Food trucks normally store their food and inventory in a wide range of places. For instance, dry goods such as non-perishable items can be housed in the truck itself, most often in cabinets or shelves.
Perishable items such as meat, dairy, and produce are stored in refrigerators and freezers, and these might be built-in or separate units.
You will also find that a good number of food truck owners rent commercial kitchen space to store their inventory and prep their food.
In this line of business, inventory is that one thing you have to deal with week in and week out. Ingredients will have to be purchased and prepped, then sold.
Every business day, the same process continues. That is why a good number of food truck owners leverage the optimization that a formal inventory management system brings. Howbeit, the exact storage location will depend on the type of inventory as well as the size of the truck.
Managing and appropriately storing food and inventory is a very pertinent part of understanding your margins, obtaining sales feedback, and scaling your growth.
Although it can be very difficult to come up with the exact percentage of one’s operating budget that will be invested into purchasing food, note that these funds can quickly go down the drain when not managed well. Like it or not, how you manage your food truck’s inventory is a vital part of your success.
Best Places Food Trucks Store Their Food and Inventory
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Inside the Truck
This is the first place these businesses look to store food and inventory. Note that most food trucks tend to feature built-in storage areas like cabinets, shelves, and refrigerators. Keep in mind that these storage spaces are designed to keep food and supplies organized and easily accessible.
Benefits
This particular form of food and inventory storage indeed comes with a wide range of benefits. For one, it makes it possible for food truck owners to assume full control over their inventory, guaranteeing that ingredients are fresh and properly stored.
It also gives room for quick access to supplies while also seeing to the needs of patrons. This storage location also means that food trucks can relish the flexibility it presents especially in terms of their menu offerings.
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Off-Site Storage
Food truck owners also store their food and inventory off-site, particularly in a commercial kitchen or warehouse. This option has grown more prevalent among food trucks that need huge amounts of storage space, especially those that specialize in catering or events.
This type of storage makes it possible for food truck owners to make bulk purchases of supplies. It also makes available a more controlled environment for inventory management, since storage space can be climate-controlled and monitored for pests and other potential hazards.
Nevertheless, note that this storage location can be quite costly, requiring additional rental fees and transportation costs to move supplies to and from the truck.
Benefits
Same as with inside-the-truck storage, this particular one also comes with its own perks. For instance, it ensures that food truck owners have the space they need to make bulk purchases and this will help to save them money in the long run.
It also ensures that they can have a more controlled environment for inventory management. Aside from that, off-site storage can help food truck owners streamline their operations.
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Combination of Both
In this modern age, you will find that most food truck owners make use of a combination of both on-site and off-site storage. This concept grants them the platform to keep frequently used ingredients and supplies on hand while storing bulk items off-site.
By leveraging both on-site and off-site storage, food truck owners can maximize their storage space as well as ensure that their inventory remains organized and easily accessible.
Conclusion
Just as it was noted above, the exact storage location will depend on the type of inventory as well as the size of the truck. Nevertheless, it is recommended that food truck owners make use of both.
Note that for those with limited storage space, on-site storage could prove to be ideal. Nevertheless, for those who need large amounts of storage, off-site storage may be more practical.
Howbeit, be sure to take your time to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of each option and choose the one that best aligns with the needs of the business.