Which Mobile Food Business Is Right for You?

The food truck industry is the fastest growing sector of the larger foodservice industry, so it’s no secret that food trucks are taking the nation by storm. Their popularity has grown so rapidly that several cities are known for their food truck scene. With the food truck market estimated to reach $1.1 billion in 2022, you may be interested in joining this thriving industry.

Before you do, you may want to ask yourself if a food truck is right for you or if there is a better mobile food business model that would better suit your business. We set out to compare food trucks, food trailers, and food carts to help you determine which vehicle would be best for your mobile kitchen endeavors.

Food Truck vs Food Trailer vs Food Cart

People Buying Food at a Food Truck

Mobile food businesses come in various styles and sizes to serve a variety of purposes. It is important to consider their differentiating characteristics before choosing your primary food transport vehicle.

These are the main characteristics to review when deciding between a food truck vs food trailer or a food cart vs food truck:

1. Mobile Kitchen Size

The size of your mobile kitchen will determine where you can park and what types of events you can attend.

  • Food Trailer - the largest in size, ranging from 8-53 feet long and 7-8 1/2 feet wide
  • Food Truck - usually ranges from 10-26 feet long and 7 feet wide
  • Food Cart - smallest in size, ranging 4-7 feet long and 2-6 feet wide

2. Kitchen Space and Storage Capacity

The size of your interior kitchen space can have an impact on what you can bring with you and your staff size.

  • Food Trailer - large enough for full-sized restaurant equipment, cleaning supplies, and full cooking staff
  • Food Truck - reduced size may call for more dependence on countertop cooking equipment, space-saving storage solutions, and a staff of 1-3 cooks
  • Food Cart - limited space may call for very few small appliances and warmers and a staff of 1-2 employees

3. Mobile Kitchen Price

Start to shape your budget by knowing what a mobile kitchen may cost you before you invest.

  • Food Trailer - ~$30,000-$50,000
  • Food Truck - ~$50,000 - $250,000
  • Food Cart - ~$5,000 - $20,000

4. Vehicle Mobility

The way a mobile kitchen navigates can help determine which events and locations they best cater to.

  • Food Trailer - Needs to be towed from place to place, may be too large for certain parking locations
  • Food Truck - vehicle and kitchen in one, can be driven from place to place
  • Food Cart - Needs to be pushed by hand, attached to a bicycle, or towed from main kitchen to serving location

5. Mobile Kitchen Location and Event Type

The type of locations and events a mobile kitchen is designed for can help you choose the right one for your business model.

  • Food Trailer - large events, seasonal fairs, wedding and concert venues
  • Food Truck - city street, fairs and carnivals, block parties, parks
  • Food Cart - city sidewalks, amusement parks, boardwalks

6. Mobile Kitchen Menu Capabilities

The size and selections of your menu can be directly impacted by the size of your mobile kitchen

  • Food Trailer - can have a full menu, multi-course menu
  • Food Truck - narrowed to a few items that follow a similar theme or cuisine type
  • Food Cart - limited to one or two specialty items and some snacks

7. Purpose

Choose a mobile kitchen that best helps you reach your target demographic.

  • Food Trailer - long-term parking, multi-day events
  • Food Truck - stop-and-go location hopping
  • Food Cart - foot traffic and walking distance coverage of a location

The vehicle type you choose can ultimately impact your entire food truck business plan, so it is important to consider these factors early in the process. Ultimately, the best vehicle for your brand will come down to your goals and budget.

Food Truck

Food trucks are one of the most popular mobile food vehicles in the United States. If you’re considering starting a food truck, check out some of the pros and cons before your buy.

Holiday Food Truck with customers

What Is a Food Truck?

A food truck is the combination of a motor vehicle and a kitchen. Food trucks are typically 16 feet long and 7 feet wide but can range in size from 10-26 feet long. This versatile vehicle is designed for street parking to serve pedestrians that may be passing by. Food is prepared and cooked in the vehicle and sold to individual customers from the window on the side of the truck.

