Food Trucks

food trucks While food trucks have seen a huge growth in popularity in recent years, the traditional food truck has long been a mainstay of urban areas where ever hungry people gather, primarily for breakfast and lunch. Typically these trucks carried sandwiches, burgers and dogs, tacos, kebobs, and pre-made or packaged items such as chips, drinks, candy bars, etc. Most lunch trucks specialize in inexpensive convenience items that are easy for the lunch crowd to grab and go.
The evolution of the lunch truck has seen an expansion of food items carried to include more specialized and ethnic cuisine such as korean barbeque, Indian street fare, vegan and vegetarian offerings, pancakes and crepes and many new gourment creations. While the classic hotdog and hamburger are still popular, we're seeing more innovative twists that include locally sourced meats, organic condiments and specialty desserts.

A few of the target consumers for this new breed of gourmet food trucks are food aficionados, who are eager to find and share new culinary experiences; caterers, who seek consistent providers; and urban professionals, who get tired of the same old food options from fast food chains and local eateries. Additioanlly we're seeing a growth in dessert-themed food trucks such as cupcake trucks, handmade ice-cream and cookie trucks. The opportunities for food vendors who can create the right concept and fill the local need have never been better. There are plenty of customers in every community who would love to indulge in a delicious treat after lunch, dinner, or during an afternoon lull, but find it challenging to locate freshly made items in their neighborhood. With very few major national competitors operating in the United States, the sales opportunities for local operations are virtually limitless. Even with our recent economic troubles, people are still spending money on small indulgences, especially locally made items prepared on the spot or in small quantities.

Premium ingredients, internationally influenced flavors and the slow food movement are creating a new breed of food trucks. Growth areas include:

    Health
    •organic
    •heart-healthy (Trans fats are out)
    •farm-fresh
    •allergen-free (gluten-free, vegan)

    Global Awareness
    •fair trade (chocolate)
    •international and the layering of exotic flavors
    •green (locally produced)

    Lifestyle
    •quick and convenient (mobile vending)
    •indulgent: premium gourmet

One of the strongest trends in the specialty food industry as a whole is an increased awareness of our health, our planet and our society. This trend has emerged from the green movement, the slow food movement, and the resurgence of health awareness. Increasingly, people relate the food–-even the desserts–-that they consume to their environmental commitment and their desire to be good citizens of the world. Supporting local farms and local businesses supports this philosophy. For others, buying from a business that creates from scratch, in small batches and with premium ingredients, means better taste and better health.

Gourmet and artisanal food trucks often enjoy a perception of being healthy and green. "Organic," "fair-trade," "locally sourced" and "sustainable" remain important buzzwords to consumers. While it is important to understand the perceptions in your own community before committing to any concept, don't hesitate to explore different ideas in initial market testing. There are many things that must be considered when contemplating starting a food truck business. Everything from what items you will sell to where you will be located to how you will price your items are all important details you need to begin working out before you open your business.

Food Truck Reources:

Mobile Mex Media Group - Mobile Lunch Truck Advertising.

TruxMap Food Trucks Map - Food truck map for US locations. iPhone and Android apps available.

Food Truck Maps - Los Angles food truck map, food truck tweets, menus & more.

Pocket Locator: Update Your Location on Your Website From Your Cell Phone - Pocket Locator is a free tool that lets you update your location information on your website with a click on your cell phone. It's free but donations help keep going.

Wyss Catering Trucks - Manufacturing mobile food vehicles for over 50 years .

Road Stoves - RoadStoves offers custom equipped, specialty designed "road stoves" to take your food straight to your customers at a scale that's right for you.

Vending Trucks - New, used and custom designed food trucks for sale.

Mobi Munch - Mobile food service infrastructure company and online marketing channel dedicated to providing established chefs and restaurateurs an integrated online and offline platform for launching innovative concepts aboard state-of-the-art food trucks.