Month: July 2017

WHERE TO BUY?

You have your mobile food business concept, you have ordered your mobile food equipment from us at Custom Mobile Food Equipment, now where do you go to source your ingredients?

We want your mobile food business to be as successful as you do. Here are some tips on how and where to source your ingredients. You should take the time to not only consider cost, but also quality. Your success in the food truck business will depend on both of these factors. Prepare a budget that includes your best estimate of volume and stick to your budget. Consider the possibilities of running out and spoilage. Make a list…then let’s source!

FARMER’S MARKETS

Farmer’s markets and green markets are very popular places to source ingredients. Costs can be a bit higher, but stressing the quality and organic nature of the food will definitely attract the more health conscience consumer. Go to the farms and get to know who is growing your ingredients.

CLUBS

Wholesale clubs like Sam’s, Costco and BJ’s are great places to buy ingredients in bulk. There is typically an annual membership fee. Prices are reasonable and shopping at these clubs will allow you to stock up on ingredients with a longer shelf life.

WHOLESALE FOOD DISTRIBUTORS

There are a plethora of wholesale food distributors to choose from. There is more than likely a number of them located in your area and offer delivery. Major wholesale food distributors include Sysco and US FoodService. Unlike clubs, there is no membership fee and the convenience of delivery and vast inventory of products may make this option a better one for your mobile food truck business.

FOOD CO-OPS

You can save a lot of money on ingredients by joining a co-op. You order large quantities through collaborations with local food truck businesses and even restaurants. You can look in your neighborhood for co-op opportunities or even create your own.

WE HAVE OPTIONS…

You want to run a mobile food business, but funds are limited. What are your options? At Custom Mobile Food Equipment, we can take your dreams of owning a mobile food business beyond the typical food truck, and turn them into a reality with our variety of custom made mobile food solutions.

KIOSKS

Food kiosks are not only mobile, but they can be temporary booths or stands you can use to prepare and sell food. Ice cream, coffee, and hot dogs are our most popular type of custom made kiosks…however, the possibilities are endless.

Lower overhead and flexibility of use, have made food type kiosks grow in popularity.

FOOD CARTS

This type of mobile food business has been around for a long time and is a multi billion-dollar industry. The food is either prepared in advance or is purchased from a ready-made vendor. It can be as simple as hot dogs and ice cream bars. Food carts are much easier to maintain and the licensing requirements are minimal compared to a food truck.

MOBILE CATERING

Mobile catering can easily be done by transforming a truck into a catering service. Mobile catering is typically warranted for a special event in which the client chooses the menu. Risk of loss tends to be lower when owning a mobile catering service, because the quantity is typically pre-ordered by the client.

CONCESSION TRAILERS 

If you have ever gone to a fair or carnival, odds are you have spotted a concession trailer. These are typically hitched and can be parked in one location for a while. Most concession trailers have on-site cooking and vending capacity.

STARTING A FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS

Walk out of your office building or stroll down the streets of most major cities, and you can’t help but sense the aroma wafting from a street-side food truck. The food truck concept is no longer just a passing fad or trend…it is a $1 billion dollar industry. What makes dining “a la carte” so appealing? Several factors have led to the success of the food truck industry…slow growing economy, shorter lunch hours, low overhead as compared to a brick and mortar location, and mobility. How can you start your own food truck business? First, consider these factors; menu, licenses, startup costs, locations and branding. Sounds simple, right? It can be, with a clear vision and business plan, you can be well on your way of fulfilling your dream of entrepreneurship in one of the fastest growing food related industries.

You may find it hard to believe, but there are a vast number of universities and community colleges offering classes on how to start a food truck business. Some universities have incorporated food truck studies, as either course offerings or workshops, as part of their curriculum. Drexel University has an award-winning program that offers degrees in both Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts & Sciences. Atlantic Cape Community College offers both an Associate Degree and Certification in Culinary Arts. The Community College of Philadelphia offers a non-credit mobile food management workshop and even developed a Mobile Food Truck Management Program. Many online courses and seminars are also available at your fingertips on how to enter the food truck industry.

