Some factors to consider before requesting a food truck

This greatly depends on the type of event and the amount of people anticipated. The ideal ratio of attendees per truck is between 150 and 300 guests, if everyone is expected to eat. Over 300, the lines often get long, and the customers can become unhappy. If the food trucks are an addition to the actual event and extra activities are going on, the ideal attendance ratio should double of 500-750 people per truck.  Note: If you want more than one food truck at your event, you need to have either the crowd or finances to justify it.

Hosting a large scale event, open to the public with 1000+ estimated guests. Or hiring a food truck for a private party in your backyard?

Hiring a food truck to cater an event, by contract to serve a set number of people within a  certain budget or designated menu, or combination of both. This is the most common used method for private events and special occasions. 

This is similar to street service. A food truck is requested to provide service at a specific location or event and attendees pay for food directly. Keep in mind that in this scenario, most trucks will need to do 45-60 sales per hour. This payment method is most common for larger events or locations where there will significant foot traffic. If attendance is higher than anticipated, vendors risk selling out before the end of the event. Conversely, if attendance is lower than anticipated, the trucks may have too much extra food that will go to waste. 

This is often the best solution for smaller events or the ability to have multiple food trucks at any occasion or event. The attendees pay for the food directly but the organizer agrees to guarantee a certain amount of sales. The organizer pays the difference between the actual sales at the event and the guaranteed amount. 

If asking a food truck or mobile food vendor to pay a fee to attend your event, keep in mind that the truck or vendor will need to earn 10 times the amount of the fee. A reasonable and often preferred fee structure is for a food truck to pay between 5-10% of their sales at the event in lieu of a flat rate.  If an event charges an admission to the general public, and the food trucks will be a major attraction and help draw in crowds, there should not be a fee for the food truck to attend. Flat rates should only be considered if and when your event has established a reputation for successful/profitable vendor sales.

All food trucks are completely self contained; meaning they contain their own source of power and water. Some trucks may request additional power to provide the best food truck experience.

Placement & Location:

• If there’s just one truck, put it close enough to the action that attendees don’t have to abandon the fun—but don’t forget to plan space for the line.
• Most food trucks can’t operate on an incline, so schedule a site visit to make sure the area is flat.
• Some food trucks come with additional breakout options, such as a cart for maneuvering into smaller spaces.
• IMPORTANT: If you have multiple food trucks, they do best when they are together. Please, do not place trucks by themselves in random spots throughout the event space. It’s always best to cluster them together so attendees can see all the options at once.

Association, M. N. (2022). Before you request a food truck! MN Food Truck Association. Retrieved January 21, 2022, from https://mnfoodtruckassociation.org/book/before-you-book/