Frequently Asked Questions

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Why buy a Bella mobile food unit?

Bella Manufacturing are a well established Australian business that has been in the mobile food industry for 10 years. Our mission is to ensure that each of our customers has a smooth transition between the idea phase, to CAD planning, construction, hand-over and after sales service. We always make time to answer any of your questions.

On top of our great service, we ensure a quality product that is durable, safe and Australian made. There is a long list of Australian standards and legislative codes that all manufacturers must meet, however, many manufacturers do not. At Bella we ensure that each of these standards are met and supplied to each of our customers for full transparency. At the end of the day, we value quality and we are sure you do too. For more information check out our blog!

Research, research, research. Before you do anything, you need to gather all your information to have a greater understanding of the industry. Here are a couple of tips:

  1. What is your business? Start drawing up a business plan to understand what food you will be making, what type of events you want to service and how your business is going to make a profit.
  2. Start to watch your competitors. What food are they making, what events are they doing and how will this impact your business plan?
  3. Network! Use this time to chat to other food truckers, they have industry experience and may give you a few tips. Your local council will be the ones to sign off your project, you should begin liaising with them as soon as possible. It’s also great to start connecting with event organisers, they will be the one to approve you for as many or as little jobs as possible.
  4. Where are you going to build your food truck or mobile food unit? In Australia there is a large scale of quality and thus it is vital to do your research before you start building with any manufacturer. Understand the legislative codes and regulations that your unit will need to meet and liaise with your local council for clarification on any specifications your unit will need for approval. Do a factory visit if you can! A factory visit will give you reassurance that you’re not getting yourself into anything dodgy. Ask questions!! These industry experts should be able to provide you with all the answers in the world, at Bella we believe there’s never a silly question and our team will help you clarify anything during your build.

Mobile food units are very versatile, here’s a quick break down:

  • Food Trucks and Trailers: catering, events, festivals, markets, community fundraisers and dark kitchens.
  • Smoko Truck or Ute: beep-and-go, catering at work sites, coffee stops and general catering.
  • Shipping Container Kitchen: catering, dark kitchen, events, café, restaurant, and job/mining site catering.
  • Coffee Van: this one is a little more obvious; stop-and-go, sporting carnivals etc
  • Mobile Promotional Vehicle: this vehicle can be used to serve products, offer demonstrations, and act as a marketing activation campaign for any business.

We provide all of our customers with an operations manual consisting of all our maintenance recommendations, product warranties and product manuals. In order to keep your mobile food business running smoothly for years, it is vital to keep on top of maintenance. Warranties can become void if the equipment and vehicle are not maintained correctly. Read our article to understand the five aspects of maintaining a mobile food unit.

Food trailers are best for stationary and long-term parking locations due to them being large in size and difficult to manoeuvre. This option is typically more affordable, however you must have a vehicle that has a 3.5 tonne towing capacity. Food trucks have become a very popular option as they have a lot to offer. They have a larger towing capacity meaning more equipment and storage. Food trucks typically retain a great resale value for when you part ways with your mobile food business. Both options have their pros and cons, so it’s important to discuss your options with an industry professional to ensure that you are choosing the right unit for your business. Read our article on the differences between trucks and trailers.

Working with event organisers is not only a great way to network but it can also be one of the more profitable segments of running your business. A special event or food truck event can determine whether you have a profitable month, or you just cover your costs. It’s crucial to do your research before entering an event to ensure it will bring enough profit to meet your monthly target. If an event charges you a large fee and ends up being less than successful, it can seriously impact your overall profit. Read our article for some tips on how to work food truck events.

Yes. As long as you have a spot to set yourself for the day/evening then all you need to do is sign up to your chosen online food delivery company (Ubereats, Deliveroo, Menulog) and start cooking. Check out our article on dark kitchens.

Market research is essential for any start-up business. You need to understand the food industry, the mobile food industry, regulations and standards, suppliers, competitors, food truck manufacturers and much more. Write a list of things you need to know and start contacting people and researching. Our team at Bella can also help answer questions along the way. Check out our article for more info!

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Price Guide: single axle trailer from $65k+, dual axle trailer from $80k+, 5m truck from $80k + vehicle

What our clients are saying

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We've partnered with Bella Manufacturing to build our state of the art mobile cafes for some years now. As the leader in Australia's mobile cafe industry, we need to work with the best to deliver our best. Andrew and his team consistently deliver a high end finished product and benchmark setting after sales support and care. If you need a mobile cafe, then Bella is your go to! Thanks Bella for your continued support of our business. More in the pipeline!

Jonathan from Xpresso Mobile Cafe's

Highly recommend Bella and the team that built my trailer. Very professional and the highest of quality. Using my trailer is so much easier then setting up the gazebo. Its professional and safer in all weather conditions. If you are going to get a trailer built, get it built by a professional, that can ensure that it is all compliant and meets all Australian standards.

Sheree from Leonella Pasta

I have had the pleasure of using Bella Manufacturing to build our Mobile Coffee Car. There was no hesitation in using the best food truck manufacturer in Australia and the combination of their creation, design and build process is nothing short of perfect. The final product is just as much a piece of art as it is a practical and effective mobile coffee unit. I would have no hesitation recommending them to anyone.

Tom from Industrial Sailor Co

Domino's Pizza Logo

The Bella team are delighted partner with Domino’s Pizza to deliver a flexible business option to franchisees, allowing them to operate to their usual high standards.

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Bostik Logo Header

Bostik are taking their customer service to the next level with this walk-in training van. This custom designed mobile training centre is ready to hit the road.

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Primo Logo

Experiential marketing agency Chatterbrand have helped Primo share a fantastic brand experience, taking their delicious range of smallgoods far and wide at community and sporting events.

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Milo Logo

Milo Australia have used our unique Silver Bella custom made food trailer for promotional use to attend sporting and community events.

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Boost Logo

We worked with Retail Zoo to produce this amazing trailer. Boost Juice are a well known juice bar that have expanded their franchising business into smoothie trailers.

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Hillsong Logo

Hillsong can utilise this set-up to move their coffee to any spot in their church. This fit-out includes commercial equipment, stainless steel benches, storage and fridges.

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Maggi Logo

Maggi's promotional trailer traveled the country advertising their newly released products. It includes eye-catching fold-out side panels for product display.

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Merlo Logo

Merlo Coffee turned to Bella Manufacturing for something that reflected the quality of their brand when they decided it was time to upgrade their coffee van.

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Zambrero Logo

This Zambrero Tex-Mexivan food truck pops up at exhibitions and events all around South East Queensland and is a great example of our custom work.

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