A food truck commissary is an essential component in the successful operation of a food truck or concession trailer business. It serves as a central location for mobile food business owners to store, prepare, and supply their mobile kitchens with the necessary ingredients, equipment, and supplies. In this blog post, we’ll explore what a food truck commissary is, why it’s important, how much a commissary charges, and more.
What is a Food Truck Commissary?
A food truck commissary is a commercial kitchen and storage facility that food truck owners can use as their base of operations. It provides a centralized location for food truck operators to store their food and supplies, prepare their meals, and carry out any necessary maintenance and repairs to their trucks. This can include activities such as washing dishes, loading up on supplies, and restocking their food truck with fresh ingredients.
Commissaries are typically located near the food truck’s operating area, but they can also be located in other areas if necessary. They are designed to meet the needs of food truck operators and provide a safe, clean, and efficient environment for food preparation and storage.
Why Do I Need a Food Truck Commissary?
Food truck commissaries play a critical role in ensuring the success and profitability of a food truck business. Here are some of the key reasons why having a food truck commissary is important:
1. Compliance with Health Regulations
In most states, food trucks are subject to the same health and safety regulations as brick-and-mortar restaurants. States like California require all food trucks and food trailers to park at an approved commissary.
A food truck commissary must meet the same health and safety standards as any commercial kitchen. This includes the use of proper storage facilities, the implementation of strict food handling procedures, and the provision of adequate hand washing facilities. By using a commissary, food truck owners can ensure that they are in compliance with health regulations and reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses.
2. Lower Operational Costs
Commissary kitchens provide food truck operators with a central location for all of their operational services. As a result, food truck owners can save time and energy using on-site facilities at the commissary and spend more time selling to customers.
Services offered vary by commissary, but commonly include: overnight power to ensure perishables in your fridge and freezer don’t spoil, a place to dump waste water, trash facilities, ice refills, propane refills, exterior food truck washing, storage to receive bulk ingredient orders, additional commercial kitchen space, and more.
All these small savings can add up to huge increased profit margins.
3. Security and Safety
Commissaries provide a safe and secure location to clean, repair and park your food truck.
Your food truck is an expensive asset and you want to take care of it. Most commissaries are fenced and some have security cameras. This can help prevent theft and vandalism to your food truck and provide peace of mind to any owner.
What may not be so obvious is the benefit to personal security a commissary provides to you and your team. The last thing anyone wants is for you or a food truck employee get robbed or assaulted at the beginning or end of a long shift.
4. Networking Opportunities
Food truck owners are a tight knit community. Sure there’s competition, but there’s also a shared sense of belonging and desire to help each other succeed.
Need to find out the best places to park? What to look for when hiring employees? How to get food truck repairs? Or learn about which events are the most profitable? Other food truckers are a great resource to learn the ropes, get recommendations, and earn referrals for new business.
Starting a food truck business?
With 35,000 on the road today, the most common type of mobile business in the US is a food truck or food trailer. Use Firefly’s complete guide to starting a mobile business to estimate costs, get links to financing, and learn about permits for your new food truck business.
How Much Does a Food Truck Commissary Cost?
The cost of a food truck commissary parking spot can vary greatly depending on several factors such as location, size, amenities, and services offered. On average, a commissary parking spot in a major city can cost anywhere from $400 to $1,500 per month. However, the cost can be higher or lower depending on the specific location and amenities.
Some commissary kitchens offer basic amenities such as electricity, water, and waste disposal, while others offer additional services such as equipment storage, refrigeration, and shared kitchen space. The cost of a parking spot can also be influenced by the demand for food trucks in a particular area and the level of competition for parking spots.
It’s important to do research and compare the costs and amenities of different commissary kitchens before choosing a location for your food truck. Some commissaries may offer discounts for long-term contracts or for paying upfront for several months.
Can a Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant Be A Food Truck Commissary?
When most food truckers think about a food truck commissary, they might imagine a lot full of dozens or even hundreds of food trucks and concession trailers. However, ghost kitchens and brick-and-mortar restaurants can often get approved as a food truck commissary if they meet the minimum requirements and pass a commissary inspection.
This can be an extremely valuable consideration for restaurants who want to expand their services with a catering truck. It can also be a boon to food trucks and trailers operating in more remote areas who may not have access to a normal food truck commissary.
Do I Have to Park at a Food Truck Commissary?
The unsatisfying answer is… it depends. Just like every other aspect of food truck operations, local governments get to make up their own rules about food truck commissaries. While most big cities require a food truck to park in a commissary, some places don’t.
Instead, leaving your mobile kitchen at a food truck lot, in a storage yard or even in a private driveway may be a legal option. Just remember, while you’ll save some money, you won’t get the benefits that a commercial commissary kitchen offers. Also, you’ll need to find a way to reliably power your fridge and freezers unless you plan to clean out perishable food every night.
Make sure to check you local restrictions as there are often consequences for not being in compliance. Most commissaries keep lists of the food trucks and food truck owner information. Should a food truck not come back to park in the evening, a commissary may report the food truck to the Health Department or other local government agency overseeing the safety of food trucks. This can result in fines or even revoking your food truck’s permit, effectively shutting down your business. If you are required to use a commissary, make sure to follow the rules.
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How Do I Find Food Truck Commissaries Near Me?
There are a variety of different ways to find food truck commissary kitchens in your area.
- Government agency that permits food trucks in your area (ie the Los Angeles Department of Public Health)
- Local food truck associations (ie. SoCal Mobile Food Vendors Association)
- Internet searches for “food truck commissaries near me”
- Review sites like Yelp
- Local food truck Facebook groups
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Need a food truck business consultation to get your used food truck on the road or to build a new food truck or concession trailer? Firefly specializes in guiding food truck entrepreneurs through the complex process of starting a food truck business. To set up your free consultation, contact Firefly today.
