How to Start Your Street Food Stall Business

If you’re a budding chef with a talent for customer service and the passion to take your food wherever hungry customers can be found, then a food stall might be just your calling.

As a nation of food lovers, we’re always willing to broaden our horizons and being a fan of food has, for many, gone from a hobby to a lifestyle.

Yet, it’s not as easy as just turning labour of love into a viable business and there are several things you should consider before taking the plunge into the world of mobile catering with a street food stall.

Beginning a food stall business takes a collective effort from all of the team members, whether that be market research, hiring or buying the right equipment and many more. Carry on reading to learn how you can start your food stall business!

Stand Out From the Crowd

You might think that your cooking is the best in the world, but have you ever met a chef that doesn’t think that is the case?

What you need is to make your food stand out in order to give customers something they weren’t expecting but can fully expect to love while making your business stand out from your competitors.

You don’t need to be a jack of all food trades, just the definitive master of one – so if your food isn’t the best it can be, devote as much time as you can to perfecting it before you go any further.

Creating an atmosphere worth being around will ultimately lead you to bring in more paying customers, so putting time into how you’re going to portray yourself when your stall opens is vital for creating a positive start to business life.

Get a Licence

Before starting any catering business, make sure you’re legal to trade and you’re fully aware of all the appropriate laws and legislation around street trading.

Street trading licences, food hygiene certifications, liability insurance for employees and the public, gas and electrical certification and registration with Environmental Health – are all things you must look into before becoming a street food vendor.

So always consult with a lawyer to make sure your licenses are in-line with your legal requirements before starting your street food business.

In the meantime, the gov.uk website outlines other licences you may need as a food business.

Find a Pitch

No city centre is complete without a cluster of food stalls several times a week offering a wide selection of culinary delights from around the world to hungry shoppers.

This means there is an increasing number of pitches available for food stalls to be set up – but while pitches might be readily available, it’s important that you find the right space for you and your business to thrive.

If you’re offering exciting and vibrant street food, you don’t want to be stationed in a layby next to a busy road – you want to be somewhere where people can find you and return time after time.

So spend a little time researching the best location for you, what your prospective customers might be, passing trade and don’t forget things like trading hours and noise regulations if you are in a residential area.

Therefore, to start selling food before you start trading, you will need to find the place that is best set up for you and somewhere that you’re passionate about.

Select the Right Stall For You

While the delicious aromas of your food market/ food truck may be enough to lure in customers, an eye-catching stall won’t hurt either – that’s why it’s vital that you select the right market stall for your business.

Think of your market stall as the shop window to your business and not just somewhere to sell your goods – it’s there to make a statement about you, what you offer and exactly who you are.

When you’ve decided on the best stall for you, a business plan for how you’re going to reach your target audience is required. Setting yourselves up on social media platforms is the most effective form of advertising nowadays, so rather than handing out flyers or physical business cards – let your social media do the talking for you.

Brand awareness and brand identity are key for any business – not just a fast food stall. Consequently, creating long-lasting relationships with your customers – enticing them to come back and inviting others is vital. Additionally, if you choose the right stall that speaks for itself, this will assist you with your marketing strategy right away.

Talk to the Experts

If you’re thinking about buying a street market stall but you’re unsure about how you do it or what the start up costs might involve, then we’re here to help.

Big Kahuna offer a number of pop-up gazebos and market stalls to buy in a range of sizes whatever your needs.

What’s more, you can hire one for your event, meaning you don’t have the problem of year-round storage or regular maintenance – we can even deliver it and assemble it for you for a small fee.

Here at Big Kahuna, we can talk you through any questions that you might have and guide you through all the options available.

Established in 2009, we at Big Kahuna Equipment pride ourselves on providing professional street food set-ups with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

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