The Growth of the Food Truck: Tracking the Mobile Foodie Trend

Food trucks are trending in the United States, and not just at theme parks and festivals. In many cities, you can find food trucks in popular places that people gather every day, such as universities, business districts, and even grocery store parking lots. Food trucks aren’t a new idea, but they’re definitely seeing a resurgence. Let’s take a closer look at the growth of the food truck industry, why it’s happening, and if it’s still a good business idea.

Which Cities Have the Most Food Trucks?

Image via Flickr by stu_spivack

The food truck trend started in Los Angeles, California, when Roy Choi opened his gourmet food truck, Kogi BBQ, in 2008. People loved it, and many entrepreneurs copied the food truck idea. Now, there are over 269 food trucks in the city. San Francisco and San Diego also have their fair share of food trucks, and the trend followed in most major cities in the United States. Texas is also a popular place to find food trucks, with 156 in Austin, 103 in Dallas, and 97 in Houston in 2015. However, Orlando and Miami, Florida, have the most food trucks per 100,000 people, with Washington D.C. not far behind.

Why Are Food Trucks So Popular?

The food truck industry was perpetuated by the premiere of “The Great Food Truck Race” on The Food Network and the 2008 recession. Entrepreneurs realized that food trucks were a better way to make money than dealing with the costs of brick-and-mortar restaurants. Plus, customers were tired of all the fast food options and wanted more gourmet dining options. The most popular items offered by food trucks include sandwiches, Mexican and other ethnic foods, and soups and salads. The industry was ready for a change, and food trucks were the answer.

How Do Food Trucks Get Their Business?

The biggest way that food trucks get business is to be in the right place at the right time, such as setting up near a major event. However, food trucks also use Twitter and other social media to tell their customers where to find them. Customers can even turn to apps to find out where their favorite food truck will be on any given day.

Since food trucks are so popular, it’s become common for venues to hold pop-up food truck events where people can come and buy food from a variety of trucks. These events attract tons of people because they can find an array of food — there’s everything from cheap hotdogs to gourmet ethnic food.

How Much Money Do Food Trucks Make?

The 2008 recession slowed down the broader food-services sector, but business owners found that food trucks that offered affordable food were still a good way to make money. As of 2017, food truck revenue in the United States was estimated at $2.7 billion. That’s phenomenal growth from $650 million in 2013.

Despite widespread popularity, many food trucks have been held back by city regulations. Every city has different laws that govern food trucks, such as allowed hours of operation, the distance required from brick-and-mortar restaurants, and taxes. Also, make sure you get the Texas food handlers license if you plan to do business in that state. Still, food trucks can expect to make up to $300,000 in profits per year, depending on popularity. It’s still a good business idea.

If you’re interested in starting a food truck business, they cost considerably less than a brick-and-mortar store. You can find food trucks for sale to accommodate any type of cuisine you’d like. A food truck business is a great way to make money if you live in a big city, offer amazing food, and can master marketing and social media required to propel your business in front of buying customers. The trend isn’t going to die soon.