From farmer’s markets to festivals to outside office buildings, food trucks are on the rise and rolling into a location near you. The U.S. food truck industry has grown at an average rate of 12.1% since 2016; Currently, there are 35,512 food trucks in the United States feeding hungry patrons. While the mobile kitchen market is competitive, 36.6% of Americans eat at least one meal daily from the quick-service food industry. So, whether you’re a first-time restaurant owner or an established hospitality group looking to expand your footprint, a food truck can help you maximize your profits.

Chuckwagons on the Bandwagon

While most food trucks are privately owned enterprises, many chain restaurants have packed up their Crunchwraps, Bloomin’ Onions, and Quesadilla Burgers to join the fleet of mobile kitchens roaming your area. As the food truck industry grows, franchisees and restaurant chains have seen how they can expand their business without a hefty price tag. Trucks provide an efficient method for off-site catering events while leaving their primary kitchen free to serve dine-in guests.

Choosing a new restaurant location or testing out new menu items can be risky. However, the mobility of a food truck can help owners track the foot traffic and demographics of different areas. By gauging local demand, they can be sure to choose the best location for their new brick-and-mortar location. Also, this is an excellent opportunity to test new and even outlandish menu items. Food trucks thrive on bizarre and decadent menu items to entice customers to their location. Once you find a recipe that works well on the streets, you can add it to the menu of your main restaurant confidently.

A Side of WIFI

Having WIFI available in your food truck has many benefits. It is projected that by the end of 2022, 25% of all professional jobs in North America will be remote. A perk of working remotely is setting up your office anywhere with an internet connection. Many food trucks are starting to offer free WIFI to attract customers to their locations. Remote workers can get a delicious meal, enjoy the sunshine, and continue their conference calls and answering emails.

Social media is one of the best tools for mobile food vendors. As food trucks change locations daily, a solid internet connection helps you share your current location, hours, specials of the day and answer any customer inquiries. In addition, as fewer people are carrying cash on them, you’ll also be able to accept other forms of payments, such as tap pay. 

To the Impossible and Beyond

The food truck industry is more than just late-night snacking on the corner after a night out with friends. Trucks are offering up tasty, nutrient-dense, and food allergy-friendly menu options. With the success of campaigns like “Meatless Mondays” comes a new wave of consumers choosing to eat plant-based at least once a week. Beyond Meat has made it to the menu of many large fast-food chains, and Impossible Burgers have found their place among other craft burgers. Plant-based options are also becoming popular, with omnivores looking for healthier options. In addition, food trucks offering gluten-free options cater to an often-overlooked demographic of diners.

Better Together

Partnerships between food trucks and events such as bars, breweries, and festivals are a win-win collaboration. Bars and breweries that don’t offer food on-site invite food trucks to park outside their establishments; this entices consumers to stay for that extra drink. Food trucks collaborating with fairs and festivals can help attract more people to these events, and the increased foot traffic is profitable for both parties. Millennials make up a majority of food truck patrons, but the age range of the consumers is 18 to 44 years old. The clientele often overlaps as the patrons of these events are the demographic that most frequently visit food trucks.

Food trucks go where the people are, while brick and mortar restaurants must wait to be discovered. While the cost of starting a food truck business can vary, it is still relatively more cost-effective than opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant. If you’re considering foraying into the food truck world, consider equipping your truck with an Ovention Oven. Our versatile ovens are 100% ventless and have a small footprint, meaning installation into your mobile unit will be seamless!