Eighty-five exhibitors are set to showcase up to 600 products at the sixth annual Meet The Buyer™ food and beverage trade show on Tuesday, 20 October at Crown Perth.
Presented by the State Government’s Buy West Eat Best program, Meet the Buyer™ is Western Australia’s only dedicated food and beverage industry and business trade show and networking forum. Growing year on year, exhibitor space for the 2026 event sold out quickly and delegate registrations are at a record high.
Melissa Worthington, program manager of Buy West Eat Best at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, said Meet The Buyer™ remained WA’s key platform for local producers and suppliers.
“Each year, we hear success stories resulting from attendance at Meet the Buyer™, of how connections have led to new business, new distribution channels, or business collaborations,” said Melissa.
One example is Corner Dairy in Doubleview which attended and now lists products from La Delizia Latticini and Halls Family Dairy on its menu. Head chef Dave Thornton has attended every Meet the Buyer™ event, and last year Owner Manager Ben Wood brought the whole kitchen team.
“Normally there’s a delivery driver bringing produce, so it’s great to meet the people behind the business,” said Ben. “It’s about making those connections and building those relationships. Then, when you do need something at the last minute, they are only too happy to help.”
WA Chip attended Meet the Buyer™ for the first time last year and met a Singapore supplier to Michelin-star restaurants, who showed interest and requested samples ahead of importing the finished frozen product.
“For local producers who have secured an exhibition space, they’ll have the opportunity to connect with buyers and distributors, who will be able to meet producers face to face and discover new products. Everyone is there to ultimately secure commercial outcomes, all under one roof and in one day,” explained Melissa.
“The reputation of Meet the Buyer™ as WA’s only dedicated local food and beverage exhibition trade show now consistently attracts delegates from around the state, across the country and from overseas.”
Delegates include major supermarket retailers, independent gourmet grocers, chefs, restaurateurs, hospitality and catering groups, sommeliers, importers, aged care providers, media and educators.
“The relaxed and collaborative atmosphere of the trade show is deliberate, to foster meaningful conversations without the pressure of predetermined timed meetings,” said Melissa.
“For delegates, it’s a day of discovery and opportunity, of finding new suppliers and new ingredients to showcase on a menu or in stores, and importantly, a chance to actually meet the people behind the brands. Over the past five years, there have been many success stories as a result of business done at Meet the Buyer™. It’s where business connections are made and opportunities grow.”
Independent feedback from previous Meet the Buyer™ participants shows strong commercial outcomes for WA businesses with almost 80 per cent establishing new business contacts, 70 per cent reporting a positive commercial outcome, and 30 per cent reporting increased sales or revenue within six months.
WA’s food and beverage manufacturing sector is a significant contributor to the State’s economy, with $9.75 billion in turnover in 2024–25 (up 10 per cent), 1,870 businesses (up 8.3 per cent) and more than 22,000 people employed. For every job in the sector, an additional seven people are employed across the supply chain, equating to more than 150,000 jobs.
Buy West Eat Best is a voluntary food labelling and marketing initiative developed by the Western Australian Government to assist local food and beverage producers to promote their products to consumers whether they be grocery shoppers or those that dine out.
For more information about Meet the Buyer™, visit meetthebuyer.com.au.
(images : supplied)
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