Pros

Here are some benefits of choosing a food truck for your business over a food trailer or food cart:

  • Kitchen does not need to be towed, making it extremely mobile and easy to take from one location to the next more lucrative location
  • Single unit means you don’t need a separate transport vehicle
  • Vehicle size easily fits down most city streets and in most parking spaces, providing a simple driving experience
  • Compact size means fewer appliances to clean than a standard kitchen
  • Mobility makes it perfect for stop-and-go services and provides access to spots all across town
  • Versatility of the space allows for a flexible menu and menu experimentation
  • Since food trucks are extremely popular, they have excellent resale value

Cons

Depending on your business model, there may be some downsides to choosing a food truck instead of a food trailer or food cart:

  • Automotive troubles mean your whole business stops until the issue is fixed
  • Highest upfront cost compared to other mobile food vehicles, usually $100,000 to $200,000
  • Maintenance and upgrades can prove to be expensive if needed
  • A lot of paperwork, licensing, and permits are required, including zoning permits, health permits, signage permits, alarm permits, etc.
  • Limited kitchen space means a limited menu and staff
  • Only available in a limited number of size options
  • Built-in power generator can take up precious kitchen space
  • The more miles put on the truck, the more it depreciates in value

To find out more information on purchasing a food truck, check out our how to buy a food truck buying guide.

Food Trailer

If you’re looking for more space, a food trailer may be the right option for you. Keep reading to learn about the specifications, pros, and cons of food trailers to determine which mobile food vehicle is the best for your business.

Seafood Food Trailer at night

What Is a Food Trailer?

A food trailer is a mobile kitchen that you hitch onto a vehicle to tow from one location to the next. Kitchen trailers can vary greatly in size, ranging anywhere from 8-53 feet long and 7-8 1/2 feet wide. These ever-customizable vehicles are designed to cater to large crowds during multi-hour or even multi-day events like weddings and state fairs.

Pros

The following are some benefits of choosing a food trailer over a food truck or food cart:

  • Kitchen can be towed by any vehicle, so business does not need to stop for vehicle maintenance
  • Since the kitchen trailer and transport vehicle are not connected, the trailer can be dropped off at an event and the vehicle can be used to run errands during the event
  • Generally less expensive than food trucks, and up to 1 1/2 feet wider for more space
  • Large size allows food business to cater large venues
  • Large internal blueprint provides ample space for full-sized equipment, ingredient storage, disposables, and cleaning supplies
  • Full kitchen means you can offer a multi-course menu, have a full staff, and serve several customers at once
  • Varying sizes allows you to find a food trailer in your budget and customized to your needs and specifications
  • Can be used as a secondary kitchen to expand on the space of an existing building or used as a primary kitchen during renovations/disaster relief
  • Mileage is not logged on the trailer, so you can continuously take it from location to location without worrying about depreciation in value caused by an increase in mileage

Cons

There are some downsides associated with concession trailers that are important to consider before making your purchase:

  • An external vehicle with a hitch is required to move the trailer, the vehicle also needs to be powerful enough to tow the trailer
  • Large size can make it difficult or impossible to maneuver down certain streets and can limit the number of parking locations available
  • Before moving the food trailer, it will need to be packed up and hitched back up to the transport vehicle
  • An external generator may be needed depending on the specifications of your trailer

If you’re looking to cater wedding venues with your mobile food business or establish a booth at your local state fair, a concession trailer may be the right choice to expand your business beyond a brick-and-mortar location.

Food Cart

If you’re just starting your food business or looking to target more foot traffic with your seasoned specialties, a food cart may be a great way to reach the most customers in your area. Learn more about the pros and cons of selecting a food cart for your business model by reading on.

Food Cart on busy city sidewalk

What Is a Food Cart?

A food cart is a compact mobile kitchen that can either be pushed by hand or towed with a car or bicycle. Food carts range in size from 4-7 feet long and 2-6 feet wide. The food server will generally serve from behind the cart since they are typically not enclosed structures. Most food carts only have one piece of cooking equipment and a warmer to hold food at temperature. Food carts are designed to attract foot traffic from nearby walking paths to serve an individual customer at a time.

Pros

Explore the following benefits of a food cart to help you make your mobile food vehicle decision:

  • Highly affordable option for new business owners to get into the mobile food scene
  • Compact size is perfect for busy sidewalks to target specific walking paths during lunch rushes in major cities
  • Mobility allows you to bring food options to locations where large brick-and-mortar cannot go, such as parks, fairs, boardwalks
  • Does not need to be hitched to be transported, meaning that you can quickly readjust your location to target a more lucrative spot
  • Can help create a close relationship with locals because carts provide eye-level customer service
  • Space-saving size allows for simple and safe storage overnight and during off-seasons
  • Comes with a reputation of a niche menu, allowing your cart to be known for its signature selections in the neighborhood

Cons

The compact size of a food cart can also come with some drawbacks for your business.

