There’s one week to go before the Buy West Eat Best trade show, ‘Meet the Buyer,’, which will be held at Crown on 22 October.
Now in its fourth year, ‘Meet the Buyer’ is Western Australia’s largest and most diverse showcase of WA food and beverage businesses.
Buy West Eat Best program manager Melissa Worthington said exhibitor space sold out in record time and there are delegate tickets still available.
“The growth of ‘Meet the Buyer’ has been driven by the state’s agrifood business community and it’s always gratifying to hear the positive outcomes for suppliers and buyers,” Ms Worthington said.
“It’s WA’s most important food and beverage trade show, and it’s the only event of its kind that brings together buyers, importers, chefs, sommeliers, media and educators under one roof for one day,” she said.
Almost 70 percent of respondents to the 2023 ‘Meet the Buyer’ survey said their attendance had resulted in a positive commercial outcome, whether it was finding new stockists or simply gaining more knowledge about how to improve their chances of getting their products into the market or business to business connections.
Chef Paul Lange, from Smokey Q rubs and sauces, connected with a Woolworths buyer at the inaugural ‘Meet the Buyer’ and went on to pursue opportunities with a Coles representative.
“It’s really exciting for a smaller business to get that recognition from the larger players,” Mr Lange says.
More than 80 percent of respondents said the trade show had enabled them to meet buyers or business contacts they had not met previously.
Sweeter Banana Co-operative’s Doriana Mangili said Meet the Buyer has helped build relationships, opening up opportunities outside the event.
“Over the years with one retailer we would just have a bit of a yarn and then this year we were invited to attend one of their trade shows. This wouldn’t have happened without us attending ‘Meet the Buyer’ each year and getting to know them,” Ms Mangili said.
The inclusive atmosphere at ‘Meet the Buyer’ enables attendees to get to know one another in an informal setting, including at the sundowner event after the show. Many attendees have commented on the positive engagement with others and the joys of meeting new people and building their networks.
For chefs like Blair Allen, from Amelia Park Restaurant in Wilyabrup in WA’s south west, ‘Meet the Buyer’ is also a great way to catch up with suppliers who he might only otherwise deal with over the phone or email.
“Just putting faces to names was great – it just makes the whole ordering process easier,” Mr Allen said.
‘Meet the Buyer’ is also an ideas incubator, with so many people in the know at hand to offer suggestions and advice.
Almost 40 percent of respondents to the 2023 survey said they had changed their business strategy, product range or packaging as a result of ‘Meet the Buyer’.
One said they had introduced a couple of new lines, while another said they were customising products for WA companies.
Chef Rob Nixon, from That Plant Café, said it’s great to see producers take suggestions on board.
“It’s one of the best things I’ve ever been to,” Mr Nixon said.
“As chefs, we’re so busy running our own restaurant that we would have a hard time going to see one or two small-batch producers, let alone 100 or so. Here, they are all under the one roof.”
More than 92 percent of attendees said they would be returning to ‘Meet the Buyer’ in 2024.
‘Meet the Buyer’ will host more than 80 food and beverage exhibitors showcasing in excess of 550 products and is set to attract local, interstate and international visitors.
For more information about Meet the Buyer, visit meetthebuyer.com.au.
About Buy West Eat Best
The Buy West Eat Best program 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 grocery shoppers and those that dine out.
Buy West Eat Best works with members to support and promote the buy local message, highlight the importance of seasonality and champion delicious, fresh ranges of fruits and vegetables that grocery shoppers can seek out, particularly as new seasons commence.
The program works across the supply chain, from producers, processors, retail, and foodservice businesses; providing a critical conduit to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of businesses and identify source of origin for consumers. There is a vast and diverse range of local businesses and brands that are members of the Buy West Eat Best community.
When you see the distinctive Buy West Eat Best bite mark logo you can be assured that you are buying premium food that has been grown, farmed, fished, processed, prepared and served right here in WA.
The program has matured, and it is vitally important to the State from an economic and employment perspective – the food and drink industry or agrifood sector is the second largest export sector to mining and resources and critical to the diversification and sustainability of local communities across the State.
The Buy West Eat Best logo is a registered trademark owned by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), administered by government and championed by business and industry.