Proper Real Food Takeaway Van

[Great Food Van]

Hi all,

I've thought about this for a long time but am now in a position to try it out. I know there are Fish and Chip vans that do regular rounds but how many people would like a true. British, wholesome meal once a week? From stews, casseroles, hearty soups to traditional meals like sausage and mash, liver and onions, roast dinners etc.

I'm looking for comments about whether you think it's viable and any possible pitfalls

 

[Mark T Jones]

Purely personal view- the rare occasions I use take away or food truck (excluding shows/festivals etc), I go for something I wouldn't usually make at home. That wouldn't include stews, roasts etc

Funnily enough I probably would use a fish and chop van, albeit not often

 

[John Martin]

Yes, I think there could be a market for this.

A lot of older people might like a traditional hot meal but either don't have the ability to cook or just can't be bothered cooking any more.

Another market could be busy families or even singles who work long hours. Many don't have the time or the will to cook, but would prefer a proper meal over some microwave mush.

I think you'd have to do some careful market research though, as the novelty might wear off for some of them.

Off the top of my head, other issues could be...

• Dealing with food allergies
• Price sensitivity
• Quality (one bad meal could loose a customer and word can spread quickly)
• Competition from take away's and/or restaurants.
• Competition from large competitors doing 'similar' business. eg, Wiltshire farm foods

Just a thought that might help increase sales and overcome some issues. There used to be a local cafe not far from me that also made good traditional meals. Any leftover stuff they hadn't sold that day was put into foil containers and placed in a freezer for customers to purchase another day. It was very popular. So you could also sell some frozen meals for those who might want to stock up if for some reason you're not around when they get home.

 

[fisicx]

There is already a thriving industry making, selling and delivering ‘hearty meals’. My parents and in laws already use them.

Not sure a takeaway van would sell enough roast dinners to make it viable.

 

[John Martin]

Not sure a takeaway van would sell enough roast dinners to make it viable.

There's a take away van doing hog roast's next to retail park near me. I think they also do special events as well, but they've been going for years.

 

[fisicx]

There's a take away van doing hog roast's next to retail park near me. I think they also do special events as well, but they've been going for years.

Hog roast I understand as you get it in a bun or with chips or whatever. But doing roast beef with roast potatoes, Yorkshire’s, carrots, peas, parsnips and whatever in the back of a van for the same cost as you can get the same down the pub might be a bit of a struggle.

 

[Great Food Van]

Thanks for that and especially the idea of frozen leftovers. I have tons of ideas for different meals weekly and things like stews and casseroles will last 2 or 3 days, if not sold.

I'm kind of thinking that there is a franchise for ice cream vans that stop at different places and advertise in local groups when they'll be there. They have queues to buy overpriced junk.

As to local eateries, the idea is to supply something they cant provide due to their overheads and to bring it to the customer, fresh and on their doorstep.

The likes of Wiltshire Farm Foods deliver ready meals rather than home cooked proper meals.

 

[Great Food Van]

I am talking about a delivery van (like an ice cream or fish and chip van). You clearly didn't understand my post. I am talking a lot more than roast dinners.

Can ask who your parents and in laws use and in which areas?

There is already a thriving industry making, selling and delivering ‘hearty meals’. My parents and in laws already use them.

Not sure a takeaway van would sell enough roast dinners to make it viable.

 

[Great Food Van]

Hog roast I understand as you get it in a bun or with chips or whatever. But doing roast beef with roast potatoes, Yorkshire’s, carrots, peas, parsnips and whatever in the back of a van for the same cost as you can get the same down the pub might be a bit of a struggle.

A lot of people can't go to the pub for whatever reason and I don't know what pub prices are like near you but up here they are ridiculous. Plus I'm talking proper home cooked food, not your regular pub menu of burgers, fish and chips and other carp!

 

[fisicx]

Wiltshire foods (and there are others). And the local pub does deliveries.

I totally get what you want to do. Just not sure you would get the volume of sales to make it viable. Maybe do a trial locally. Cook the food at home and deliver in your car.

 

[Great Food Van]

Purely personal view- the rare occasions I use take away or food truck (excluding shows/festivals etc), I go for something I wouldn't usually make at home. That wouldn't include stews, roasts etc

Funnily enough I probably would use a fish and chop van, albeit not often

A lot of people don't bother to cook hearty meals at home, especially those who are single or elderly

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I can't get my head around your business plan?

Ice cream, Burgers, Fish and Chips are all limited range offers that can be quickly cooked from scratch in a catering truck or van. Can you offer Roasts, Stews, Liver & Onion, Casseroles, Soups etc., as efficiently and without potentially high wastage? Can you compete with Deliveroo and many local pubs and restaurants that already deliver Roast dinners?

