When we started our food truck business in 2012, It
was a very new and young industry. There were only a handful of operators in
Melbourne, and it was very exciting to be involved alongside others who were passionate
about food and creative thinkers.
Over the past 7 years, we have seen the industry transform, with over 600 food
trucks operating around Melbourne now!
In this guide, we will give you tips on what to look for when hiring a food
truck. Spot the difference between operators trying to make a quick buck, and those
who offer high quality products and services for a reasonable price.
WHAT STYLE OF FOOD IS SUITABLE?
Food trucks can be hired to cater for many different events. Weddings, Anniversaries, engagement parties, Festivals, Breakfast, the list goes on. It is important to understand which style of food is a good fit for your event.
Things you should know:
– Food trucks offer Festival style menus, Sit down plated meals, or stand-up cocktail type menu’s.
BUDGET
Food trucks have gained a reputation as a cheaper catering option then traditional catering. This is largely due to low overheads, less pack down and set-up time and non-pretentious, specialised food offerings.
Things you should know:
– Cheapest is not always best. Some food trucks cut back on staff and quality of ingredients, which means that your food truck experience is not the best.
Tips to get the best value:
– Consider holding your function midweek, or in off-peak months to get a reduced rate.
– Specify your budget in your initial enquiry with the food truck, as there may be ways the business can reduce the costs, for example: slightly change the menu.
– Consider the style of catering you are choosing. Cocktail packages and sit-down style are generally more expensive then having guests order directly at the food truck. – Hire locally to avoid any additional travel expenses. In most cases travel expenses include the legal requirement to pay staff travel time, so travel costs can add up quickly
HOW MANY FOOD TRUCKS DO I NEED TO ENGAGE?
Everybody wants to recapture the atmosphere, and offer the variety of their local food truck park such as Welcome to Thornbury or the Hop Temple food Truck Jam’s, however, it is not always the most economical or practical option.
Things you should know:
– Most food trucks around Melbourne have a minimum charge of around $2,000 depending on the time of year, having 8 food trucks at your event may not be viable.
– Most food trucks on standard can produce around 120 serves per hour. Capability can be increased with prior notification.
Tips:
– The most practical and price conscious way to get the Food truck Festival vibe at your event is to Hire Trucks which offer different services. Think, Food truck Bar, Dessert Food truck etc.
HIRING THROUGH A THIRD PARTY OR AGENCY
You may have come across one of the many booking agencies
around Victoria which act as a middle man or agent, for hiring out food trucks.
These agencies can present many options for your event, but do they really hire
out high quality food trucks and have reputable knowledge and advice?
Things
you should know:
– Agencies either pass their ‘cut’ directly on to the consumer, or take their
cut from the food truck, who is forced to pass charges on to the customer.
– Often third party agencies will view their work as purely a money making
exercise. Many have never worked in the food truck industry and have little
knowledge about the operations involved.
Tips:
Deal directly with the food
trucks you wish to book. Their business reputation is directly on the line, and
decent trucks will have a lot of experience and knowledge to contribute to your
event.
REPUTATION, RELIABILITY AND OPERATIONS
It goes without saying, If you are booking a food truck, you want to be confident that they are going to deliver the goods at your big function.
Things you should know:
– Some Food truck business’s will book in multiple jobs and cancel the lowest paying jobs.
Tips:
– Look for owner operated food trucks. The care taken and quality is not comparable to a fully staff operated food truck.
– Do some research into the business reputation and history.