  • Lack of full-sized kitchen equipment limits the menu selections you are able to serve
  • Limited storage space does not allow for the storage of many ingredients, to-go containers, or cleaning supplies
  • Mobility of the carts is fully dependent on your own foot power, additional vehicle or bicycle may be needed to transport it further
  • Stigma associated with the lack of cleanliness of food carts can keep potential customers away

A food cart can be a great vehicle to help you start a farmers market stand or serve refreshing summer treats on your local boardwalk.

Mobile food vehicles have continued to dominate foodservice trends from year to year, and we’re expecting to see their popularity continue to rise as customers reduce their dine-in options due to the coronavirus. Whether you're deciding between a food truck vs food cart, you can use the pros and cons above to find the perfect mobile food business for your menu.

Posted in: Food Trucks & Concessions|By Janine Jones
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Please refer to our Content Policy for more details.
External Link

You are about to leave the security of WebstaurantStore.com.

We are not responsible for the privacy policy or any content, links or software, or any consequences from your access to or use of the technologies, websites, information and programs made available on this new site.

Do you want to proceed?

Related Resources

  • Food Truck Equipment Checklist

    Once you buy a food truck or sign your food truck lease, your next step is to choose what kind of equipment you’ll put in your new food truck. Unlike other forms of mobile food businesses like food carts, food truck kitchens are large enough to house various equipment and supplies. The extra space allows you to get more creative with your equipment setup and menu items. Whether your food truck has existing equipment or you’re launching your food truck from scratch, it can be hard to know exactly how to start a food truck and find the correct equipment. Quality food truck equipment is vital to your business, and filling your food truck with all the equipment needed for business is a requirement for success. Below, we have provided a comprehensive list of food truck equipment to help you get your truck ready for service. Shop All Food Truck Supplies and Equipment Use these links to learn more about each type of equipment your food truck will need: Cooking Equipment Warming and Holding Equipment Food Prep Equipment Food Truck Supplies Refrigeration Equipment Janitorial Equipment If you'd like to download a PDF of our food truck equipment checklist, click the button below. Download Food Truck Equipment List PDF 1. Cooking Equipment When you're buying equipment for your food truck, you can expect to devote the bulk of your budget to cooking equipment. There are ways to save, like shopping for used or discounted outlet cooking equipment instead of brand new. Optimize the layout of your food truck kitchen by selecting a combination of countertop unit sand full-size models. Devote more space to your most-used equipment and stick with countertop alternatives for equipment you will use less often or for smaller quantities of food. Here's our list of essential food truck cooking equipment: Griddle or Flat Top Grill: Griddles and grills are ideal for cooking popular items like pancakes, burgers, eggs, and vegetables. Range: Ranges allow you to pan fry, saute, boil, and simmer anything from your proteins to your sauces. Charbroiler: Charbroilers help you to achieve grill marks and the signature “grilled” flavor on chicken, steaks, and vegetables. Microwave: You can use a microwave to reheat sides or even steam vegetables. Toaster: With a toaster, you can get the perfect texture on bread for sandwiches or breakfast items like waffles, English muffins, and bagels. Salamander or Cheese Melter: Salamanders help you to brown the tops of foods like open-face sandwiches and macaroni and cheese. Plus, you can efficiently melt cheese on casseroles. Fryer: A fryer is an essential item for many food trucks, allowing you to cook popular menu items like french fries, chicken tenders, and onion rings. Food Truck Exhaust Hood: A food truck hood is essential to remove dangerous grease vapors that are produced from your other equipment. 2. Warming and Holding Equipment Warming and holding equipment is imperative for keeping your food at safe temperatures. Food truck warmers help you avoid foodborne illness and health inspection violations, while holding equipment keeps your menu items at appetizing temperatures for your customers. We recommend these basics for warming and holding your food: Countertop Food Warmer: A countertop food warmer is a versatile addition to your equipment, and it can keep foods like pasta, vegetables, and casseroles at safe temperatures. Fry Dump Station: Use a fry dump station to keep your fries warm once they’re out of the fryer. Soup Warmer or Kettle: Soup kettles ensure that your soups remain hot until they’re ready for serving. 