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Owning a food truck is an exciting venture, but it comes with its challenges. If you own a food truck in a place with harsh winters and shut down or have reduced sales during the off-season, one of those challenges is preparing to restart operations in the spring. 

Spring will be here before we know it, so make sure your food truck is prepared for maximum growth. Bring your business out of hibernation effectively so you can serve more customers without skipping a beat.

Let’s breakdown seven food truck prep tips for Spring 2021. 

1. Amp Up Your Menu

If you offered a limited selection during the winter slow time, now’s the time to surprise and delight your customers with new options. Get creative and try to offer seasonal foods that will become a staple of springtime.

2. Hit Social Media Hard

If you stepped back on social media because there wasn’t as much going on, now’s the time to boost your online presence so your customers know you’re back in business. Utilize tools that engage with your audience, like polls and question boxes on Instagram.

3. Target Spring Breakers

If hungry spring breakers descend in throngs on your town every March, make a plan to serve them. You could offer special prices and menu items just for spring break, or offer a coupon if they post a picture with your truck on social media.

4. Plan Ahead for Summer

You should start seeing more sales in the spring, but it most likely won’t be up to summer levels yet. Use your time wisely throughout the spring to plan your summer strategy, and start booking outdoor events and festivals coming up in the summer months now. 

5. Offer Seasonal Drinks

Your customers are ready to shake off their winter coats and enjoy warm weather again, so offer them something cool and refreshing to drink. Make it tropical with spring flavors, like cherry, pineapple, or mango. 

6. Sweeten Up Your Menu

Add new dessert items that your customers have been craving all winter, like ice cream sandwiches or gourmet popsicles. They’ll jump at anything that reminds them that summer is coming.

7. Have Fun Experimenting

Things are picking up again, but you won’t be as slammed in spring as you will be in summer. This is a time to test drive menu options and see what works. If there are things you’ve always wanted to try but you weren’t sure how they’d sell, add them to the rotation in the springtime. You may have new hits or you’ll learn what doesn’t work, but either way, it will be fun to experiment before you get too busy.  

Springtime Food Truck Prep Tips for Success

Food truck seasonal challenges are nothing new in this industry, but with a little prep and creativity, your business can thrive during the spring. Have fun trying new things during these months, and don’t forget to take advantage of spring breakers. 

It’s also the perfect time to do food truck prep for your busiest season coming up, summer. For all the tips you need to help your food truck business thrive year-round, check out our blog.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post 7 Food Truck Prep Tips For Spring 2021 appeared first on Custom Concessions.

There are an estimated 15,000-20,000 food trucks in the US.

With all that savory goodness riding around on four wheels, it is important to keep your vehicle tidy and sanitary.

Whether you are servin’ up barbecue or dishing out mac and cheese, here are some great tips for cleaning inside your food truck. And don’t forget to lock up that secret sauce before you close for the night!

1. Daily Cleaning

Your daily cleaning schedule should involve a number of basic routines to ensure the cleanliness and productivity of your operation.

Be sure to wash all the dishes and brush your grill. It is important to empty your garbage pails daily. Don’t use private dumpsters for this, lest you make any unwanted enemies. Instead, use a public receptacle.

You will want to be sure to wipe down all cooking and serving surfaces, including your steam table. It is important to empty the water wells every day, so bacteria does not grow underneath where food is being served.

You need to switch out your cutting boards each day to keep food prep sanitary. Deep-clean the dirty boards. You should also wash and sanitize your window ledges.

Be sure to scrub down all cooking tools and appliances. This includes your coffee machine, ovens, and microwave. Also, be sure to sweep and mop the floor, and to wash all floor mats.

Each day, you will need to cover all of your food bins and change all foil linings on your grill, range, and flattop. Remember that your customers are counting on you to provide healthy, germ-free dining on the go!

2. Monthly Cleaning Schedule

Each month, you will want to do a little deep cleaning that will make your daily tasks a cinch. Use a disinfectant to clean the walls and ceiling, taking care of any hidden germs or dirt.

You should also wipe down exhaust hoods, making sure they are dust and grease free.

Once a month, clean your light fixtures and remove any dust or dirt. Scour out your refrigerator with a tough brush and disinfectant. Make sure to clean the coils as well, as they can collect lots of dust.

Wash the can-opener and remove all lime on your sinks and faucets. You will need to do a little heavy lifting so you can wash behind your oven, stove, and fryers, if they are movable.

Once a month is also a good time to clean and sanitize your ice machine. In addition, this is when you can clean out your freezers.

3. Annual Business

Some attention to keeping your truck up to code each year will save you a lot of headaches in the long run. You will want to check your fire extinguishers and fire suppression system. This is also the time to calibrate ovens and thermometers.

You can clean the pilot lights on your gas equipment, and have a professional check for any signs of pests and have them removed. This is also when you should restock your first-aid kit and update your safety sheets.

Some entrepreneurs prefer to have a professional company clean their range hoods and filters each year. It is important for them to be free from all dust, pollen, and dirt. Doing this yourself can be somewhat messy and take up a lot of time.

