The cafe and restaurant industry is booming but nowhere more than in Whanganui-Manawatu.
Nationwide hospitality sales increased 6.3 per cent, with cafe and restaurant revenue growing 10 per cent. But in Whanganui-Manawatu it was 11.5 per cent, biggest increase in the country.
Mischief on Guyton owners Sonya Mathias and Kelly Blinkhorne, who opened their city cafe almost a year ago, said it was booming.
They said while there were enough cafes in Wanganui, the standard needed raising to reflect changing trends in cafe dining. A focus on fresh, healthy and interesting food was bearing fruit for them.
Big Orange and Ceramic owner Dave Sutherland said there were a number of influences on the industry locally. "I always put it down to many different factors, firstly the weather and a lot of events in Wanganui," he said. "Here we are in winter and it's pretty good. It's not too bleak."
Mr Sutherland also thought a decrease in negative publicity about Wanganui may be helping - "So it could be a whole lot of factors".
Restaurant Association CEO Marisa Bidois said the hot summer, positive economic outlook and more choices had reinvigorated the cafe and restaurant sector.