Juice Truck: Complete Supply & Inventory List

Trying to determine the supplies and inventory you’ll need to successfully operate a juice truck? We’ve compiled a complete check list here so you understand the things you’ll need to keep in stock to successfully operate this business.
One factor you’ll need to keep in mind is that your menu is going to dictate the specific inventory on your truck. For example, many juice trucks sell specialty coffee as a way to attract a larger audience.
If you plan to diversify the menu into coffee then you’ll need to ensure you’ve got beans, a grinder, and coffee maker onboard. You’ll also need to keep coffee cups in stock in addition to the cups you use for juice and smoothies. The checklist below is for a standard juice truck not planning to serve coffee.

Juice Truck: Supply & Inventory List

Shelving:	On a juice truck you need a place to store produce like apples, cucumbers, lemons and strawberries. Many trucks utilize these shelves to merchandise their products.
Trash Bin:	A big and deep plastic trash can that you buy at Target or Lowe’s will do just fine. You will put pulp here and other waste.
Juicer:	This is what you’ll use to extract juice from fruit, vegetables, and herbs on your unit.
Cutting Boards:	This is your primary workspace on a juice truck or trailer. You can use wood or plastic cutting boards depending on your preference and budget.
Plastic Containers:	This will store your prepped produce like apples, watermelon, carrots and spinach. You can find these at places like The Container Store or Amazon.com.
Cups and Lids:	You’ll serve juice in cups and lids. The most popular sizes of cups for a juice truck are 8 ounce, 12 ounce, 16 ounce, and 32 ounce. CupBarn.com is a great resource for these.
Strainer:	Even though you’ve got a juicer, you’ll want a strainer onboard to remove any large fruit chunks from the final product in a pinch.
Paper Towels:	Keep these handy and in plentiful supply. There’s always more cleaning that needs to be done on a juice truck.
Drink Carriers:	Take out drink carriers will make it easy for customers to take your beverages from the truck to a group at the office. You can get these on Amazon.com.
Straws:	You can purchase bio-degradable clear straws affordably through Amazon in packs of 200 or more. Get these shipped to your door in two days with a Prime membership.
Napkins and Dispenser:	Drinking juice or smoothies can be messy. Keep napkins and a dispenser on hand outside the vehicle for customers to use.
POS System:	This point-of-sale system or POS will allow you to accept credit card payments and can even manage inventory. Square is the most popular option for food truck vendors.
Refrigerator:	Keeping produce cold and fresh is critical on a juice truck. The more refrigeration space you can install into a unit the better as you’ll be able to sell at larger events.
Floor Mat:	A heavy duty floor mat can help keep your floors cleaner and make standing in the truck more comfortable.
Hand-Washing Sink:	You and your employees will need to keep hands clean during the work day. This will be a health code requirement to operate in most areas.
Soap Dispenser:	Having a soap dispenser onboard is standard. Many health inspectors will require this and they are affordable.
3-Compartment Sink:	Another standard element in just about every food truck. You can use the 3-compartment sink to wash cutting boards, glasses and storage containers.

Should You Use Bio-Degradable, Recyclable or Compostable Products on Your Juice Truck?

As a juice truck operator you are promoting a healthy overall lifestyle. This means not only offering healthy and nutritional juices, but conducting business in a way that’s environmentally responsible.
As the business owner you may decide that using cups and straws that can be recycled is important value to the business. Some business owners use this as a marketing advantage to their business.
Even publicly traded companies like Esty claim that sales of their products increased after switching to more sustainable shipping practices because it’s something that’s important to customers. Millennials in particular have been lauded as wanting to run and buy from companies they believe are eco-friendly.
From a business ownership perspective, you’ll need to decide if eco-friendly cups, straws, and drink trays are the right choice for you. They will be more expensive than standard cups and trays in bulk. These costs will either need to be passed onto customers directly or cut into profitability. These are the sorts of tough decisions you’ll need to get comfortable making as a business owner.

It All Starts by Creating Your Menu

Before figuring out what generator, size food truck, or if you should install a Vitamix blender you need to get clarity on your menu. By taking the time to create your recipes in your home kitchen, you’ll be able to map out the list of ingredients and tools you’ll need to execute the menu.
If you plan to serve food items in addition to drinks, keep in mind that that will make your menu more complex to execute. This shouldn’t discourage you from making food you love, but is something to keep in mind. On a food truck or trailer you have a limited amount of space. You don’t want to add too many options, especially if you don’t expect them to be big sellers.