MEET THE BUYER™

For Milan Vaswani, Director of New Product Development at Rademi Enterprises, the decision to take their Amaise popcorn range to Meet the Buyer™ for the first time last year came with a question most small producers know well: will the right people actually be in the room? They absolutely were.

Words Sasha Ezekiel, Meet the Buyer

“THE introduction to interstate and international delegates was a standout of the trade show,” Vaswani said. “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.”

It’s a sentiment that echoes across the 2025 trade show results. 85 exhibitors brought more than 570 WA food and beverage products to Crown Perth, welcoming more than 400 delegates in a single day. 78 per cent formed new business connections, and 90 per cent said they would recommend the event.

Now in its sixth year, Meet the Buyer™ is the flagship trade show of the Buy West Eat Best program, administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. It remains WA’s only dedicated food and beverage trade show and its development reflects something straightforward: WA producers make exceptional product, and buyers are increasingly looking for it.

Chef Russell Blaikie samples some Tucker Bush native herbs.

Rademi Enterprises Milan Vaswani showcasing the Amaise popcorn product.

“The challenge initially proved getting both groups into the same room. However, the rapid growth and reputation for the diversity of exhibitors and products showcased, now sees quality buyers come from retail, hospitality, foodservice, airlines, aged care, education, resources, and export; categories that are difficult and expensive to reach independently.”

Melissa Worthington, Program Manager

For a grower or small producer, building those relationships through conventional channels takes years. Meet the Buyer™ compresses that into a single day” she added.

The international dimension is growing too. In 2025, a 22-strong TradeStart delegation from 12 countries attended specifically to source WA products for global markets, providing the kind of access that changes the trajectory of a business.

Meet the Buyer™ 2026 returns to the Grand Ballroom at Crown Perth on Tuesday, 20 October. The 2025 floor sold out entirely, so producers are encouraged to lodge an expression of interest early at meetthebuyer.com.au. Buyers, retailers, chefs, distributors, and foodservice operators can register as delegates at the same address.

For those wondering whether it’s worth a day away from the farm or the kitchen, the answer is consistent: the room works. The connections made at Meet the Buyer™ are not networking for its own sake, they are commercial relationships that put WA products on shelves, menus, and into export containers.

One trade show. One day. And with 90 per cent of participants recommending the experience, it’s a room everyone in the industry should support.

MORE INFORMATION

Visit www.meetthebuyer.com.au for more information or follow on socials at @buywesteatbest to keep across program activity.