By: Sarah Buckholtz
May 24, 2022
By now, we’ve all heard about food trucks—and more specifically, we’ve probably stood in line for one. Not only do food trucks provide a unique, mobile, culinary experience, but they are an effective way to reel in customers as part of your weekly or daily food options, especially if you don’t have your own on-site kitchen.
But where to start?
Approach booking a food truck just as you would planning a party. You will need to consider variables like cuisine, where to have catering set up, and number of guests.
Read on to learn everything about booking the right food truck.
What We’ll Cover in This Piece:
The Top 3 Benefits of Booking a Food Truck
Photo by Nathalia Segato on Unsplash
Increase Foot Traffic
Food trucks help draw people out and give folks a reason to visit your taproom besides just the beer. The chefs on food trucks offer creative yet straightforward menus at affordable prices that keep customers’ bellies full and their tabs open. Speaking of which…
Good Beer and Good Food Go Hand in Hand
Craft beer and street food are an unbeatable team. After a few hazy IPAs, nothing sounds better than a bite of a toasted bahn mi or a plate of loaded fries.
“If you do sell food as a brewery, you will also sell more beer,” says Tim McLaughlin, founder of GoTab, in a previous Untappd for Business article How to Make the Best Bar Food Menu. “We’ve worked with breweries that have done studies, and every single one finds they sell more beer when they sell food.”
Hiring an on-site food truck will help raise the average cost of a customer’s tab. What could be better than boosting your bottom line and keeping your customers’ stomachs happy and full? If you do not sell food, now is the time to consider inviting in a food truck.
Generate Social Buzz
Hiring a food truck gives your business extra publicity. Make sure to post when a food truck visits your taproom to generate buzz. And don’t forget to ask your food truck partner to post on their social platforms as well. The collaborative promotion between your business and the food truck will increase your social visibility. You’ll attract new followers from your food truck partner or cultivate your own. Oftentimes, people will check your social media just to find out what food trucks you have visiting that day. But food trucks are not the only way to promote your business. Check out these “16 Fresh Ideas for Promoting Your Bar and Taproom in 2022.”
How to Hire a Food Truck at Your Brewery
Photo by Harry Gillen on Unsplash
Find the Best Food Truck for Your Brewery
What type of food truck would you like to bring to the brewery?
Do you want to connect with the most popular lobster roll truck in town? Or would you like a more casual burger and fry slinger to post up in your parking lot? Choosing the right food truck is crucial. But how can you find all the options in your area?
You have a few options.
First, download reliable trackers, like mFood™ – Food Truck Finder App, to explore food trucks near you.
Second, check and see what other breweries in the area are doing. Seeing what food trucks are popping up at nearby taprooms could be a great way to cultivate your own list of partners.
Or go check out a local food truck festival. There you can taste the dishes that you like, talk with truck owners, and even grab their contact information. This will be a great first step to finding your perfect food truck partner.
Reach Out Directly
The best way to find a food truck that matches your needs is to talk to them directly. So if you can’t connect with a vendor at something like a festival, you’ll need to find another way. You may think that you can simply call or email food truck vendors to invite them to your taproom. But remember: Food truck owners are almost always on the road.
If you want to maximize your chances of contacting a food truck, see if their website has a contact form, or send them a direct message on Twitter or Instagram.
Consider Your Capacity
Food truck chefs put a lot of prep and execution into making their food truck an unforgettable experience. Make sure you set them up for success by anticipating their needs.
For example, ensure you have a large enough area for the truck to park in proximity to your brewery. Consider all the angles: Will there be enough room for people to wait in line, eat, as well as dispose of their trash.
To that point, do you need to set up extra trash cans to keep your taproom as clean as possible while a food truck is on site?
Depending on the food truck, the operator might need a generator or outlets to plug in for extra power.
Considering all these questions will help prepare you and your food truck partner for a successful night of service.
Nail Down a Date Then Post It on Social
Now the fun begins! Once you’ve connected with a food truck vendor, mapped out where they can park, and considered all their needs, get the party started!
Let your followers on social know what truck will be parking at your brewery by creating a social post, IG reel, or story with some of the dishes that will be available. You could even recommend one of your beers to pair with each bite.
And don’t forget to get your food truck vendor on board with promoting too. Hosting a food truck will only help increase foot traffic if you get the word out. Make sure once you lock in a specific food truck to post that across all your platforms from your website to Facebook and Instagram.
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