3. Food Prep Equipment These supplies will be some of the most-used items in your food truck. Food prep equipment covers anything you use to get food ready for cooking or serving, so what you need will vary depending on what you have on your menu. Here are some food prep supplies that you can start with: Stainless Steel Work Table: Depending on your food truck’s counter setup, you may want a stainless steel work table for added prep space. Cutting Boards: Whether you’re dicing, chopping, or slicing, cutting boards are essential for every kitchen. Knives and Knife Rack: Purchasing good quality knives will save you replacement costs in the long run, and having a rack or roll to store them safely is ideal for a compact kitchen. Skillets or Frying Pans: Use these to pan fry, saute, or even steam your menu items. Sauce Pans: Sauce pans help you to reduce, simmer, and boil sauces and broths. Turners: Turners are another versatile item that can be used for anything from burgers to vegetables. Thermometers: If you want to keep your customers safe, use thermometers to ensure that all of your food items are cooked thoroughly. Blender or Food Processor: You can make smoothies, salsa, sauces, and soups with the help of a blender or food processor. French Fry Cutter: A french fry cutter will save you plenty of time if your food truck has fries on the menu. 4. Food Truck Supplies Because your food truck will serve on-the-go customers, you’ll need to stock up on several disposable serving supplies. Be sure that you have ample room to store these supplies in your truck because running out of them could mean that you have to close your window for the day. Start to build your collection with these serving supplies: Serving Utensils: Whether you need spoons, ladles, or tongs, always make sure to have clean serving utensils on hand. Pump Condiment Dispenser: You can put a pump condiment dispenser outside of your truck for self-service, or opt for one inside for more portion control. Squeeze Bottles: Squeeze bottles will help you top your menu items or allow guests to put condiments on for themselves. Sugar, Spice, or Cheese Shakers: With sugar, spice, or cheese shakers, you can dust your offerings with the appropriate toppings. Paper Food Trays: Paper food trays are a classic option for serving your food truck’s main and side dishes. Paper, Foam, or Plastic Dinnerware: If you offer platters or large portions, disposable dinnerware is the way to go. Paper or Plastic Cups: Paper or plastic cups allow you to serve beverages outside of bottles or cans. Plastic Utensils: An essential for every food truck, plastic utensils help your guests enjoy their food. Take-Out Containers: Take-out containers make it easy for on-the-go customers to transport their food. Portion Cups: Portion cups allow customers to take just the right amount of condiments for their food. Paper Napkins and Dispenser: Put a napkin dispenser outside of your truck for guests to help themselves. Guest Checks or Order Forms: Guest checks and order forms will help you stay organized as you prepare orders. Disposable Gloves: With disposable gloves, you can handle food sanitarily. Aluminum or Plastic Food Wrap: Whether you need to wrap prepared servings or store ingredients for later use, aluminum or plastic food wrap will come in handy. Back to Top 5. Refrigeration Equipment Having refrigeration equipment on your food truck is imperative for keeping ingredients fresh. You may want to have one refrigerator for your main food items, a separate one for beverages, or a smaller refrigerator for things like sauces and toppings. Fortunately, refrigeration equipment comes in a variety of types, so you can customize the unit(s) you choose to your food truck’s offerings. Here is some specialized refrigeration equipment that you could consider: Worktop or Undercounter Refrigerator: A worktop refrigerator doubles as a work surface, which is optimal for your compact space. Sandwich or Salad Preparation Refrigerator: A sandwich or salad prep refrigerator has a bottom chilled cabinet, a top with space for pans of toppings, and a strip of prep space for assembly. Pizza Preparation Refrigerator: Pizza prep refrigerators are similar to sandwich preparation models, but they offer a larger workspace for you to easily assemble your pizzas. Countertop Glass Door Refrigerator: A countertop glass door refrigerator is an excellent solution for merchandising canned or bottled beverages in your food truck. Undercounter Freezers: An undercounter freezer is the perfect food truck freezer, allowing you to store frozen items such as ice cream without taking up too much space. 6. Janitorial Equipment Janitorial equipment is essential for any business looking to maintain a sanitary environment. These supplies will be used every day to clean and maintain your food truck and the equipment inside. Maintaining a sanitary environment and keeping up with health codes is vital, so be sure to stock up on all the janitorial equipment you need. Equip your food truck with the following janitorial supplies: Three-Compartment Sink: If you have room, a three-compartment sink is ideal for washing, rinsing, and sanitizing your dishes and smallwares. Hand Sink: A dedicated hand sink encourages your employees to practice good personal hygiene and keep your food safe. Anti-Fatigue or Wet Area Floor Mats: These mats will help to cushion the area you stand on every day and protect you from slipping. Sanitizing Chemicals: You can find sanitizing chemicals intended for both surfaces and dishware. Scrubbers and Sponges: You’ll need scrubbers and sponges to keep dishware and cooking utensils clean. Trash Can and Liners: Keep your waste disposal area tidy with a large bin and plenty of liners. Broom and Dustpan: A broom and dustpan are perfect for keeping the floor of your food truck tidy. If you're looking to start a food truck business, one of your first steps is to get familiar with the types of equipment you'll need. Prioritize space for your cooking equipment, but keep in mind that you'll need plenty of room for disposables and prep supplies as well. Refer to this guide to ensure that you have all the equipment that your food truck needs.

