The mobile food industry has gone to the dogs—literally. And that's a good thing. As pet owners increasingly seek premium, fresh food options for their furry companions, mobile dog treat businesses are carving out a lucrative niche in the food truck market. A few years ago, M&R Specialty Trailers and Trucks had the opportunity to convert a Sprinter truck for Four Legged Foodie, a dog treat business based in Atlanta that has since expanded into a brick-and-mortar location. Their journey offers valuable insights on how you can start your own mobile dog treat venture and grow it into something even [...]

The culinary world has often been painted as a male-dominated domain, a notion famously captured in James Brown’s song, “This Is a Man’s World.” From inventing cars to harnessing electricity, men have long been credited with shaping industries. Yet, as Brown himself acknowledged, these achievements would be hollow without the contributions of women. In the restaurant industry, this truth shines brightly. Despite outdated stereotypes that once confined women to home kitchens, female chefs and owners have been shattering glass ceilings, proving their prowess in professional kitchens across the globe. Legends like Julia Child set the stage, while countless women have [...]

Based on our conversation with Morgan Perry of the Mid-Continent Public Library System, I'm excited to share expanded insights on organizing a successful food truck business workshop. The library's 6-week food truck business course in Kansas City provides an excellent blueprint that communities across the country can adapt to their local needs. Here's a comprehensive guide with practical examples to help you create your own impactful program. Main Steps for Setting Up Your Workshop 1. Partner with Local Resources Libraries aren't just for books anymore—they've evolved into community hubs for education and entrepreneurship. The Mid-Continent Public Library exemplifies this by [...]

The food truck industry continues to evolve, with the market reaching $1.2 billion in 2024 according to the National Restaurant Association. For new entrepreneurs entering this space, knowledge and preparation are crucial differentiators between success and failure. Through careful analysis of the industry's most influential literature, we've identified the key texts that offer practical insights for aspiring food truck operators. The Food Truck Handbook: Start, Grow, and Succeed in the Mobile Food Business David Weber, founder of the NYC Food Truck Association, has created what many consider the definitive guide to mobile food entrepreneurship. His experience as both an operator [...]

Giving customers the option to pay how they want is a simple way to improve the customer experience, ideally increasing loyalty and sales. But as many small businesses, including food trucks, have found — paperless forms of payment like mobile payments can pay off far beyond convenience. Increased payment options can boost overall revenue for a concession businesses too. This post explains why you should consider adding payment options beyond cash. How Multiple Payment Options Can Improve Your Bottom Line Utilize the equipment you use daily. Before mobile payments gave customers the option to pay using a credit or debit [...]

There’s a new trend in mobile business gaining popularity. Instead of a typical food truck with fryers, refrigerators, and a delicious meal, you’ll find a mobile department store where shoppers can purchase anything from suits to dresses, socks, shoes and other apparel. These mobile retail shops are often called fashion trucks or mobile boutiques. At first glance these vehicles look a lot like their food truck counterparts from the outside: Flashy wrap that draws attention to a brand and an ability to change locations daily. But this is where the similarities end. Some mobile boutiques allow customers to enter the [...]

It's tax season once again. Time to sort out your financials with the goal of not paying more money than you're obligated. Unless one’s really gotten all their stuff in order, it can be tough to know what sort of legit write-offs or tax advantages are available. So we’ll be looking into the particularly important deductions and steps new truck owners should be aware of so you can file with confidence. Let’s get started shall we? Truck or Trailer Depreciation  Depreciation allows businesses to deduct the cost of an asset over its useful life, reflecting the gradual wear and tear [...]

Boo! Did we scare you? Probably not, but you know what's truly frightening? A Halloween without the perfect marketing slogans for your food truck! That's right, it's that spooky time of the year when goblins and ghouls roam the streets, and more importantly, when people are on the prowl for some frightfully delicious eats. But fear not, dear food truckers! We've conjured up a cauldron full of Halloween-related marketing slogans that are more treat than trick. Why? Because in the eerie world of food truck marketing, it’s not just about serving up tasty dishes; it’s about catching the eye of [...]

With strong Caribbean roots, Barbecue, known across the country as simply “BBQ”, is one f the most popular cooking styles in the United States. This tradition of cooking meat low and slow over an indirect flame has become as iconic in America today as Apple Pie and Baseball. BBQ is as much a part of American culture as anything else, and who doesn’t love to head off to a BBQ party. With smoke billowing around blown by the wind, plenty of cold beers on ice there is something special about going to a BBQ. And with that in mind, here [...]

No doubt at this point that you've heard of large language model (LLM) tools like ChatGPT and Bard AI in the news or from a friend. AI tools are only beginning to transform how businesses operate. But you might be wondering if these tools have any applicable uses for a food truck business or restaurant. Well I'm here to inform you there are all sorts of ways to use these new tools to get work done faster inside your business. Built by M&R Specialty Trailers and Trucks. Responding to negative to positive or negative comments: LLMs can be [...]