 

[Great Food Van]

I can't get my head around your business plan?

Ice cream, Burgers, Fish and Chips are all limited range offers that can be quickly cooked from scratch in a catering truck or van. Can you offer Roasts, Stews, Liver & Onion, Casseroles, Soups etc., as efficiently and without potentially high wastage? Can you compete with Deliveroo and many local pubs and restaurants that already deliver Roast dinners?

The meals like stews would be cooked in advance and kept warm. The roast dinners would basically be a carvery on wheels. Deliveroo etc deliver cold meals from major chains that sell junk food.

 

[FreddyG]

A lot of people don't bother to cook hearty meals at home, especially those who are single or elderly

Well, I'm classed as being elderly and yesterday I made a full-on roast dinner in about 20 minutes.

But your idea already exists - in Germany. Fast food vans selling proper food are everywhere! The foreign food vans (Vietnamese in particular!) are also everywhere! Schwenkbraten mit Pommes. Bratwurst mit Pommes. Here's a website in English, explaining what all that sort of food is - https://katzenjammers.co.uk/bierkeller-menu/

There are plenty of English dishes that could easily be fast food ready - Shepherd's Pie springs to mind!

Take a trip to Berlin and see how they do it!

 

[Great Food Van]

Well, I'm classed as being elderly and yesterday I made a full-on roast dinner in about 20 minutes.

But your idea already exists - in Germany. Fast food vans selling proper food are everywhere! The foreign food vans (Vietnamese in particular!) are also everywhere! Schwenkbraten mit Pommes. Bratwurst mit Pommes. Here's a website in English, explaining what all that sort of food is -

There are plenty of English dishes that could easily be fast food ready - Shepherd's Pie springs to mind!

Take a trip to Berlin and see how they do it!

Very interesting that it's already happening in Germany but I can't find it happening anywhere in the UK and certainly not in my area . Good on you for being able to do that but a lot of elderly people and single people simply couldn't be bothered to cook a hearty stew for one and don't want junk food delivered

 

[Mark T Jones]

Do be aware of the fundamental difference between street food and take away.

If you believe your target market is likely to be elderly, it's a good idea to start research their habits, preferences and limits.

Also remember that the primary purpose isn't to validate to your idea, but to expose limitations and challenges

 

[fisicx]

If targeting the elderly many locations already have the meals-on-wheels service. They deliver hot cooked food daily.

 

[Great Food Van]

If targeting the elderly many locations already have the meals-on-wheels service. They deliver hot cooked food daily.

It's not just the elderly as I've already said up there ...

 

[fisicx]

It's not just the elderly as I've already said up there ...

Do some local market research. Spend money on a couple of thousand flyers and see who signs up for the trial.

I think you will struggle to find enough customers to make this viable. The reason being there is already too much competition. But I could be wrong (again) and it becomes hugely popular.

 

[UKSBD]

If targeting the elderly many locations already have the meals-on-wheels service. They deliver hot cooked food daily.

They can also be subsidised by local councils and run as non-profit making - https://www.wrccrural.org.uk/servic...new-meals-on-wheels-provider-in-warwickshire/

 

[fisicx]

So if you take the elderly out of the target group and all those who prefer standard take out and street food and those getting grub delivered and those who cook for themselves or like eating out who is left? How many would like a stew delivered for their evening meal?

Which is why market research is going to be key to the viability of this business idea.

As an aside, I can get a stew started in the slow cooker in minutes. Why would need one delivered?

 

[Newchodge]

Well, I'm classed as being elderly and yesterday I made a full-on roast dinner in about 20 minutes.

But your idea already exists - in Germany. Fast food vans selling proper food are everywhere! The foreign food vans (Vietnamese in particular!) are also everywhere! Schwenkbraten mit Pommes. Bratwurst mit Pommes. Here's a website in English, explaining what all that sort of food is - https://katzenjammers.co.uk/bierkeller-menu/

There are plenty of English dishes that could easily be fast food ready - Shepherd's Pie springs to mind!

Take a trip to Berlin and see how they do it!

Pommes? POMMES? Kartoffeln, surely?

 

[Newchodge]

If targeting the elderly many locations already have the meals-on-wheels service. They deliver hot cooked food daily.

At what price?

During lockdown I volunteered to deliver a hot meal to older people, supplied by our community centre. Traditional meat and 2 veg typ food. One week I had one over and tried it. It was, frankly, disgusting. Unless you can provide the fresh-cooked taste, you may struggle.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

The meals like stews would be cooked in advance and kept warm. The roast dinners would basically be a carvery on wheels. Deliveroo etc deliver cold meals from major chains that sell junk food.

