September 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 107

The Food truck
industry is now $2
billion-plus in estimated
revenue in cities across the
U.S. Compared to 2014, the
industry's overall revenue
has grown 300% in the last
three years. (Food truck

Food truck growth
is even outpacing overall
commercial foodservice, such
as restaurants, at a growth of 5.4
percent versus 4.3 percent. Many
restaurants, however, are jumping on
the mobile trend, establishing their
own satellite food truck restaurants
with limited, more casual or
fun menu items. (Food truck

Some Food Truck Facts...

operator)

nation)

Almost
all diners
interviewed planned
to continue patronizing
food trucks and loved
the speed, convenience,
quality and price of
food service. (Mobile

Over 90 percent
of diners rated food
truck quality as excellent
or good and over 80 percent
of them used words like fun,
exciting, new, different and
unique when asked why
they dined there. (Mobile

cuisine)

Most likely
consumers to
purchase a meal from a
food truck are aged 18 to
34, followed by 54 percent
of diners aged between
35 and 44 years old.

Millennials are
widely considered the
" food truck generation, "
with 47 percent having
eaten from a food truck at
some point. Think young,
hip urban eaters. (Big

(Statistics portal)

think)

Source: " 12 Impressive Facts on the Food Truck Industry " by Sam Milbrath (https://www.food.ee/blog/12-impressive-facts-on-the-food-truck-industry/).

tain the health, safety and welfare
of the citizens who used the food
trucks, " explains Deanna Lambert,
director of community relations for
the city of Brentwood.
Longevity: Two years.
Food truck frequency: " At city-sponsored events, " Lambert shares. " In
2017, we had food trucks at eight
events and in 2018, at nine. Food
trucks are also in parks for other various events not organized by the city. "
What's on the menu: " We use food
trucks for concerts that attract about
2,500 guests, " Lambert explains.
" We have used everything from
pizza and BBQ, to ice cream, snow
cones and lobster trucks. The classic
options are the most popular. "

The process: Vendors apply for a
$50 annual permit. Additional permits are required for participation
in " rallies, " or whenever there is a
gathering of more than two food
trucks. It's an additional $50 for
rallies of three to 10 food vehicles
and $250 for more than 10.
Marketing strategy: " We worked
with the Nashville Food Truck Association and created a website to
educate vendors and users, " Lambert says. " We also held a community meeting to inform food truck
owners and operators about the
new regulations. "
Park benefits: " Attendance at
Brentwood-sponsored events is
up, and food trucks are in part to
thank for that, " Lambert shares.

" They offer another element of fun
to the event, which helps attract
more people. Families really enjoy
the food trucks because with young
kids, you can plan to head out to
the park for fun and not worry
about what to do for dinner. "
Advice to other parks: " Explore
what other cities do in terms of food
truck regulations. Seek advice from
those municipalities around you, "
she advises. " Work with the food
truck vendors and be willing to hear
the concerns from brick and mortar-based businesses in your community when creating regulations. All
groups and their input were helpful
to our process in Brentwood. "
Katie Navarra is a New York-based Freelance Writer
(katienavarra@yahoo.com).

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