The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word FOLLOW-ON
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
F
O
L
L
O
W
-
O
N
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Receive deliveries earlier than planned" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case receive deliveries earlier than planned = follow-on.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does FOLLOW-ON mean?
FOLLOW-ON noun- The act of a captain forcing the other side to bat again immediately after their first innings.
- Something that follows as a natural or logical consequence, development, or progression.
- Baby formula (breast milk substitute) for slightly older infants.