Walk around any city and you will an assortment of food truck lining the corners tempting passersby’s with their creations. The food truck industry has grown a lot in the past five years and is one of the top performers of the food service industry. While most of the country was suffering through a recession in 2008, the food truck industry found its niche and has been growing ever since. From 2008 to 2014, the food truck industry has increased at an annual rate of 12.4% and it expected to grow even more in 2017.
Here are some of the food truck industry trends for 2017:
More work needed on working with city governments
There are a lot of regulatory hurdles that a food truck has to overcome in order to run a successful business. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done with working with city governments on parking laws and other city ordinances that affect the food truck industry. As customer preference for food trucks grow, there will be a need to create laws that protect customers, but that also encourages the growth of food trucks. One of the biggest challenges new food truck owners face is all the permits and licenses they need so any work to alleviate that will help the industry grow more.
You will see more creativity in food trucks
As the food industry has evolved, food trucks have come from simple carts for hot dogs and soft pretzels to food trucks that offer a variety of culinary masterpieces that are growing in popularity especially with millennials. The great thing about food trucks is that you can make your menu as specific or as broad as you’d like. You can just sell tea and pastries or offer full dinner menus. It is all up to you.
The food truck industry is expected to continue to grow
There is no slow-down in sight when it comes to the food truck industry. By the end of 2017, the food truck industry is expected to generate approximately $2.7 billion dollars. The great thing about the food truck business is that even when money is tight most people can afford a stop at a food truck. And with our lives growing busier by every second of the day, the need for quick and convenient sustenance is growing too.
More customers are preferring the food truck industry
Recent surveys have showed that more and more people are preferring the food truck experience. People are not always in the mood for long waits at brick and mortar restaurants when they can spontaneously just stop at a food truck and then go look at the stars or enjoy the view by the river. Especially when the weather is nice, people tend to enjoy the quickness of a food truck which allows them to find a comfortable spot outside in nature to enjoy their meal.
Another enjoyable aspect of dining from a food truck is that if there are several food trucks in the vicinity you can get items from different trucks creating the perfect meal for you. What could be better than that? Food trucks allow you to reinvent the dining experience to be whatever you want it to be.
The food truck industry is going more local
One of the big trends in 2017 for the food truck industry is the emphasis on organic local food. A lot of food trucks are concentrating on getting their supplies from local organic farms. With fresher ingredients you can add extra flavor to your dishes that your customers will love. And with more and more people focused on reducing their carbon footprint and paying more attention to where their food comes from, it will help you recruit more customers if you can tell them the name of the farm where you got your ingredients from. People will trust your food more if they know exactly where it comes from.
Food trucks are getting more artisanal
In the coming year you will see more food trucks with their own artisan breads and those who make their own ice creams. The art involved in making food is definitely coming back to the food truck industry. It is not about mass production of the same food constantly, but the creation of edible art. No longer just hot dogs and sandwiches, you can also get also complicated cuisine as well.
You will see even more of a social media presence
More and more people are appreciating the powers of social media to promote their businesses and brands and the food truck industry is no different. Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are a great way to let your customers know when you are at certain locations and to let them know when to plan to come to any of your upcoming events. It is also a great way to reach potential new customers. When they see their friends raving about your food, new customers are more likely to line up outside your truck.
If you are introducing new dishes or new services, social media is also a great way to first introduce the idea to people. More and more food truck owners are also using social media to interact personally with customers, addressing complaints and really listening to their needs. Because traditional marketing and advertising can be really expensive, social media is a great alternative to help boost your presence in the industry.
More restaurants are expanding with food trucks
Besides new business owners starting with a food truck before expanding to a brick and mortar building, there has also been an increase in established restaurants trying out the food truck business as well. Even restaurant franchisors are offering food truck opportunities to new franchisees. You can expect to see this industry continue to grow as more and more people are seeing the benefits of the food truck business.
If you are considering joining the food truck business, there are a lot positive trends that say that now is the time to do so. Make sure you do research first though to make sure it is the right fit for you.
Zac's Burgers is presently not selling franchises and does not have a certified franchise disclosure document. Zac's is offering licensing opportunities, however, potential licensees must meet all federal and state requirements.
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