Financial Ingredients for Expansion: How Food & Beverage Businesses Can Tap Incentives and Smarter Financing
From tax-exempt bonds to foreign trade zones, these underused tools can help food and beverage companies expand more efficiently.
Q&A with Alexis Pascual, SVP and Commercial Lending Group Head, First American Bank
MIAMI, Aug. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As consumer demand rises and global supply chains shift, food and beverage businesses are under pressure to grow efficiently and smartly. But many companies don't realize they already qualify for powerful financing tools that could help them scale.
We sat down with Alexis Pascual, Senior Vice President and Commercial Lending Group Head at First American Bank, ahead of his panel at the Americas Food & Beverage Show, to discuss how F&B companies can take advantage of tax incentives, manufacturing classifications, and financing strategies to drive sustainable growth.
Q: A lot of food and beverage companies may not see themselves as manufacturers. Why is that definition so important?Alexis Pascual: It's more important than most realize. Many of the new tax incentives and SBA programs are specifically geared toward manufacturers, but the definition of "manufacturer" is actually quite broad. For example, if you're bottling beverages, repackaging goods, labeling products for resale, or processing raw materials into consumer-ready items, you may qualify. Even companies that import raw materials and export finished products may meet the criteria. We always advise clients: don't assume you're excluded. You could be leaving money on the table.
So, what exactly qualifies a business as a manufacturer under these programs?In general, a company is considered a manufacturer if it:
Transforms raw materials into a new product
Produces tangible goods for sale (not services)
Operates a facility where production is the primary activity
Derives a majority of revenue from manufacturing-related work
In food and beverage, this includes everything from dairy processing and baking to bottling, canning, and packaging. A surprising number of F&B firms meet these criteria.
What are some of those programs that could benefit F&B processors or packagers?There are quite a few. One example are the ...
