As someone who's been building specialty trailers and trucks for over two decades, I've watched countless entrepreneurs transform their culinary dreams into thriving businesses. From traditional fair favorites selling corn dogs, hot dogs, and pizza to more creative BBQ spin-offs there are all sorts of menu items that can sell well at a fair or festival. In this post, I share some of the most successful takes on this that I've seen in my 20+ year experience serving the industry. Make It Portable, Make It Profitable The golden rule of concession success? If customers can walk and eat it, they're [...]

For food truck owners, the golden rule is maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Sure, scouting prime vending spots, perfecting your menu, and nailing your Instagram game matter, but nothing sinks your profits faster than a truck breakdown. A dead generator, a blown tire, or a seized engine doesn’t just cost you repair bills. It costs you customers and momentum. Your food truck is your livelihood, both kitchen and wheels, so a proactive, documented maintenance plan isn’t optional. It’s essential. Let’s break down a detailed, food-truck-specific strategy to keep your rig reliable and your business thriving. Why Food Truck Maintenance Is Non-Negotiable A [...]

A decade ago, social media wasn’t a big part of business strategies—most advertising was done through TV, billboards, and other traditional methods. But today, having a presence on social media is essential for any successful business, including food trucks. Customers now expect constant updates, including links, funny quotes, and attractive pictures, to stay engaged and aware of our presence. For food truck owners, letting people know where you are is crucial. While managing social media can seem overwhelming, especially if it’s new to you, it doesn't have to be. Posting regular updates, sharing your location, and highlighting your food are [...]

Food trucks and breweries make a great team. They complement each other perfectly—food trucks provide tasty street food, and breweries offer unique craft beers, creating a great experience for customers without the hassle of each business offering both. Partnering with a brewery can be a smart move for food truck owners. It draws more customers to the brewery, encouraging them to stay longer and buy more drinks. For food trucks, it's a guaranteed spot with a steady stream of customers, without competition from other food options. If you’re starting a food truck, building relationships with breweries should be a key [...]

At M&R Specialty Trailers and Trucks, we're big fans of BBQ. In fact, many of our customers have gone on to win regional and national competitions with our line-up of New South Smokers and Grills. Whether you've got plans to participate in a community BBQ or hit the regional circuit, I asked multiple top-ranking BBQ teams for advice you can use. Whether it’s your first time or want to gain an advantage over the competition, I hope that this little collection will improve your grill game. Suffice it to say it’s a heck of an atmosphere to survive and win [...]

If you're trying to come up with a food truck menu, starting at the most popular concession items is a good place to start. Veteran concession owners at fairs and carnivals across the United States have been selling items like kettle corn, hot dogs, and amped up waffle fries for decades. Not only are these food items sharable, but their extremely high-margin as a vendor. With that being said, here are some of the timeless menu items you could add to any concession or food truck business. Best of all, any of these these concepts could be used for decades [...]

Figuring out the menu prices for a concession business or food truck isn't as simple as guessing what looks right. Every price in any food establishment is based on a variety of factors that the owner must consider before landing on a price that will satisfy customer and your business. Keeping these profits up through menu pricing is another important duty of any food truck owner or you might end up losing money. The Math Behind Menu Pricing At the end of the day, pricing is mostly determined by numbers and finding that sweet spot that helps you break even [...]