Food trucks and other catering vehicles are a growing industry both here in Australia and overseas. Currently, there are Australian codes and regulations to meet before a permit to trade will be issued and as the industry grows, minimum standards are likely to increase to ensure the health and safety of both traders and their customers.
Our team talk to many people about their food trucks and unfortunately do come across entrepreneurs who have paid out tens of thousands of dollars on a brand-new unit, only to find that 6-24 months down the track it needs major repairs. Not all catering vehicle builders are compliant so, as with any business or major purchase, it’s important to undertake due diligence before putting down any deposit.
Some of the more common issues we see arising include:
- Refusal to undertake repairs or maintenance once the build is complete. Check your builder will do this, either under warranty or at additional cost
- Unable to clean equipment properly – Australian standards stipulate that equipment must be able to be pulled out to ensure cleaning can occur behind and underneath a cooking unit. Ensure your equipment is not bolted down and unable to be moved
- Leaks from low quality equipment – buy the best equipment you can afford
- Shoddy workmanship – ask for recommendations from previous clients to determine workmanship quality
To avoid some of these issues, download this checklist for how your mobile catering unit should be built and what questions to ask.
It pays to do some homework on who builds in Australia and where the materials come from, so be sure to ask as many questions as needed to satisfy your own criteria for quality.
Our team are happy to answer questions and assist with information before you build, during the design stage and once you’re on the road. Give us a call.