How much does it cost to hire a food truck at a wedding or party?
Food trucks are usually charged a rental fee between £400 and £600. This is usually the minimum charge food trucks need to make to serve at an event. This is going to increase as more food trucks are available and they offer premium or extensive menus.
Prices per head start at approximately £7-11 for the basic menu package.
Many factors can affect the price that you get from a caterer van. This includes the date. A Saturday lunchtime in February tends to be more expensive than one on Saturday in summer.
Price can also be affected by the food choice (e.g. You can choose to have a full-on barbecue or mac’n cheese, or eat at a food truck. It also depends on the type of truck you use (simple burger van or bespoke pimped out van), and how far you are from the event.
These are our top tips on how to get a food truck booked at a low price.
Limit the serving time. Although you may love the idea of allowing guests to graze between noon and dusk, it is likely that this will incur additional charges.
Consider a local caterer. This will keep the travel costs of their team low, and it is great for supporting local for many other reasons.
Select a simple menu. 2 to 3 options should be enough to cover most bases. However, it is better to keep things simple and lower in food waste.
You can give your caterer your budget and they will suggest a menu for you.
Consider increasing the portion size – many caterers have ‘fixed’ costs that they must cover for each event. For example, travel, staff and power. If the numbers rise, the price per head can go down.
What length of time do mobile catering providers serve food for events and weddings?
The type of food that is being served determines the length of the service period. Pizzas that must be prepared individually can take longer than those which can be served in large groups. Noodles, on the other hand, are ready-to-go and come out quickly.
A majority of food trucks will take approximately 2 hours to serve 100 customers. This would allow for plenty of time for customers to order and pick up their food from the truck.
You can request that the food be made available for a longer time. To cover increased staff time, this will probably result in you being charged slightly more.
Ask for a quote when you are contacting a food truck caterer. Make sure to specify the time period that you require so they can calculate it. They may offer to extend the’standard’ serving time at no additional cost if you specify this upfront.
How many people can a food truck feed?
This will vary depending on the type of food and their experience, as well as how many trucks they have.
A professional caterer who serves paella with the same order for all guests and their processes are slick could serve over 200 meals per hour. For example, if they were serving lunch from 11am to 3pm, they could feed over 800 people. Another food truck, which offers many different wraps to suit each guest, might only be able to serve 15 people an hour.
If you are looking for a way to serve a large number of people
If you are considering a food truck, we recommend that you choose a simple menu with clear signage and a food option which can be eaten ‘grab-n-go’. You should also look for a street food caterer that has extensive experience in catering to large groups, and who can streamline the process to minimize queuing.
Our hot dogs have been served at major events such as the NFL. We are experienced in serving large groups of people in a short time.
What is the minimum number of Street Food Trucks I need at my Event?
A variety of food trucks could create a festival-like atmosphere at your event. This will give your guests a variety of options, and allow them to satisfy their dietary preferences.
However, it is more costly to have more food trucks than you need because most trucks have a minimum set up fee. If you are serving a lot of people in a short time, then having multiple food trucks might be the best choice.
We recommend that there be no more than 50 portions per van. However, if you have 150+ guests or wish to serve multiple portions per guest, then having a few food trucks could be a good solution.
Food trucks can be equally useful, as are food trucks. A food truck can easily serve several hundred guests at one event and offer a variety of menus to provide guests with different choices, without having to manage multiple food traders.
If you want to create an atmosphere of a food festival at your event, we recommend that there be 3 savoury food trucks and 1 dessert truck, depending on how many people are attending. You should ensure that the food is not too similar and there are plenty of options for vegetarians and people with gluten intolerances. For those with more healthy appetites, it is worth having a light option and a heavy dish for those with heavier stomachs.
Many food truck businesses collaborate with each other so if you see one that you like, ask if they can suggest any complementary food trucks to go along.
If your event lasts less than two hours, we recommend 1 food truck to serve 150 portions.
Do you need to pre-order food for a food truck hire?
The best thing about hiring a catering van is that you don’t have to order each guest’s meals in advance. Food trucks do not require you to pre-order, unlike more formal catering that requires you to ask guests for their preferred meal options.
Guests will usually be able to pick their preferred menu choice when they hire a food truck.
This is great because it allows you to save a lot of admin time as well as allowing guests to choose the food they like on the day.
But it’s worth checking to see what the exact requirements are for the food truck you are interested in booking. Some food trucks require you to provide numbers for vegans/veggies/gluten-free and letting them know before hand of any specific dietary requirements your guests may have.
How long does it take for a food truck set-up to serve at an event?
Most food trucks set up in 30 minutes. However, some people (like us) prefer to spend around an hour getting ready.
Food trucks with large fryers and wood fired ovens may have to arrive earlier in order to ensure that everything is ready for them.
If time is critical for your event, it’s worth asking what the minimum setup time for your preferred food truck is.
We’ve been able to set up in under 20 minutes and quickly “pop-up” for surprise birthday parties.
This is an option if you need the food truck to be ready before guests arrive. But it is important to inform them upfront. They will have to consider increased staff costs.
Contact us if you need a professional food truck caterer to wow your guests. We will send you a menu and a quote free of charge, with no obligation to book.