To clarify, your aim is to create a 'round' where every, lets say, Thursday at 5pm you will be in Sesame Street serving hot food, Smith street at 7pm, etc., which is what the Fish and Chip wagon does round here.

 

[FreddyG]

Pommes? POMMES? Kartoffeln, surely?

Pommes is German for 'chips'. From the French "pommes frites".

Pronounced "Pomm-ess". And no, you do not find that word in German textbooks!

 

[Mark T Jones]

It's not just the elderly as I've already said up there ...

So who is it?

You don't need to respond or justify yourself on here. You do need to do lots if research. If you can find a budget way to test markets, that will be great.

You also need to think through practicalities around the scope of your offering and transporting hot food (and 'live' cooking equipment from one place to another.

Most days, your window will be 3 hours max. You need to be reliable and consistent to build repeat trade. From experience, most chip / pizza vans operate by having one location on any given day - possibly 5 locations in total.

 

[fisicx]

Most days, your window will be 3 hours max.

I understood it was a delivery service. If so they need to deliver twice daily as some prefer their main meal at lunchtimes others in the evening. Even if I have to drive to the van you still have the same problem: people eat at different times.

If it's not hot food and just frozen or ready meals then I can already get these from any number of places (or delivered).

Market research is going to be key to success of this idea.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I understood it was a delivery service. If so they need to deliver twice daily as some prefer their main meal at lunchtimes others in the evening. Even if I have to drive to the van you still have the same problem: people eat at different times.

If it's not hot food and just frozen or ready meals then I can already get these from any number of places (or delivered).

Market research is going to be key to success of this idea.

Perhaps the OP can clarify, as they are fundamentally different.

The reference to fish and chips & ice cream led me to believe it was a parked van

 

[Great Food Van]

So if you take the elderly out of the target group and all those who prefer standard take out and street food and those getting grub delivered and those who cook for themselves or like eating out who is left? How many would like a stew delivered for their evening meal?

Which is why market research is going to be key to the viability of this business idea.

As an aside, I can get a stew started in the slow cooker in minutes. Why would need one delivered?

I've asked in a few local groups and had a good response with people saying they'd love to get proper home cooked food instead of cold junk food from takeaways. It wouldn't be delivery as such. I would be parking up in various locations on different estates (like the fish and chip vans and ice cream vans do). I will do some further market research though. It's one thing people saying they'd love it and another getting them to actually do it. It's a bit like when I had an award winning shop and people said "Oh my God, how long have you been here, I know where I'll be coming for my Christmas presents", only to never be seen again

 

[Great Food Van]

To clarify, your aim is to create a 'round' where every, lets say, Thursday at 5pm you will be in Sesame Street serving hot food, Smith street at 7pm, etc., which is what the Fish and Chip wagon does round here.

Yes, that's right If I was going to Sesame Street I might even dress up as Big Bird

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

A lot of people don't bother to cook hearty meals at home, especially those who are single or elderly

Hence Uber Eats, Just Eat etc...

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

Now i know you've said more than just Sunday dinners etc. But to give you some kind of relevant experience...

I was one of the few people who successfully started and ran a Sunday Dinner delivery business. This was around 9 years ago, before Toby Carvery started doing deliveries, in fact nobody was doing it. There were odd news articles of people trying it and disappearing, but we managed to make it work for several years and were delivering 120-130 hot, freshly made meals every Sunday. The business as a standalone part-time Sunday thing worked and made an income, it eventually failed because we tried merging it into something else (that's a whole other long story!).

We tried to look into how we could expand this into a 6 or 7 day a week thing. The issue we had was that the appetite just wasn't there for "ordering in" that kind of home cooked food during the week. There aren't many people wanting a Sunday dinner on a Tuesday! We looked into similar ideas to yours, could we do different "traditional" meals on different nights of the week, or could we do a different menu each week etc. We trialled it a couple of times and it was a complete waste of time. If people were on their own then they didn't want to spend minimum £10 or £12 for delivery, which was what we needed to make it worthwhile. But if feeding a family it wasn't economical to regularly spend £25-£30 buying a meal for all the family on a Monday night. Come Friday and Saturday, that's peoples "cheat night" or "takeaway after the pub" and so they will spend that £25-£30 but on pizza and kebabs!

As said above typically if I'm ordering in or going to a food van (which as a single and overweight bloke, I do more often than I should!) it's because I want something that I can't make myself or that's exciting or different. I absolutely love sausage & mash - but would I go out of my way to go and buy it from a van? Probably not, to be honest.