You have planned your course of study, determined your menu and developed your business plan. Now, you actually need a food truck. This is where we come in. With over 60 years of experience in designing, building and creating mobile food delivery equipment, Custom Mobile Food Equipment is dedicated to making your dreams of owning a food truck a reality. We are committed to “doing the right thing” for our clients and are with you every step of the way. Our quality is unsurpassed and our team of dedicated designers and builders will be by your side from vision to creation and beyond. Contact us today to see how we can partner with you in one of the fastest growing industries…visit our website http://www.custommobilefoodequipment.com/ or call today 609-561-6900.

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At Custom Mobile Food Equipment, our tradition is “Always do the right thing.” This rich tradition not only holds true when dealing with our customers, but also in the way we admire our skillful employees. When the company was started back in 1952, our founder Bill Sikora provided numerous jobs to immigrants from Russia, the Ukraine and Mexico. These were talented and gifted people who needed a start in America. It was not unheard of for Sikora to even help the families of his employees with medical bills.  

Since our start back in the early fifties manufacturing hot dog and ice cream carts, our custom built mobile food equipment products have expanded to include; food trucks, carts, kiosks, trailers, scooters, stands and so much more.  

The company was built on values that have been passed down from generation to generation. We custom build in-house and are a one-stop shop. We design and produce each piece with quality materials and workmanship. We provide our customers with one of the industry’s best warranties and use steel-framed bodies that are durable and warrant a long-term investment.  

We believe that personal attention is key in order to satisfy our customers.

We are committed to helping you succeed in your business. As a generational business, our family is dedicated to you, your business and helping it grow.

Times are changing…and in the right direction for food truck owners and for food truck manufacturers, like us, at Custom Mobile Food Equipment. In the past few months, several cities have changed or proposed changes to relax their current ordinances related to food truck businesses. The food truck trend is ever-growing and is projected to be a $7 billion industry.

In March of 2017, an article featured in the Charlotte Observer, outlined a proposal to allow food truck owners to park within 100 feet of residential areas, instead of the current 400 feet law. Food trucks in Charlotte would also be able to stay open later than under current law, which currently requires them to close at 9pm.  The proposed changes will go up for vote by the City Council soon and the decision(s) could be several months away.

In April of 2017, the City of Nacogdoches in Texas is considering revising the current ordinances in order to do a better job of serving food truck vendors and their customers. The city’s leaders have recognized that current regulations are outdated and do not meet the industry’s needs. One such proposed amendment to the current regulation would allow a food vendor to be parked at its location longer than an hour. A number of food truck vendors find that the current ordinances are too restrictive and are counter-intuitive to growth.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the Illinois Restaurant Association is supporting a plan to also allow food truck vendors to extend their current parking limit of two hours. When food trucks first rolled out onto the food scene, there was quite a bit of animosity between restaurants and food truck owners. Times have changed and we have seen a shift in their way of thinking. A number of restaurants no longer feeling threatened by the competition, but joining in on it.  Some restaurants are now rolling out food trucks of their own or utilizing some type of mobile catering service and some are now supporting the relaxation of local ordinances regarding food truck vendors.

“Dreams really do come true”…food truck dreams in Walt Disney World, that is. The food truck craze has hit the scene at one of the most magical places on earth. Visit the West Side of Disney Springs in Exposition Park, and you can now indulge your appetite in a number of food trucks cleverly themed after various venues in Walt Disney World. We, at Custom Mobile Food Equipment, were elated to take part in the customization and manufacture of these food trucks.

Namaste Cafe’s food truck is bold and vibrant and features flavors of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The retro look and feel of Superstar Catering will have you feeling like you are dining during the Art Deco period of the 1930’s.

Fantasy Fare, with its bright and brilliant red truck, features fare from Disney parks around the world.

The big green food truck you see decked out with vintage travel stickers, features menu items from the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.  

Custom Mobile Food Equipment was honored and elated to take part in the customization and manufacture of these amazing food trucks. Contact us online by clicking here or call 609-561-6900 to see how we can make your food truck dreams come true too!