Western Australia’s flagship food and beverage trade show, Meet the Buyer, will return to Crown Perth on 20 October 2026, bringing together producers, buyers and industry representatives for a day focused on commercial partnerships and market opportunities in the state’s food manufacturing and production sectors.
According to Meet the Buyer, the event is Western Australia’s only dedicated food and beverage trade show and is the flagship initiative of the Buy West Eat Best program, administered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Now entering its sixth year, the trade show is set to again connect WA growers, producers, fishers and food and beverage manufacturers with buyers from retail, hospitality, foodservice, airlines, aged care, education, resources and export markets.
Organisers said the 2025 event recorded its strongest results to date, with 85 exhibitors presenting more than 570 WA food and beverage products to over 400 delegates. Meet the Buyer reported that 78 per cent of participants formed new business connections, while 90 per cent said they would recommend the event.
Deborah Pett said the event continued to support the growth and visibility of the state’s food and beverage industry.
“Meet the Buyer plays a critical role in strengthening WA’s food and beverage industry,” Pett said.
“Meet the Buyer creates direct commercial pathways for WA producers and reflects the strength and diversity of what our state grows, farms, fishes, and produces.”
Pett said the 2025 event also attracted international interest through a TradeStart delegation comprising representatives from 12 countries.
“In 2025 we welcomed a 22-strong TradeStart delegation from 12 countries who came specifically to find WA products worth taking to the world, and they found them. We’re looking forward to building on that this year,” she said.
For exhibitors, the event has also provided opportunities to connect with interstate and overseas buyers. Rademi Enterprises participated in the 2025 event with its Amaise popcorn range.
Milan Vaswani said access to delegates was a key benefit of attending the trade show.
“The introduction to interstate and international delegates was a standout of the trade show; that kind of access is hard to create anywhere else, and it’s exactly why Meet the Buyer provides a unique opportunity for local producers,” Vaswani said.
Meet the Buyer said WA food and beverage businesses interested in exhibiting at the 2026 event are encouraged to submit expressions of interest early, following a full sell-out of exhibition space in 2025. Buyers, retailers, chefs, distributors and foodservice operators can also register as delegates through the event website.
