Thursday, May 4, 2017

America's food-truck industry is growing rapidly

In 2008, Roy Choi began selling $2 Korean barbecue tacos from a kitchen on wheels. Since then the food truck industry has grown to a $1.2 billion industry. America now has over 4,000 food trucks and the industry revenue growth rate is at 7.9%. But patchwork and local regulations create more popular areas for food trucks than others. The article mentions that Portland, Oregon has an estimated 500 trucks roaming the city. In Chicago, they don't allow trucks to set up shop within 200 feet of brick-and-mortar restaurants. 

Many restaurateurs are complaining that food trucks are taking away their business but in a report from 2010 in Seattle, it concluded that the restaurants there have grown by 16% in spite of a thriving food truck scene there.

It's interesting to see how society has changed to doing things on the go including getting food on the street on the way to work or back home. I would think that this industry would be be promoted by governments because it gets people on their feet and outside. 

http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2017/05/daily-chart-3

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Being from Los Angeles and seeing food trucks in every corner I can agree and say that it is a good way to get people to enjoy the outdoors. My friends and I enjoy walking around the city and it is always nice to see a food truck and just hangout outdoors instead of sitting in a restaurant.

Anonymous said...

Exciting stuff, I think food truck industry will continue to grow because they bring a different element to the food industry. Living in New York, I think food trucks can be a great addition to certain areas especially ones high with tourism.