Food Vendors

Concession Trailer, Vending Cart, Lunch Truck Business Information Center

Vending Carts

The survey represents 118 vending carts, in four states, primarily operated in urban centers where the population exceeded 500,000 inhabitants.

Of the 118 vending carts, 18% (21) were leased out to women. The female operators brought in 24% of the gross revenue.

Mobile Catering Vehicles/Coffee Trucks

The survey represented 67 catering vehicles or coffee trucks in 6 states, primarily operated in urban centers where the population exceeded 1 million inhabitants. The routes were a mixture of predefined routes in industrial areas and construction sites.

Of the 62 catering vehicles/coffee trucks, 12% (8) were leased out to women. The female operators brought in an unbelievable 23% of the gross revenue.

Loosely gathered statistics by the companies I spoke to, both in the vending cart and mobile catering/coffee truck businesses, had determined that their clientele was estimated at between 75% and 80% male (I found a statement by one company to be of interest and that was that in the industrial areas serviced by mobile catering vehicles/coffee trucks, that many of the factories had predominantly female workers, but it appeared that the female workers were more likely to bring snacks and a lunch rather than purchase it from one of their vehicles).

In general, the companies seem to believe that the female operators were more aggressive, and maintained cleaner carts or vehicles, as the case may be. Female operators generally took less time off and were much more punctual.

Other points that I found interesting were that the female coffee truck drivers received far more tickets for traffic infringements and more complaints about their driving than did their male counterparts (this probably relates to the statement that female operators appear to be more aggressive).

Here is to the female entrepreneurs – may their coffee be hot and their ice cream cold!

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