How to start a mobile kitchen business in South Africa

A mobile kitchen business is a great way to get into the food industry while reducing the start-up costs and barriers to entry. This is a guide on how to start a mobile kitchen business in South Africa.

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Overview

This business is ideal for people who like serving food on the go and going directly to where their customers are instead of waiting for them to come to their food business. The barriers to entry are lower than other businesses that are in the food space, businesses like restaurants and cafés.

A mobile kitchen is also known as a food truck, the business can be highly profitable because of the lesser overhead expenses. Everyone loves food, this is a business that will always thrive when run professionally.

Identify your target market

This business is primarily based on going to where your customers are likely to be and serving them food. Identifying your target early on will make it easier to navigate the business as a whole. Mobile kitchens mostly benefit from going to crowded areas. Where there are crowds; there will be hungry people and the need for food.

These places may be work, the beach, parks and schools. Since this is a mobile business, you can go into these places at the most convenient time. You can go to places of work when you know that lunchtime is approaching, the same goes for schools. Go to parks and beaches and other areas during the busiest times.

Design your menu

Knowing your target market will make it much easier to design your menu. Your menu should be targeted at the different demographics of your target market. People at work may want to buy a full meal while school kids may only want hot dogs and slap chips or a kota.

Buy a food truck and equipment

This will likely be the most expensive part in setting up the business, with the food truck being the most expensive item. You need to buy a food truck, it doesn’t have to be a first-hand food truck, you can get a good one for between R100 000 and R150 000.

Your equipment list should be determined by your menu and the type of food you want to serve. Be prepared to spend between R2 000 and R15 000 on equipment. Equipment might include a stove and a deep fryer.

Sales and marketing

There are a lot of opportunities to increase your sales in this business, you can sell extras and introduce new items to the menu. You should be willing to experiment and sell things that might appeal to another group of people. Mobile kitchens don’t have to spend money on any marketing besides branding the food truck. You will get sales for as long as you go to crowded areas.

Conclusion

This was a guide on how to start a mobile kitchen in South Africa. Do you have any thoughts or questions? Comment below.

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