  • Food Truck Design

    As an entrepreneur, you may have your sights set on creating a successful food truck business. Once you've researched how to buy a food truck, your next step is to figure out what food truck layout will suit your needs the best. Continue reading to learn how to design and create a layout for your food truck. Food Truck Layout No food truck business venture is the same, which means that no food truck design experience will be the same either. The dimensions of your food truck will vary depending on your menu, equipment, and staff. You can choose to design your food truck layout by yourself, or you can hire a professional company like to design, customize, and manufacture your food truck. Below, we’ll investigate what factors influence your food truck layout and how to successfully organize your truck. Click any of the tips below to read the section that interests you: Food Truck Dimensions Food Truck Interior Food Truck Branding Food Truck Details 1. Food Truck Dimensions The length and width of your truck have a large impact on how you choose to organize it. No matter what size your truck is, you’ll be presented with the challenge of fitting all the equipment you need into a limited space. Most common food truck sizes are 14 feet, 16 feet, and 22 feet. If you’re having trouble deciding where your equipment should go, consider using the templates below as a reference when finding the right dimensions for your food truck: 2. Food Truck Interior If you want to design a food truck floor plan by yourself, consider the food truck equipment you need to buy and the unique space you’ll be working in. You can cater to the space you're working with by mapping it out and designating specific zones for equipment based on the truck's dimensions. For example, remember that you can take advantage of the vertical space of your food truck by buying combi oven, shelving, and hanging racks. To map out your truck, physically mark the following areas inside the truck or draw their location on paper: Refrigeration equipment: Purchasing undercounter refrigerators or undercounter freezers allows you to keep your cold food stored while conserving space. Additionally, specialized food truck refrigeration units can be installed to store larger quantities of food. Cooking equipment: Depending on the contents of your menu, it may be beneficial to purchase countertop or portable versions of certain appliances. Some appliances may be exempt from needing to be placed under an exhaust hood, giving you additional flexibility when designing your kitchen. Prep or work stations: Prepping your food in a commissary kitchen is an easy way to eliminate the amount of equipment required on your truck. If you don’t have access to one of these kitchens, consider preparing your food at your home or before your truck departs for the day. Sink or cleaning area: Consider investing in an underbar sink for your food truck. These sinks can be placed underneath work surfaces when needed to ensure easy access to the rest of your kitchen. Warming and holding equipment: If you plan on preparing food before your truck heads out for the day, it’s essential to make sure you have proper warming and holding equipment. This ensures that any ingredients or dishes you’ve prepared stay fresh for your customers. Cabinets/storage space: For ingredients that aren’t kept in a refrigerator or a holding cabinet, consider using food storage supplies such as containers and bins. It may be difficult to store ingredients in bulk due to the limited space in a truck, so be sure to carefully plan for what ingredients you'll need. Cash register: Food truck owners with access to a tablet or smartphone can easily turn their device into a POS system with the right equipment. This allows you to eliminate bulky cash registers that may take up counter space. Serving space: To make sure customers get their food without difficulty, take extra care to design an easily accessible serving space. Make sure that your serving window has enough serving equipment to accommodate your customers without interfering with your staff. Ventilation: Despite not working in a traditional kitchen environment, having a proper ventilation system is critical to maintaining a safe workspace. To learn about the various code requirements and how to properly install ventilation systems in your truck, read our article on commercial kitchen hood code requirements. 