Why Food Trucks are here to stay !

One of the more interesting foodservice developments in recent years is the emergence of “food trucks” as a new food purchase option for consumers . A food truck ( or mobile food vehicle ) is essentially a mobile kitchen that usually has a product theme and serves a specific product line . These “trucks” have been built , engineered and/or remodeled to have full kitchen capability to produce their product.


Like many cities around the US , Lexington is in the throes of figuring out the best way to adapt to this trend in a common sense community , consumer and business friendly fashion. Before delving into this I think its useful to review some information about food trucks .

1. One of the best known and respected restaurant research and analysis organizations is Technomic ( www.technomic.com ) . In 2011 they produced a study that indicated that food trucks are a trend with staying power and not a fad . Furthermore , its a trend with a lot of potential growth potential .



2. Social media is an important element of food truck success . Food trucks are mobile and social media is a convenient way to not only keep up with where they will be , it is also way for the consumer to “connect” with the business. Additionally, for a business with no permanent address or location , Twitter or other social media gives it a sense of place or permanence.



3. Food trucks are a lower capital investment cost way to get into the food business which is always important but more so in a down economy .. Additionally, because they are mobile there is also no “location risk” . A game changing business model .



4. The lower investment threshold can make it easier to get into the food business which reduces a barrier to entry for food innovators . This makes the food truck business environment an important element in a regional culture of food innovation which feeds into other elements of a creative city . They are becoming symbols of innovation .



5. Closely related to the social media factor is the emergence of mobile apps to assist people in finding food trucks . Examples include Food Truck Fiesta, Road Stoves GPS and Roaming Hunger .



6. The social media and mobile communication aspect helps explain why food trucks are so popular with the millennial generation ( or post Gen X ) which is 50 million strong and the largest generation in the history of the United State . They are mobile oriented and attracted to unusual and unconventional communication .



7. Established restaurants can use food trucks to extend their brand in their region and/or test the acceptance of their brand in other markets .



Lexington, probably due to market size , has lagged behind Louisville in the food truck arena . However, much has happened in the last year revealing that there are real issues that must be addressed to make the business environment friendly to food trucks but in a way that is fair with other “stakeholders” in the discussion. Additionally, there is the related issue of “food carts” which are smaller, not vehicular, and can locate on sidewalks .




Mark Sievers

Trader Joes in Lexington

         The new Trader Joe's in Lexington on Nicholasville Road  must be getting closer to opening since a sign is now on the building .

Dairy Cheer article

         Here is a link to an interesting article on the history of  Kentucky based Dairy Cheer


 http://www.bluemaumau.org/11437/real_story_smashburger

QR Code for my Resorts and Restaurants For Sale website

Lexington Kentucky Food Trucks

http://www.bizlex.com/Articles-BizFocus-c-2012-04-11-101398.113117-Making-Room-for-Food-Trucks.html

Article on importance of people in the restaurant business

http://www.bizlex.com/Articles-BizFocus-c-2012-04-11-101406.113117-The-fifth-p-and-the-Saul-Good-business-model.html

Kentucky Food Bloggers

A great resource for reading about Kentucky food is the following blog site.   They also have a Facebook site .
 


http://kyfoodbloggers.wordpress.com/

Common Grounds Expands Parking

            One of my favorites in Lexington, KY is Common Grounds Coffee House .   Just recently they dramatically expanded their parking capacity making it much easier to find a spot during week days .