The challenge
Traditional FX systems squeezed growth
Sunrise Products is a UK-based food wholesale business that specializes in importing ambient grocery products from Asia. While primarily working with suppliers in Sri Lanka, the company has plans to expand into India and Thailand as well. Launched in January 2025, Sunrise Products has quickly built a loyal customer base in the independent retail and cash-and-carry sectors while completing eight successful consignments.
Starting a new import business in a volatile FX environment posed significant challenges as Nalin Perera, Founder and General Manager, Sunrise Products Ltd, explains, “I knew from experience managing a different importer that having a reliable way to manage international payments, secure competitive exchange rates, and minimize FX risk was critical to getting Sunrise Products up and running smoothly.”
Sunrise Products makes monthly USD payments to suppliers, while being paid by customers in GBP. Even a small amount of volatility in this currency pair can squeeze the profits of small business aiming to offer competitive pricing to its customers.
“FX is a crucial factor for importation, and I needed the best rates,” says Nalin. “However, I also needed a payments system that didn’t slow me down. I quickly realized that traditional FX providers required extensive documentation and lacked the flexibility and support that a small business like mine needs.”
The solution
Fast onboarding and real-time FX
Having worked with Convera in his previous role, Nalin understood that the commercial payments provider was the best fit for his new venture. The decision was driven by trust, familiarity, and the ease of onboarding.
“Unlike other providers, Convera offered a streamlined setup process that required only minimal documentation to get up and running. As a new small business that I run on my own, I didn’t have time to create detailed forecasts before a provider agreed to work with me.” Nalin explains.
Convera also introduced Nalin to its user-friendly FX portal where he can monitor exchange rates in real time and initiate spot transactions at his convenience, without having to contact multiple FX brokers. “The FX portal saves me a lot of time, and I know that if I ever need assistance the team is just a phone call away and always happy to help.”
The results
Confident growth with FX support
The flexibility to monitor exchange rates in real-time has been a game changer for Nalin. “The technology is great. It’s now much more efficient to manage my payments. Every day I log into Convera’s EDGE platform for access to real-time rates and if the spot market looks good, I pay my suppliers. It’s that simple.” Nalin says.
“With Convera, I’m confident that I have access to competitive exchange rates without the hassle of contacting a range of brokers. And, when I need it, I can easily reach out to the team for personalized service which is reassuring.”
Looking to the future, Nalin has plans to develop a currency risk management strategy as his business grows and his needs become more complex. “I am already speaking with the team about using forward contracts to lock in a GBP exchange rate in advance1,” Nalin explains. “This will help me forecast, budget, and set pricing with more accuracy as my business expands into new markets and my number of consignments increases.”
Sunrise Products’ journey highlights how Convera empowers small businesses to navigate global markets with confidence. Through a combination of technology, expertise, and human support, Convera has become a trusted partner in Sunrise Products’ rapid growth. “Convera has definitely simplified how I manage FX and payments, and I would not hesitate to recommend their service to other small businesses,” Nalin concludes.
With Convera, I’m confident that I have access to competitive exchange rates without the hassle of contacting a range of brokers. And, when I need it, I can easily reach out to the team for personalized service which is reassuring.”
Nalin Perera
Founder and General Manager, Sunrise Products Ltd
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