3. Food Truck Branding Branding is an essential aspect of any business, and when combined with the layout of your food truck, it allows you to personalize the customer experience. Branding your truck can range from something as simple as its name to something as eye-catching as how it is painted. Additionally, you can take advantage of the internet and social media platforms to further expand your truck's brand. Other examples of customization may include: Unique graphics or wraps Bright paint colors A television LED restaurant signs Undercarriage lights for nighttime Back-lit menu signs Handwritten menu signs 3D name signs Awnings Speaker systems Enlarged logo 4. Food Truck Details No matter where you are in your journey towards owning a food truck, it’s important that you develop a clear understanding of everything that can influence your decisions. As you move closer to starting a food truck business, be sure to keep the following factors in mind: Business plans: A strong business plan is the key to success when starting a business, and can act as a road map that guides you through the process. For more information on this subject, check out our article on how to write a food truck business plan. Health and safety regulations: To guarantee that your business operates safely and legally, take extra care to adhere to your local health and safety codes. Failure to do so can result in your business being fined or even shut down. Proper permits: Just as you'd have to apply for permits and licenses to operate a traditional restaurant, you'll have to do the same for your food truck. Touch base with your local government to ensure that you've applied for and been accepted for any permits you may need. Truck and equipment leases: If you choose to lease a truck rather than buy one, your lease and monthly payment can have a strong impact on your goals and budget. If you're unfamiliar with the leasing process, take the time to read our article on leasing a food truck. Water holding containers: Access to water is an essential part of any kitchen, and chances are your food truck won’t be hooked up to a centralized water system. To ensure you have access to water on your truck, designate space for water distribution and storage equipment. Cost of equipment: The amount you spend on equipment will undoubtedly vary depending on your menu and how busy you expect your business to be. Be sure to do extensive research into what equipment you might need to create an accurate equipment budget. Staff size: The compact size of a food truck means that you won’t be able to fit many employees in it at a time. Remember to take into account what your truck’s business hours will be, as well as how long preparation and cleanup will last, as you decide how many employees to hire. Areas to service: Just as you would with any other vehicle, your food truck should be regularly serviced by professionals. Doing so will make sure that your truck meets government requirements and operates properly. Finding the right POS system: Choosing the POS system that best fits your needs can be difficult. However, the right system can drastically improve your productivity, organization, and customer satisfaction. Marketing platforms: Since food trucks don’t typically depend on returning customers, make an effort to take advantage of as many food truck marketing tactics as you can. Making the most of branding opportunities, online marketing strategies, and traditional marketing methods can help to grow awareness for your truck. Average Cost of Starting a Food Truck The average cost of starting a food truck can range from $130,000 for a used truck to $180,000 for a new one based on its size and quality. Having a professional design your food truck layout can sometimes reduce the cost by up to $40,000. Knowing these figures and doing research on how professionals can save you time and money is important if you need to get a business loan. Food Truck Timeline Creating a food truck can take more time than expected due to the availability in your personal schedule to design and renovate. If you are not designing and renovating your truck, it may take a professional one to three months to design and complete all of the work. Keep these timelines in mind when you first set out to renovate. Back to Top The amount of food truck businesses in cities and at events continues to grow. To properly serve your customers, make sure that your food truck has an efficient layout, suits you and your employees as you all work, and is customized to reflect your brand. Use this article as a guide to create your food truck business.

