The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Buy West Eat Best (BWEB) food and beverage labelling program is meeting with increasing success.
The Department has run the program since 2008, but now independent research is showing that almost eight out of 10 shoppers (79 per cent) are familiar with the BWEB brand, an increase of 13 per cent since 2017.
Of these, more than 90 per cent of the researchers’ respondents said they believed BWEB to be important to the WA economy and to local farmers, producers, agrifood businesses and communities.
The Department’s Manager of Food Industry Development, Deborah Pett said it was fantastic to see so many West Australians recognising the benefits of buying local, seasonally fresh produce.
“Interestingly, the consumer research showed nearly half of all West Australians are buying more local produce following the challenges presented over the past year, and a third are cooking more at home,” Ms Pett said.
“We have seen similar trends overseas, and it is important that we support local businesses to optimise these opportunities through programs such as Buy West Eat Best.”
When asked about the Department’s other major project, Good Choice, WA, 76 per cent of grocery shoppers said they were aware of it.
Ms Pett said the Good Choice, WA campaign was first introduced to consumers in 2017 as a call to action for shoppers to think local, buy local and dine out local.
“WA food and beverage businesses and industry groups are also seeing the benefits of being affiliated with the Good choice, WA campaign and the distinctive BWEB logo,” Ms Pett said.
“The BWEB program currently has 186 members, including producers, processors, retailers, restaurants and distributors spread out across the State,” she said.
