Focus on food, not 24-7 trading

Those who want to see 24-hour trading across the board in Western Australia will be disappointed with one of Perth's longest-running, non-stop retailer's decision to shut overnight for the first time in 17 years.

Deli chain Fresh Provisions' decision to change the Mount Lawley and Claremont store trading hours from 24-hours to 7am to 10pm, will deprive Perth's late-night punters from their main all-night retailer, as of the end of July.

Although the latest WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry poll released in April showed that there is increasing support from the Perth metropolitan area for flexible weeknight and Sunday trading, Fresh Provisions' move raises the question as to whether the 24-hour trading model can work in a city such as Perth.

However, Fresh Provisions management decided that it was time for their business to shift the focus to the food, rather than the 24-hour component.

One of the four partners in the business, Shawn Offer, told WA Business News that the decision to change the hours of the business was made to transform the perception that people have of the business.

"When people talk about Fresh Provisions they often say that it's a great 24-hour [shop] that they go out to at three in the morning to get great food...but we want the focus to be on what we do best - gourmet food - we're passionate about food," he said.

Shifting the focus to the food without the inconveniences attached to running a 24-hour shop, such as security issues or consistency of the product, will allow the business to expand in other locations according to Mr Offer.

"The business has been growing quite well and there's nothing like we do in Australia, we just don't need that 24-hour edge anymore," Mr Offer said.

Mr Offer said that the night punters only represent 10 to 15 per cent of the business.

But it is about 2,900 people who have called for the Mount Lawley Fresh Provisions to remain 24-hours, with a Facebook petition since the announcement was made.

The petition was joined by a large wave of protest, with 1,200 people joining in only a day.

"There is always that element of protest, when we opened 24-hours people said we were crazy and that we will be broke within a year, now the same thing is happening," Mr Offer said.

Fresh Provisions is owned by a group of four partners including Shawn Offer, Basil Gostis, Zoe Barratt-Hill and Tom Katselas.

The first Fresh Provisions store was opened in Mount Lawley in 1989 and commenced 24-hour trading two years later, the 24-hour Claremont store was launched in 1995. The Bicton store opened in 2005 and will remain the same as it already trades from 7am to 9pm.