I know my experience is slightly different from your proposition, but thought it might have some relevance. Trying to get people to have takeaway "traditional" food was a tough ask, at least in our experience.

 

[Great Food Van]

Now i know you've said more than just Sunday dinners etc. But to give you some kind of relevant experience...

I was one of the few people who successfully started and ran a Sunday Dinner delivery business. This was around 9 years ago, before Toby Carvery started doing deliveries, in fact nobody was doing it. There were odd news articles of people trying it and disappearing, but we managed to make it work for several years and were delivering 120-130 hot, freshly made meals every Sunday. The business as a standalone part-time Sunday thing worked and made an income, it eventually failed because we tried merging it into something else (that's a whole other long story!).

We tried to look into how we could expand this into a 6 or 7 day a week thing. The issue we had was that the appetite just wasn't there for "ordering in" that kind of home cooked food during the week. There aren't many people wanting a Sunday dinner on a Tuesday! We looked into similar ideas to yours, could we do different "traditional" meals on different nights of the week, or could we do a different menu each week etc. We trialled it a couple of times and it was a complete waste of time. If people were on their own then they didn't want to spend minimum £10 or £12 for delivery, which was what we needed to make it worthwhile. But if feeding a family it wasn't economical to regularly spend £25-£30 buying a meal for all the family on a Monday night. Come Friday and Saturday, that's peoples "cheat night" or "takeaway after the pub" and so they will spend that £25-£30 but on pizza and kebabs!

As said above typically if I'm ordering in or going to a food van (which as a single and overweight bloke, I do more often than I should!) it's because I want something that I can't make myself or that's exciting or different. I absolutely love sausage & mash - but would I go out of my way to go and buy it from a van? Probably not, to be honest.

I know my experience is slightly different from your proposition, but thought it might have some relevance. Trying to get people to have takeaway "traditional" food was a tough ask, at least in our experience.

The more I think about it the more I'm thinking away from roast dinners and more towards just good reasonably priced home cooked food, like, shepherd's pie, lamb hotpot, lasagne, moussaka, various stews and lots more. Possibly even old skool deserts too.

I think what our local ice cream van does is key (I'm sure it's a franchise) He posts in the local village group what time he will be there that day. He literally sells a small chinese like container of the crappest ice cream you've ever tasted, topped with cheap sweets and various sauces for £6. People queue round the block for it! Now clearly you could buy the same from a supermarket so much cheaper and it would be better quality. But here's the thing, you're scrolling through your phone, laptop, whatever ... you haven't got it in and you just fancy it!

What are the chances that you will have all of the ingredients in to make a proper home made moussaka or any of the other delicious dishes when you just can't be bothered to cook but you didn't even know you fancied it until it came up in your newsfeed?

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

We tried the things you mentioned and was very little interest.

I'd argue with ice cream, it's much more of a "treat" and not a meal. it would be eaten as well as someone's evening meal. You are trying to get them to use your service instead of.

I'm not saying it won't work but all I can tell you in my experience is that even with hundreds of regular customers and a couple of thousand followers on facebook, we couldn't get the interest. The fish & chip van you mention is seen as

(a) something that's smelly and tricky to cook at home
(b) an unhealthy treat

A pizza van for example is seen as

(a) something that can't be cooked as well at home (need a 400 degree oven)
(b) an unhealthy treat

A Sunday dinner is seen as

(a) a "tradition" that has to be had every week
(b) A faff to cook with so many ingredients
(c) Something that can't be done well in a ready meal


I would argue that the types of dishes you're talking about don't really share any of the same attractions. Neither a lasagne nor cottage pie is seen as a "treat" or a bit naughty. Are they difficult to make? No, not really - nor particularly time consuming. Are they readily available as ready meals? Yes - from the cheapest Iceland or Asda option to the "extra special" et al. So whereas a fish & chip van is just looking for somebody who fancies fish and chips... you're looking for somebody who fancies cottage pie, who also doesn't want to make one (or can't), and who also wants to choose yours rather than the multiple other options out there. I just think it's a more difficult market.

Not saying, by the way, that it WON'T work. I'm just saying it might be difficult. I would say choose your target audience wisely and do one thing very well. If you think you want to target the elderly and singles, make it affordable in relatively small portions and maybe do it as a "stock up for the week" deal. So you only visit once per week but they can get 5 or 7 meals for £20 (for example).

If you want to target families maybe make it as a "share box" type thing that's always £20 (again, for example) with enough to feed a family of 4.

