How to start a food truck ice cream business in Ireland
Mobile food trucks and coffee trailers have really taken off in the last few years. Taking shape in many different forms; hatches, horseboxes and shipping containers, they’re popping up all over Ireland as one of the many results of the Covid pandemic and also the overall rise in streetfood vendors.
If you’re hoping to include some ice-cream or desserts in your mobile food trailer this can be done very easily.
The most important step is purchasing the right equipment that suits your power and size requirements but before we look at that, let’s consider some of the other elements and requirements most food trucks will have to tackle before meeting that first paying customer.
How much does a Food Truck in Ireland cost?
As we’ve already highlighted, food trucks can come in various shapes, sizes and designs and as with everything there will be a scale from basic to premium in terms of design and build quality.
For a basic food trailer you should expect to pay in the region of €5000. This type of price will most likely get you a very basic trailer, most likely without any kind of fitout inside (i.e. no equipment).
On the other side, you can buy food trucks upwards of €20,000 or €30,000.
That might sound like an extreme price jump, but in those cases you’ll be buying something full equipped, potentially with branding decals, and also potentially in unique styles (e.g. horse trailers, VW vans, retro ice cream vans etc.).
As always, deciding what you want and setting your budget accordingly will be key.
Where can you park a Food Truck in Ireland?
In short, you can’t park just anywhere when operating a food truck business in Ireland.
There will be different legislation, regulation and application processes when it comes to parking up. Local councils, private estates and events, and other private businesses will all operate slightly different and it’s important that you do your research before planning your arrival.
In many cases, popular spots are booked out months in advance or via tender so it’s important to take everything into consideration before starting your food truck business.
The same is obviously true for all aspects of this type of business, and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland will be a good point of reference throughout your startup journey.
What Food Truck licenses and insurances are needed in Ireland?
A food truck is a combination of transport and food business, so naturally you will need all the relevant licenses and insurances related to both transporting your truck or trailer (varies depending on size) and also all the usual insurances and legislations related to operating a food/hospitality-based business.
Again, FSAI provide a good step-by-step breakdown of some of the major elements you’ll need to consider and you can check it out here.
Selling Ice Cream from your Food Truck
Some food trucks will be purely ice cream focused, whereas others will add ice cream to their other offerings, either at the beginning or as they grow the business.
Whatever option you choose, when it comes to selling ice cream, and the management and maintenance of ice cream machines, Dairyglen can be considered experts within the Irish industry. We have over 30 years experience in helping businesses start up, grow and scale so we should be able to guide you in your new addition to your truck.
Some key considerations before purchasing a suitable machine include the electrical power inside the vehicle, sufficient storage and the amount of space required to operate comfortably. Soft-serve machines also need to be kept cool, so you will need to be mindful of where you place the machine if you have cookers or ovens installed in your trailer as well.
The Giotto machine is a good machine to consider when starting out – it’s a simple plug in machine that requires very little space and is versatile in production; you can serve soft-serve, milkshakes, sorbet, gelato or cocktails all from the one machine.
Our team can help fit your coffee trailer or food truck with the right machine and create a funky menu. Check out some of the clients we’ve worked with:
The Waffler Food Truck – Greystones
Bosca @ MARCIES – Trim
-
We hope this helps as you research and begin your food truck journey.
For most information or assistance, contact our sales team by clicking here.