  • Food Truck Marketing

    Unlike brick-and-mortar restaurants, repeat customers are a rare commodity for food trucks. Therefore, having a solid marketing strategy in place to attract and engage customers is crucial to the success of your food truck. By combining this strategy with a well-developed business plan, you can effectively connect with your target audience and drive success for your food truck venture. Check out our comprehensive food truck marketing plan, which includes branding, social media marketing, and location strategy. Click on any food truck marking tactic to jump ahead and learn more: Branding Website Development Social Media Marketing Menu Use a Food Truck App Location Strategy Catering Partnerships Merchandising Food Truck Marketing Plan A strong marketing presence helps the public recognize and identify with your business. Developing a well-thought-out marketing strategy ensures that your message effectively reaches and resonates with your target audience. Below we list the essential elements of successful food truck marketing: 1. Branding As the food truck industry becomes increasingly saturated, your branding sets you apart from every other food truck. Create a distinct brand to help ensure your food truck's longevity. A strong food truck brand consists of the following elements: Logo: Choose a simple, easy-to-interpret logo. Font: While using a creative font can be an effective way to support the overall mood of your business, make sure important information is legible. Graphics: Most food truck operators decorate their trucks with eye-catching graphics that entice customers to buy their products. These decorations advertise your business as you drive through town. Copy: Names of menu items and the cohesion of your menu selection are part of your brand. Written words also matter in social media posts or articles about your business for print and online publications. 2. Website Development Every dining establishment needs to develop a website, but your food truck's website has unique needs. Since the food truck target market is only a few decades old, the primary way your customers will discover and interact with your business is online. Use your website to do the following: Showcase Your Location Schedule: Because your business has no fixed location, use your website to help customers easily find your food truck. Menu: If potential customers are intrigued by your site's images and copy, they'll want to check out your menu to try it for themselves. Typical Hours and Locations: While your hours and locations may vary, including customary places you operate lets your fans assess whether you can become a lunch spot staple or if it will require a weekend trip to sample your offerings. Mission Statement: Since individuals eat at food trucks to support local entrepreneurs and connect with a community, writing a powerful mission statement and including it on your website is a great way to boost your marketing efforts. Images of Your Food: Beautifully lit and tantalizing food photography images will convert people from website visitors to paying customers. 3. Social Media Marketing This digital age ushered in the reign of social media marketing for creating buzz and promoting businesses. In the food truck sector, social media is not just a way to connect with customers. It is an essential tool for growing your food truck business. Showcase new and favorite menu items, special deals, locations, and swag on social media to continue building a customer base. Food Truck Social Media Marketing Best Practices Marketing on social media is tricky due to the various unspoken rules dictating the success of a campaign. Use these social media marketing best practices to ensure your food truck stays relevant on social media platforms. Reviews: People will review your food truck and pose questions about your operation on your social media pages. Correctly managing comments and reviews is equally important as the reviews themselves. Two-Way Communication: Ask for customer feedback by creating polls on what locations and menu items they like. These posts help generate a steady stream of content and provide invaluable insight into how to run your business. Photos: Dabble in food photography by posting images of your daily/weekly specials, new menu items, and best-selling dishes with clever, actionable captions that match your food truck's branding. Giveaways: Create engagement by offering free items to winners who follow your account, tag friends in your giveaway post's comments, and share the giveaway on their personal social media pages. You can also partner with other social media pages for more exposure. Let Customers Market for You: Reposting and sharing the photos where customers tag your business is an easy way to get attractive images without generating all the content yourself. Make sure to get their consent to repost their photo and tag them to give them credit. Top Social Media Platforms for Food Trucks We broke down the top social media platforms for food trucks and how to use them. Yelp: Take control of your food truck's Yelp page, encourage customer reviews, include your own high-quality photos, and provide information on price range. Facebook: Use your Facebook page to share information, engage with customers, create events, and respond to customer questions. Twitter: Keep customers updated on your location and inventory, and share your brand's identity and values through clever tweets. Instagram: Utilize Instagram stories to build rapport with customers, share and repost customer photos, collaborate with influencers, and create reels for increased visibility. For an in-depth resource, we also offer a comprehensive Instagram marketing guide. TikTok: Share TikTok videos of your staff, meal preparation, catering events, and your food truck setup to showcase your brand and engage with followers. Back to Top 4. Menu Your food truck menu is a powerful marketing tool that attracts customers, showcases your culinary offerings, and differentiates your brand from competitors. A well-designed and thoughtfully curated menu entices potential customers, builds brand recognition, and ultimately drives sales. Unique dishes and fun twists on classic meals make your food truck menu stand out in a crowd, so harness your creativity as you build your menu. Top Selling Food Truck Foods The most popular food truck foods are handheld items offering a creative twist on classic favorites. Most food truck consumers want takeout and delivery-style meals that they can enjoy without hassle. Examples include Mexican-Asian fusion, vegan reinventions, and organic or gourmet versions of childhood staples. To stand out, incorporate local ingredients, cultural heritage, or a fresh spin on popular items. Here are a few of the top-selling food truck foods: BBQ Cupcakes Sliders Tacos Gyros Lobster Rolls Grilled Cheese Popsicles Falafel Pizza Burritos Bao 5. Use a Food Truck App Tech developers have created several applications to assist the