Food truck businesses are booming in the culinary world. In fact, the food truck and street food industry have estimated annual revenue of $2.7 billion. But with this continued growth comes increased competition. So how can you ensure your food truck business stands out from an already-saturated crowd?
One way to do this is to consider renting a commercial kitchen for your food truck. Find out why…
Benefits of Food Truck Businesses
There are many advantages to launching a mobile catering business and why so many brands are choosing to move away from the high street and venture into the exciting, diverse world of food trucks. These benefits include;
- Low start-up costs and overheads
- Operating with a fewer staff
- Creating a more personal connection with customers, leading to repeat business
- Catering to a variety of events
- Offering full-service catering
- Promoting a signature dish
- Fewer risks than opening up a restaurant storefront
- The ability to be your own boss and set your own hours
- Flexibility and freedom to move locations depending on demand
- Diversifying your customer base by expanding your reach
- Being your own experiential marketing tool for brand promotion
- Providing chefs with the opportunity start their own food service company without having to purchase a physical location
- Expansion opportunities for brick-and-mortar restaurant kitchen owners to reach a wider audience
- Offsetting the slow season
Why People Choose to Eat at Food Trucks
There’s no denying that food trucks have become a popular meal choice. But why are they so popular amongst consumers?
- Food trucks offer a more personal dining experience than restaurants. Customers can often interact with the truck’s owner or chef and get a sense of the person behind the food they’re eating.
- Food trucks are affordable. This is because the overhead costs for food trucks are lower than for restaurants.
- Food trucks provide the option of supporting a local business and investing in your community.
- Food trucks also offer customers exposure to new cuisines and flavours. With so many different trucks to choose from, there’s always something new to tantalise your tastebuds!
- Food trucks supply quick and delicious food options, particularly for those who work in commercial or residential areas where there are few meal choices available.
- People enjoy dining outdoors with other food truck patrons in parks and creating dining spaces alongside others at social clubs and events.
- The food truck experience is often seen as more fun and relaxed than eating at a traditional restaurant.
Launching Your Mobile Food Business
With benefits aplenty, it sounds like a no-brainer. But when it comes to the set-up, what can you expect from a mobile food business? Here are a few things to keep in mind;
- You’ll need to get a permit from your local health department. This is necessary in order to serve food to the public.
- You’ll need to have a commercial kitchen where you prepare your food. This can be rented or leased, or you can opt for a shared-use or commissary kitchen.
- You’ll need to invest in good quality catering equipment, like cold rooms and frozen storage containers.
- You’ll need to create a tried-and-tested menu that can be easily prepared and served on the go.
Why a Commercial Kitchen Business Model is a Viable Option for Your Food Truck Business
Thinking of using a commercial kitchen for your mobile food business? Here’s what t bank on;
- Many commercial kitchen spaces are designed for you to sell entirely online. Offering online delivery allows you to connect with past customers online and get their favourite dishes delivered right to their doorstep.
- It saves you money on overhead costs. When you’re just starting out, every penny counts. By renting commercial or catering kitchen space, you can reduce overhead costs significantly, particularly when renting a shared commercial kitchen.
- Commercial kitchens can help food truck owners operate more efficiently by keeping fees low through economies of scale.
- They can also help you save time and money, allowing you to focus on growing your street food business – expanding to multiple food trucks and catering to a wider demographic.
- An efficiently designed commercial kitchen can accelerate production and minimise hazards.
- Having a dedicated space for your food truck business will help you keep things organised and running smoothly.
- A commercial kitchen will help you build a professional image for your brand.
- Commercial kitchens can come fully equipped, providing professional-grade appliances. If you’re serious about making great food, then you’ll need to have access to quality equipment.
At Dephna, our licensed commercial kitchens meet all British Standards and regulations and offer complete flexibility and 24-hour access with commission-free deliveries. Find a commercial kitchen in your area to scale up your food truck operation; enquire now to book a visit at our London locations.
