Brent sits down with Wes Lambert CEO of Australian Restaurant & Café Association to unpack the growing pressure facing Australia’s independent cafés and restaurants.

Recent data suggests food-led hospitality businesses are closing at around double the national business failure rate. Rising labour costs, food price inflation, tax settings, and changing consumer habits are all being blamed for the strain on small operators.

In this episode we explore why cafés are struggling more than pubs, how policy decisions are shaping the future of dining out, and what reforms industry leaders say are needed to protect jobs and businesses across the country.

If you care about your local café, hospitality jobs, or the cost of eating out, this is a conversation worth hearing.