day worker 296 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 does anybody on here own or even run a catering van????? im thinking of buying one because my current job is driving me insane! is it as easy as it looks or are there things that i'll need to know that arent obvious? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 you need the right pitch mate.its a cut throat business. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dytkos 17,864 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Cost a fortune to maintain and pull around. Cost a fortune in permits/site rental Need food hygiene etc certificates Mate of mine does it. It's not great he reckons Cheers, D. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The one 8,535 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Its a cut throat business the now mate the one at work panicked when bacon jumped up last year , and doesn't sell beefburgers now as to get properly sourced burgers he reckons you would be looking at a fiver a roll Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bullterrier Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 went to a local market the other week and there was more catering vans than stores and there was an on site cafe done to death mate was ok a few years ago john Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cammy12 176 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 its all aboote the pitch, if you have room for few lorrys and couple of cars and vans folk will stop, if you can gee them a couple of gid rolls and a can of juice for under a fiver they will come back Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 i spoke to the guy who owns the one at our local b&q im sure he said he paid them 500quid a week for the pitch. always busy right enough,but its spotless and he sells good class stuff.not that im a great fan of snack vans.but ill have the odd hotdog from his van. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
woz 260 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Iv built a few and had people run them..food hygiene cert isn't bad..need to go do a coarse...most pitchs are taken n faught for...busy A road lay bys..need permission off ya local council and they vary from area to area....can have hours of boredom then have to deal with multiple orders whilst being pleasent and keeping up small talk... On a busy A road you can do £200 a day clear....I used to keep all the vans at the yard n tow em out in the morning....if you are paying staff they WILL rip you off n not turn up some days..if you use cheap food you'll get no business so we used to do a deal with local butcher and bakery...you'll also need to no when to turn ya temper on cuz on the side of the road people will try n Rob you at some point..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Carraghs Gem 1,675 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Im torn between getting a catering van or stall selling army surplus, im raising the cash for it now Quote Link to post Share on other sites
woz 260 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Im torn between getting a catering van or stall selling army surplus, im raising the cash for it now I really hate having to break this to ya but... There's loads of firms that will happily take you hard earned a promise the earth...you'll be lucky to earn a living out of food....Sunday market pitch will cost ya a grand n they feckin fill the place with other vans n then limit what you can sell..... Army serplus.......up until last year I rented my yard off a family which in the 70's 80's were the biggest in the UK and made millions..when the old boy died we counted 376k in cash he had hidden in the boot of a scrap triumph stag.....they are now selling bric a brack on e bay and starving......years ago the MOD would auction the gear off in stilages...you could go a bid and buy the gear from the three day sales..when I first started I would go blow all my money on the first day come home sell a load of gear off n be back for the next morning to buy again......now the MOD are sending everything to a handful of agents so there's Bp cheap gear anymore...withem had the contract for a few years now I think its up in Scotland.....so now you will have to buy your gear off a firm that's already bought the gear through an agent and then punting it on to you.....they will also be selling into your target market....all this equals no profit for you.......if you can get a few grand together look to buying a container of something from China...but again you'll need a good shipping agent or again you'll come out with burned fingers and a bad taste in ya mouth........ps pm me if you fall on a decent earner because I haven't done any good for the last year or so lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
the_stig 6,614 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 unless your on a prime pitch or doing events its hard graft since the recession everyones jumped on it a mate had 3 lay bye vans but he`s down to one doing events -- currys chlli n jacket spuds -- he switched from bacon buttys n the like coz thrs to many at it ...he used to turn over 1/4 plus a year from a few buttys .. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gnasher16 30,597 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 f****d if id eat grub off some nasty little van at the roadside ....stone me if you cant trust what multi national supermarket chains put in their food bollocks to putting trust in sweaty sid with grease under his nails and snot running down his chin ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 lol@sweaty sid Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Carraghs Gem 1,675 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Im torn between getting a catering van or stall selling army surplus, im raising the cash for it now I really hate having to break this to ya but... There's loads of firms that will happily take you hard earned a promise the earth...you'll be lucky to earn a living out of food....Sunday market pitch will cost ya a grand n they feckin fill the place with other vans n then limit what you can sell..... Army serplus.......up until last year I rented my yard off a family which in the 70's 80's were the biggest in the UK and made millions..when the old boy died we counted 376k in cash he had hidden in the boot of a scrap triumph stag.....they are now selling bric a brack on e bay and starving......years ago the MOD would auction the gear off in stilages...you could go a bid and buy the gear from the three day sales..when I first started I would go blow all my money on the first day come home sell a load of gear off n be back for the next morning to buy again......now the MOD are sending everything to a handful of agents so there's Bp cheap gear anymore...withem had the contract for a few years now I think its up in Scotland.....so now you will have to buy your gear off a firm that's already bought the gear through an agent and then punting it on to you.....they will also be selling into your target market....all this equals no profit for you.......if you can get a few grand together look to buying a container of something from China...but again you'll need a good shipping agent or again you'll come out with burned fingers and a bad taste in ya mouth........ps pm me if you fall on a decent earner because I haven't done any good for the last year or so lol no catering vans hardly in my area so intend to hit certain small villages... and the food will be far better than most catering vans as i am a chef by profesion. Army surplus there is a demand for in my area, will buy a quantity of stock that is of decent quality and will give it a go as well see how it does... Have found a wholesaler that has some decent stuff so im going to fill a transit up and give it a go. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Duncan 802 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Im torn between getting a catering van or stall selling army surplus, im raising the cash for it now I really hate having to break this to ya but... There's loads of firms that will happily take you hard earned a promise the earth...you'll be lucky to earn a living out of food....Sunday market pitch will cost ya a grand n they feckin fill the place with other vans n then limit what you can sell..... Army serplus.......up until last year I rented my yard off a family which in the 70's 80's were the biggest in the UK and made millions..when the old boy died we counted 376k in cash he had hidden in the boot of a scrap triumph stag.....they are now selling bric a brack on e bay and starving......years ago the MOD would auction the gear off in stilages...you could go a bid and buy the gear from the three day sales..when I first started I would go blow all my money on the first day come home sell a load of gear off n be back for the next morning to buy again......now the MOD are sending everything to a handful of agents so there's Bp cheap gear anymore...withem had the contract for a few years now I think its up in Scotland.....so now you will have to buy your gear off a firm that's already bought the gear through an agent and then punting it on to you.....they will also be selling into your target market....all this equals no profit for you.......if you can get a few grand together look to buying a container of something from China...but again you'll need a good shipping agent or again you'll come out with burned fingers and a bad taste in ya mouth........ps pm me if you fall on a decent earner because I haven't done any good for the last year or so lol no catering vans hardly in my area so intend to hit certain small villages... and the food will be far better than most catering vans as i am a chef by profesion. Army surplus there is a demand for in my area, will buy a quantity of stock that is of decent quality and will give it a go as well see how it does... Have found a wholesaler that has some decent stuff so im going to fill a transit up and give it a go. Well bloody good luck to you CG! I keep fantasizing about doing farmers markets selling rabbit stew and game chilli etc. Still not got round to it - hope you make a go of it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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