Starting a food concession business can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to deciding where to begin. Start with researching and understanding the different types of events at which you plan to operate. This is important because different concessions are better suited for different types of events. We always recommend attending many events and environments with mobile food operators are set up to do your own reconnaissance before making purchases and planning menus!
What's the difference between a food cart and a food concession? Things to Consider.
A food cart operates from a fixed location, such as a food pod or parking lot, serving a steady clientele on a day-to-day basis, while a food concession does business at various short-term events and venues such as special events and county fairs, requiring them to pursue multiple locations during each event season.
The challenge for concessionaires lies in booking the right caliber of events - events that are not too big or too small, but just the right size. Concessions designed for longer, multi-day fairs are very different from those designed for shorter, 5-hour farmers markets. It's important to consider these extremes when planning a concession business.
Concessions at 5-day fairs need to handle large volumes of product, with staff and production capabilities to operate at high volume for multiple 12-hour days. They require transportation for equipment and stock, as well as significant time for set-up, food preparation, and teardown. On the other hand, concessions at shorter, 5-hour events need to set up quickly, serve a menu that can be prepared and served rapidly, and be self-contained with on-board power and water.
Whether you are just beginning your mobile food operator journey or are a seasoned festy vet, use FestivalNet.com to research events by size, event-type, and of course, whether the event needs food! Learn more about Pro Membership here.
