Everybody loves a food truck, right? Well, not so much. Food trucks can be a point of contention in some communities. These mobile kitchens aren’t well-liked by restaurants, and because of that, some cities have taken stands against food trucks or limited their opportunities.
As chambers, you may be wondering how to best serve these members. It seems like they could be a nice fit for your outdoor events. But where does that leave your caterers and bistros? Walking the line between helping these new businesses and providing for your existing members can be a stretch.
But there might be a few things you haven’t considered with these kitchens on wheels.
Benefits of Food Trucks
Food trucks started off as a novel idea and grew in popularity during COVID. They provided a way for people to enjoy various types of food without the concern of dining in.
With the growing number of festivals and outdoor events, food trucks seem like a natural fit. But they do more than just provide food for your First Friday and other outdoor events.
Diversity
This may be an advantage that few people consider but often food trucks offer something out of the ordinary. They offer diverse cultural experiences and novelty foods. Some entrepreneurs use food trucks as a test market for bringing a new ethnic food into the community.
They test it first. Let people sample it and see if they have a market for the new tastes.
For the chamber, hosting a food truck rally or bringing in food trucks for your next outdoor event can be a way to extend your diversity initiatives.
Tourism
If you’re a chamber dabbling in tourism or looking for ways to offer visitors something they can’t get elsewhere, food trucks have a lower start-up or barrier to entry than restaurants do. If part of attracting people to your downtown area is trying to bring in more dining options, food trucks can fill that gap quickly. Food trucks are a great way to draw foodies and other culinary-curious people.
Crowd-building
If you have an area in your town (such as a new public square or regentrified neighborhood) where you want to improve foot traffic, food trucks are an excellent way to get people there. Because of food truck Facebook groups and app trackers, the cult following of food trucks is a migratory one.
People often scout out where their favorite truck will be and go to that event. This can mean a new audience for chamber events.
But you needn’t worry about food trucks competing with existing restaurants as they won’t replace a sit down dining experience. Additionally, the foot traffic they bring in could influence someone new to the area to try a nearby restaurant they see during your event in the future.
Disruption
Food trucks can disrupt the brown bag culture and provide additional food choices to downtown areas and office parks that may not have a lot of choice for lunch. This can inspire employees and visitors in the area to venture out of their building, which could lead to additional strolling and foot traffic for other businesses.
Employees may also appreciate the many advantages of food truck dining such as cost, efficiency, and selection. Even employees with short lunch breaks can get an enjoyable meal.
For many underserved communities, the only quick, affordable food is fast food. Food trucks offer the possibility of healthier, affordable options.
Community
Due to mobility, food trucks are able to reach underserved areas of your community. They can go where restaurants may not have ventured yet and build community in that area.
When someone is dining in a restaurant, it is often a solitary experience. They are focused on the guest(s) at their table.
With food trucks, there are often outdoor tables or stoops where people sit to enjoy their food. This invites community and interaction. Add in a band or other entertainment, and the exchange between diners creates an experience, much more so than dining in a booth.
Entrepreneurship
A food truck can be the gateway for a future restaurant. As mentioned earlier, it can be a research & development undertaking for a restauranteur.
If your chamber is backing innovation and entrepreneurship, supporting food trucks is in line with that strategic plan.
Additionally, because of its relatively low barrier to entry, food trucks are a great way for minorities, and women-owned business to enter the food industry.
Revitalization
Food trucks can help underserved areas with more food options but also help revitalize struggling areas. When a restauranteur is considering a brick and mortar opening, there are many things to consider–location, lease, condition of building, property tax, and zoning restrictions. The decision to open is a lengthy one. For food trucks, they can choose a different area every night.
If you’re looking to revitalize a struggling area, creating a food truck lot can bring in opportunities nearly overnight. These trucks can also cater to the unique tastes of the community.
Cons to Embracing Food Trucks
While food trucks add a lot to a community, bringing them into your area is not without its problems. Here are some of the complaints you may face if you decide to support the expansion of food truck options in your community:
- They compete with restaurants. It’s a completely different experience. Someone looking to dine in isn’t going to opt for a food truck instead. However, they might opt for a food truck over a fast food chain.
- Health and Safety Concerns: Some might have concerns about the sanitation and safety standards of mobile food vendors.
- Zoning and Permitting Issues: Regulations around zoning, parking, and permitting for food trucks can be complex and create barriers to entry. Check with your City to find out what these are in your area.
- Noise and Traffic Concerns: Food trucks may be seen as contributing to noise pollution and traffic congestion, especially in crowded areas. They may take up parking spots and cause pedestrian safety issues.
- Unsightly Appearance: Some residents might find food trucks visually unappealing and disruptive to the overall aesthetic of a neighborhood.
- Uncertain Element: The transient nature of food trucks might be seen as disruptive or unpredictable for some communities compared to a restaurant that is rooted.
- Loss of Tax Revenue: Brick-and-mortar restaurants contribute more in property taxes compared to food trucks, which may be a concern. But they do pay sales tax and bring in foot traffic.
Additionally, if you plan to have food trucks at your chamber events, you’ll need to think about the impact on how you formerly fed your attendees. Did you use a member caterer or brick-and-mortar eatery? Decide how you will address this.
Will you require the food truck to be a member to participate? Will you have a special food truck membership? What do they need most from you and how can you help them succeed?
Food trucks are a cool trend that isn’t going away. With rising food costs, a high cost of entry, and a high failure rate for restaurants, many new restauranteurs may be turning to food trucks over opening traditional establishments. Understanding the needs of these entrepreneurs can expand your member base and open up exciting possibilities in your community.
