details available from the beginning.

Dun & Bradstreet’s recommended credit limits provide an objective foundation for decision-making, reducing friction between departments and enabling clearer communication with customers. The team continues to meet its 99 percent collections target, supported by timely and accurate data.

Enabling Sales Adoption with Hands-On Support

Adoption across Sales, including long-tenured team members, was smoother than expected. With fewer administrative steps and clearer guidance, the digital workflow quickly became the preferred approach.

Joelene also emphasized the level of support provided by Dun & Bradstreet. The customer service team remained responsive, proactive, and detail-oriented throughout implementation and beyond, supporting a smooth transition.

Recommendation: D&B Finance Analytics for Efficient Credit Review

Joelene recommends D&B Finance Analytics to organizations seeking a clearer, more efficient, and more consistent credit review process. The combination of structured applications, comprehensive data, and intuitive workflows has transformed Marzetti’s approach to onboarding and credit risk management.