Bridge launches $500M fund for retail suppliers

Bridge, the Citi-backed AI lending platform, has launched a $500 million direct lending fund for CPG brands and retail suppliers serving major retailers including Walmart. The move is meant to close the cash-flow gap between production and retailer payment, giving suppliers faster access to capital without giving up equity.

Why it matters: - Retail suppliers often have to finance manufacturing, packaging, freight and compliance before a retailer pays. - Bridge’s new fund is designed to help brands accept larger orders without draining operating cash or turning to dilutive equity. - The launch targets suppliers selling into America’s largest retailers, where fast production capital can determine whether an order ships on time.

What happened: - Bridge announced a $500 million direct lending fund for CPG brands and retail suppliers fulfilling purchase orders for major retailers. - The company said the fund is purpose-built for suppliers serving America’s largest retailers. - Bridge has deployed more than $800 million and financed hundreds of growing businesses since spinning out from Citi in 2023. - Bridge highlighted recent work with Walmart, including financing DogSauce’s expansion from 1,200 to more than 3,000 Walmart stores on a single order.

The details: - Bridge funds up to 100% of a brand’s production costs on expected or confirmed orders. - The underwriting model is built around how major retailers buy and how brands get paid. - Repayment is structured around when brands receive payment from retailers. - Bridge said its approach looks forward at upcoming orders rather than backward at historical profits and delivered invoices. - The company said financing is available in days, subject to credit approval, final terms and availability. - DogSauce founder Dakota Sheets said the financing gap between production and payment is real and that Bridge made it possible to fill orders without giving up equity. - Walmart Senior Director of Global Treasury Brandy Newhof said Bridge’s Purchase Order Financing Program gives Walmart suppliers another option for funding orders.

Between the lines: - Bridge is betting that AI underwriting can make retail-supplier lending faster and more tailored than legacy bank models. - The company is framing the product as a way to fund the hardest part of growth: inventory build before revenue is collected. - Bridge says volatility in tariffs, freight, oil prices and consumer demand is increasing pressure on suppliers with the least cushion. - The fund also positions Bridge deeper inside retailer supply chains, where funding access can affect assortment, inventory levels and store expansion.

What's next: - Bridge will use the new fund to expand financing for suppliers that win large purchase orders from major retailers. - The company will continue offering capital to brands that need to produce inventory before retailer payment arrives. - Bridge said access to production capital should help suppliers scale while keeping products moving through the supply chain. - More information is available at the company’s website.

The bottom line: - Bridge is turning retailer purchase orders into a financing product, with a $500 million pool aimed at helping suppliers grow without giving up ownership.