Or target the higher wealth singles and couples and go for super premium in small volume. Do you want to sell 50 portions of "good" cottage pie at £4 each.... or a dozen portions of "luxurious short rib braised cottage pie topped with sweet potato mash & a side of stilton cauliflower cheese" at £15 each? It could become something where people know it's a super-premium twist on a classic and with limited numbers available they're desperate to be there when you arrive or to get their name on an advance order list.

As I say I'm not trying to be negative, I think there's some mileage in it but needs research and to be targeted. What we did was go "we've got all these people who order a dinner on a Sunday....if we offer them lasagne & chips for £8 or sausage & mash for £6, surely they'll order that during the week"......

..... they didn't!

 

[Great Food Van]

We tried the things you mentioned and was very little interest.

I'd argue with ice cream, it's much more of a "treat" and not a meal. it would be eaten as well as someone's evening meal. You are trying to get them to use your service instead of.

I'm not saying it won't work but all I can tell you in my experience is that even with hundreds of regular customers and a couple of thousand followers on facebook, we couldn't get the interest. The fish & chip van you mention is seen as

(a) something that's smelly and tricky to cook at home
(b) an unhealthy treat

A pizza van for example is seen as

(a) something that can't be cooked as well at home (need a 400 degree oven)
(b) an unhealthy treat

A Sunday dinner is seen as

(a) a "tradition" that has to be had every week
(b) A faff to cook with so many ingredients
(c) Something that can't be done well in a ready meal


I would argue that the types of dishes you're talking about don't really share any of the same attractions. Neither a lasagne nor cottage pie is seen as a "treat" or a bit naughty. Are they difficult to make? No, not really - nor particularly time consuming. Are they readily available as ready meals? Yes - from the cheapest Iceland or Asda option to the "extra special" et al. So whereas a fish & chip van is just looking for somebody who fancies fish and chips... you're looking for somebody who fancies cottage pie, who also doesn't want to make one (or can't), and who also wants to choose yours rather than the multiple other options out there. I just think it's a more difficult market.

Not saying, by the way, that it WON'T work. I'm just saying it might be difficult. I would say choose your target audience wisely and do one thing very well. If you think you want to target the elderly and singles, make it affordable in relatively small portions and maybe do it as a "stock up for the week" deal. So you only visit once per week but they can get 5 or 7 meals for £20 (for example).

If you want to target families maybe make it as a "share box" type thing that's always £20 (again, for example) with enough to feed a family of 4.

Or target the higher wealth singles and couples and go for super premium in small volume. Do you want to sell 50 portions of "good" cottage pie at £4 each.... or a dozen portions of "luxurious short rib braised cottage pie topped with sweet potato mash & a side of stilton cauliflower cheese" at £15 each? It could become something where people know it's a super-premium twist on a classic and with limited numbers available they're desperate to be there when you arrive or to get their name on an advance order list.

As I say I'm not trying to be negative, I think there's some mileage in it but needs research and to be targeted. What we did was go "we've got all these people who order a dinner on a Sunday....if we offer them lasagne & chips for £8 or sausage & mash for £6, surely they'll order that during the week"......

..... they didn't!

Thank you for all of that "food for thought" and for your time. I hope you didn't lose too much and have recovered from your loss

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

Thank you for all of that "food for thought" and for your time. I hope you didn't lose too much and have recovered from your loss

Financially, yes. Mentally and emotionally.... perhaps not so much!!!

Best of luck!

 

[Great Food Van]

Financially, yes. Mentally and emotionally.... perhaps not so much!!!

Best of luck!

I know what you mean about mentally and emotionally from the loss of my last business ... trying to battle my way through "The Credit Crunch" and losing everything really did take it out of me <3

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

The more I think about it the more I'm thinking away from roast dinners and more towards just good reasonably priced home cooked food, like, shepherd's pie, lamb hotpot, lasagne, moussaka, various stews and lots more. Possibly even old skool deserts too.

Covered in great detail by Buster above but to add, I think a Roast Dinner, or Burger meal comes within certain parameters that appeal to all. Stews, hotpots and the like can vary considerably and personal taste kicks in so your not just looking for people who want a hotpot, you need for customers to like your recipe and keep returning.

An idea for making things work. A mate of mine bought a brand new catering trailer and sold fresh fish and cooked fish kebabs. He had a town centre position a few days each week and done ok. He topped up his income by offering catering platters, stacked high with seafood, to local offices, for business meetings etc., spreading his wings to provide the same for private house parties and even taking over the kitchens at a couple of small Pubs one night a week. Hard work with no let up but better than sitting in a trailer on a wet windy day with very few customers.

Perhaps there's a gap in the market to offer more traditional fayre on a larger scale?