over 25,000 food truck businesses operating in the US. Marketing your food truck through a food truck app guarantees that you're directing your message toward potential customers actively seeking a food truck and individuals invested in your local food truck scene. Here are a few of the best food truck apps for marketing your business. Roaming Hunger: As the leading food truck app in North America, Europe, and China, food truck owners use this app to broadcast their location and menu to potential customers. You can create an account, share info with locals, and find catering and event opportunities. Customize your page with special offers to attract hungry patrons. WTF (Where's The Foodtruck) Vendor App: WTF is a helpful app for food truck vendors in major US cities that shares your location, enables in-app orders, promotes your truck, links to social media and website, and connects you to catering and events. Find Your Local Food Truck App: Most major cities have food truck apps specifically designed to catch the attention of their regional clientele. Since building lasting relationships within your local community is a top priority, check into the local food truck apps that will help you become a pillar within your local food truck market. 6. Location Strategy Whether dealing with real estate or food trucks, location is everything. To choose locations, identify and target the interests of your local customer base. Network with local booking agents and find out what entertainment is coming through town, then strategically park your truck when and where you'll get the most exposure. Can Your Food Truck Park Anywhere? No, you cannot park your food truck anywhere you want. Each city offers different guidelines and restrictions. We have an in-depth guide to the best cities for operating a food truck, but every city makes some accommodations for the food truck industry. As long as you uphold your community's guidelines and restrictions, you can achieve some decent business through strategic placement. Food Truck Location Ideas Bring your food truck to different parts of town to reach as many new customers as possible and learn what demographics are most interested in your products. Once you know where you're best received, you can join community events where people will love your food. Below are great locations to park your food truck: Food Truck Park Near a Medical Campus Local Farmer's Markets Near a College Campus Featured Vendor at a Local Event Commercial Areas with Few Food Choices Near Popular Public Parks 7. Catering Taking part in the food truck catering sector is like jumpstarting your brand, allowing you to earn a steady income and reach new prospective clients and fans. Events give guests who may never have heard of you an opportunity to try your food, and they’ll likely remember you the next time they see you around town. For instance, food truck-catered weddings are increasingly popular for couples who want to offer a unique experience, cut the cost of an expensive sit-down meal, and encourage mingling. Food Truck Catering Clientele Below are a few different types of clientele you can serve with your food truck: Weddings Corporate Events Retirement Parties Conferences Retreats College Campus Events Graduation Parties 8. Partnerships Team up with local businesses, organizations, and other food trucks to grow your audience. While other food trucks are technically your competition, you all have unique things to offer. The support of other food truck owners can go a long way toward securing your success in the business. Conversely, local businesses and organizations are often happy to establish partnerships with food trucks to keep their customers sated and lingering at their business for hours without returning to their own commercial kitchen operation. Food Truck Partnership Ideas Below are ideas of partnerships you can make to grow your food truck: Food Truck Rallies Breweries Outdoor Movie Theaters Book Stores Sweet and Savory Food Truck Team-Ups Farmer's Markets Open Air Shopping Centers Museums 9. Merchandising Once you have a dedicated fan base, offering merchandise with your logo encourages your customers to spread the word about your business. Choose merchandise that relates to your type of business. For example, if you operate a BBQ truck, you could sell cast iron trivets. If you have a cupcake truck, branded oven mitts might be appropriate. Food Truck Merchandise Ideas While these popular merchandise items may seem cliche, they are inexpensive, handy, and customers can incorporate them into their daily lives. Consider the cost vs. benefits of branded merchandise before diving in. Check out our list of common merchandise ideas you can create to market your food truck: T-Shirts Koozies Stickers Travel Mugs Keychains Lanyards Back to Top Who Is the Target Audience for Food Truck Businesses? As you craft a successful food truck marketing plan, you must understand the target audiences for food truck businesses. Middle-class millennials are the target market of the billion-dollar food truck industry. According to an IBISWorld Inc. report, 43% of food truck spending each month is made by 25- to 44-year-olds, with an additional 20% coming from those under 25. Why People Eat at Food Trucks Understanding why people enjoy eating at food trucks is essential for targeting the right customers and developing effective marketing strategies. By considering factors such as convenience, unique menus, supporting the local community, and the social experience, you can create a compelling brand story that resonates with your target audience and drives customers to your food truck. Here are a few reasons why people eat at food trucks. Convenience: Food trucks supply quick and delicious food options, particularly for those working in commercial areas with few meal choices. Support Small Businesses: Many millennials and Gen Z-ers prefer supporting a local food truck entrepreneur rather than spending their dollars at a chain. Exposure to New Cuisines and Flavor Combinations: A food truck's target audience enjoys being able to sample new cuisines and flavorings without committing to a cost-heavy sit-down restaurant entree. The Cool Factor: Millennials love participating in the modern food truck craze and sharing photos of their unique food truck meals. Community: Customers enjoy dining outdoors with other food truck patrons in parks and creating dining spaces alongside others at events. Set your mobile business up for success by creating a solid food truck marketing strategy. By having a captivating logo and a well-crafted website, along with a strategic approach to social media and high-quality food photography, you can significantly increase the visibility and impact of your food truck.

    • Shop Now

    Archives

    Webstaurant TVProduct demonstrations, how-to's, & descriptions ArticlesIn-depth information and tips for running a successful restaurant Buying GuidesTools to help you find the perfect product for your business