WA food and beverage businesses connected with local, national and international buyers at the third annual Buy West Eat Best Meet the Buyer trade event, with a turnout of 80 exhibitors.
Combined, the food and beverage manufacturing and food service sectors in WA employ more than 100,000 people with an annual turnover of $16 billion.
This year, the event showcased more than 530 WA food and beverage products to around 200 prospective buyers.
Since the event first started in 2021, more than 1,400 food and beverage businesses have taken part and had the opportunity to connect with in excess of 800 buyers. The initiative is part of the State Government's Buy West Eat Best food and beverage labelling program.
Products showcased at this year's event included premium meats, seafoods, seasonal fruit, vegetables, nuts and dairy products as well as olive and canola oils and a range of Indigenous ice creams and teas, as well as a selection of WA wines, craft beers and ciders, kombucha, ready to pour cocktail mixers, cold brew tea and distillery spirits.
Regional Development minister Don Punch said WA’s food and beverage industry was a significant contributor to the state's economy and its regional and metropolitan communities.
"With exhibitors from the Gascoyne in the north, Chapman Valley in the Mid West down to the Great Southern, the Meet the Buyer event provides the perfect opportunity for businesses to make new connections to expand their business.
"This will have flow-on benefits for our regional communities with opportunities to create more jobs to support business growth,” said Punch.