Cleaning Inside Your Food Truck

Cleaning inside your food truck is a critical factor for your business. Keep a checklist of your daily, monthly, and annual cleaning schedule, and you can provide worry-free fantastic food service to your customers.

For more tips on your food truck, check out our blog for other helpful articles.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post Spring Cleaning 101: How To Clean The Inside Of Your Food Truck Just In Time For Summer! appeared first on Custom Concessions.

Spring is finally here, food truck owners. What does this mean? Well, it simply means the busy season is right around the corner. Now is the time to really get your mobile kitchen running on all cylinders.

While spring isn’t necessarily going to be as busy as the summer (depending on where you live), most food truck owners should still see an increase in sales. Also, since more people tend to start venturing to food trucks during this time, it provides mobile kitchen owners with the perfect opportunity to get prepared for summer.

In the grand scheme of things, more customers means more sales, which means more money for your food truck business. Therefore, we have come up with some ways to attract more customers during spring. Use them to your advantage, food truckers.

RELATED: 15 Motivational Quotes That Will Inspire Every Chef In The Food Truck Industry. In need of some serious motivation/inspiration? Then let these motivational quotes be your guide.

Ways To Attract More Food Truck Customers This Spring

• Target the spring breakers. It is spring break season, after all. While you don’t want to completely base your strategy around targeting spring breakers, it is okay to try to attract them to your truck. Here are a couple of tips for this strategy: In hopes of targeting big groups, hold specials surrounding big groups. You could also have special spring prices.
• Drop new meals. People love to try new food. Your regulars probably wouldn’t mind seeing a new menu item, even if it’s only for a limited time. Also, if this meal works like a charm, and people are buying it left and right, then think about making it a mainstay during the summer.
• Test things out in general when it comes to your menu. This alone could help you create the perfect summer menu. And it could, of course, attract more customers to your food truck during spring.
• Up your social media efforts. If you haven’t been posting on a regular basis during winter, then now is the time to start posting on a regular basis. Get into a routine, create a daily/weekly strategy. Reminder: Social media is a very valuable weapon for business owners, and food truckers have to take advantage. Hold giveaways, ask your customers what they want to see at your truck this year (or questions in general), post pictures of your delicious meals and come up with a posting strategy, one that you will follow each and every week.
• Remind your customers that spring is here, and also give them a reason to come to your truck. The point here is to make your food truck known.
• Add summer-like items, even if you don’t plan on keeping them on your menu in the long run. Spoiler: Items like ice cream, smoothies, hot dogs and cold beverages of any kind are typically welcomed with open arms when the temperatures start to heat up.
• Look back at your numbers. See what worked (and what didn’t work) last year around this time, and then apply what you learned to this year. The longer you are a food truck owner, the more meaningful this process will become.
• Work on building a community, because that is something that many successful food truck businesses have — a community.
• Work on your customer service, and really make it a goal this spring to take your customer service game to the next level.
• Enjoy the process. You entered the food truck industry because it was your dream. Yes, this is a tough industry to conquer, but appreciate what you have (a food truck business), always think of new ways to be better and don’t take this golden opportunity for granted. Above all else, have fun and cook like you’ve never cooked before!

RELATED: How A New Food Truck Owner Can Conquer The Mobile Kitchen Industry. If you are new to the food truck industry, then this article has your name written all over it.

Need more advice and information when it comes to being the best food truck owner you can possible be? Let these articles be your guide.

How New Food Truck Owners Can Take Their Businesses To The Next Level

“Being new to the food truck industry is tough. Heck, being the new guy on the block, if you will, is never easy. Still, that does not mean new food truck owners can’t succeed in this magnificent and delicious industry.”

“If you are looking for ways to take your food truck business to the next level, and if you are also new to this industry, then we have quite the treat for you today. Take the information below to heart, and also make sure to incorporate the tactics into your own food truck business. Make the strategies below yours, and good luck out there!”

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Food Truck Grand Opening

“You did it…”

“You came up with an otherworldly business plan, you picked a food truck concept, you made your menus, you hired an employee or two, you figured out your locations, you tackled permits and regulations, you raised enough money to buy a food truck (and then you bought a food truck), and you are now ready to enter the mobile kitchen industry. Also, you have notified your friends and family about this life-changing career, and you have also built up your social media following. What’s next?”

Why Future Mobile Kitchen Owners Should Steer Clear Of A Cheap Food Truck

“If you are in the market for a food truck, then it is absolutely crucial that you find the perfect truck.”

“Of course, there are many questions you need to ask yourself during this process. For example, you should be asking yourself this question: Should I buy a high-end food truck, or should I buy a cheaper truck?”

“First things first, you have to figure out your budget. You also have to figure out how much money you are going to need, and if you are going to finance a truck or pay in cash. There are many reasons why you should buy a high-end truck, though. For instance, this is your business, so quality should be a top priority. Not to mention, a high-end truck typically comes with warranties, and it typically won’t break down on you — well, at least not for a very long time.”

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post Ways To Attract More Food Truck Customers This Spring appeared first on Custom Concessions.