Drought in much of the country and rising commodity prices will ratchet up the pressure on the state's food manufacturing industry, the WA Business News forum heard.
Changing diets in the world's emerging economies and global food security issues could potentially present the local food industry with a wealth of opportunities.
The food industry has questioned the effectiveness of the Department of Agriculture and Food's latest marketing campaign to encourage consumers to buy locally made products.
Taking over one of Perth's most popular eateries in the middle of the economic boom is among the biggest challenges Albasio La Pegna, the man who brought Funtastico to Subiaco, can recall during his 25-year career.
The availability of high-quality black truffles so close to Perth has led many Perth chefs to include the black fungi in their menus, while the season is on.
The food-manufacturing sector requires urgent action from government if it is to remain viable in the future, according to industry representatives at the WA Business News forum.
The Western Australian food manufacturing industry is at a crossroads, with rising costs and a changing retail marketplace threatening the sector's future viability. Janelle Macri reports.
Ask the average punter in Perth where to find good coffee, quality wine, fine dining and boutique designer outlets, all in a street with a heritage feel, and they'll probably tell you to try a different state.
The state's food and beverage manufacturing sector believes the fallout from the gas crisis could be felt for years, not months, as it faces the challenge of rebuilding customer relationships and workforces once normal gas supply resumes.
The $25 million restoration of St Mary's Cathedral is on track for completion next year, but the Catholic Church hopes it is just the beginning of a major redevelopment of the area that could lead to a mixed retail, office and residential precinct leading
Food critics the world over know that the quality and the source of the products on the plate of a fine dining restaurant are just as important as the skills of the person who cooked it, or the environment in which it is served.
As the price of soft commodities - referring to commodities that are grown, rather than mined - has departed from historical trend lines, a great deal of attention has been focused on food riots in developing nations, the debate over the environmental ben
Specialist mining and energy software developer ISS Group Ltd has branched out into the food and beverage sector following a deal with Mars Snackfood to utilise its BabelFish software.
Rising rents and onerous planning requirements could cost Subiaco its place among Perth's premium cafe and restaurant strips, with a number of food businesses closing their doors in recent months.
Residents of, and visitors to, the northern beaches along West Coast Drive have plenty of cafe options available to them on lazy weekend mornings, but it seems one venue in particular has cast a spell over the coffee crowd.
While hospitality awards often feature Perth Metro and the South West operators, country pubs had an opportunity to compete against their peers at the inaugural WA's Best Country Pub Steak Sandwich Co
