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Catering Trucks

Buzzle Staff
Food on wheels, that is exactly what a catering truck provides. These mobile trucks pick out routes where they offer their services. Here is information about the different types available, tips to help you select the right vehicle, and the catering menu.
All of us like a home-cooked meal, but during parties and get-togethers there is no other alternative but to order food. That is when catering businesses come to the rescue.
Catering trucks are surely a boon for caterers. Using these specially designed vehicles, the staff of catering businesses are able to transport food, beverages, and other things to the site of the event or party with ease.

Types

There are two types available in the market.
  • Mobile Food Preparation Vehicle (MFPV): In this kind, the food is prepared as per the customer's orders. The MFPV truck usually offers various types of sandwiches and other kinds of food that can be prepared easily.
  • Industrial Catering Vehicle (ICV): This kind of truck sells only prepackaged food.
Most of the food trucks available in the market are provided with amenities like a warming oven, refrigerator, freezer, fryer, sink, soda system, griddle, and coffee urn. You can ensure that you get the best buy by researching on the Internet. You can have the vehicle customized too!

Things to Remember During Purchase

  • First, it is of prime importance to know how much you can spend. This will help you decide whether you would like to go in for a used truck or a new one.
  • Seek help. Speak to other truck owners and find out about dealers in your area. Remember to check the dealer for reliability.
  • Before you buy a used one, have it inspected by a mechanic.
  • If you are purchasing a new one, inquire about the warranty and what is covered.
  • Test drive the vehicle before committing. Since you will be spending a considerable amount of your time in the vehicle, make sure it is comfortable and everything in it works.
  • If you are satisfied and have made up your mind, offer the dealer a price 20% lower than the advertised price. If you are purchasing a used vehicle, remember to take the cost of the repair off.

Catering Menu

The key to success in a catering business lies in knowing what sells. Here are a few tips to make your business successful:
  • Familiarize yourself with what sells on the route that you have selected. To do this you could talk to another seller of the route or the person who serviced it before you. If you are using a new route, find out about the people you will be serving.
  • Find out where the local commissary (food and beverage facility) is located.
  • Match your menu to the time of the day. Include scrambled eggs, biscuits, and gravy in the morning menu. Include fried chicken and sandwiches for afternoon and evening. Meat dishes, mashed potatoes, and gravy for later in the day.
  • Store a variety of soda and packaged snacks. Include a variety of drinks like fruit juices, coffee, hot chocolate, and iced tea, while in packaged snacks, chips and cookies would be a good idea.
  • Experiment with the menu. If possible, have a special each day. This will help you increase your customer base and have them looking forward to the specialty of the day.
  • Stock at least a few brands of cigarettes.
Using a catering truck is a good entrepreneur business strategy. Make sure you take care of the rules and regulations, business license, and health and food safety precautions given by the state authorities.