Starting a Food Truck Business? Here’s what you need to know about Food Truck Licence

People often overlook the legal requirements before setting out on their new Food Truck journeys. We know that designing the menu, the signature dishes of your establishment, and deciding on its names can be very interesting and exciting, which is why you might not consider the rules and regulations attached to it. The growing popularity of food trucks at events can seem like a great way to start your own business. However, there are a few things to consider before embarking on a new venture. Don’t worry, we will advise you

Food Truck Licence and Permits

The question that arises is, Do Food trucks need a licence? Yes, In order to start a Food truck business in NSW, you need an NSW Food Truck Licence and Permit. For this, you need to apply for approval depending on the local government in your area or whatever sector you want to operate in. Food trucks require several permits and approvals, starting with registering the truck itself and obtaining a valid Food Truck licence. You will be asked to present the vehicle registration plate along with the mobile food vending vehicle approval form. Food trucks are also inspected by the local council’s health department, so you better watch out.

If you plan to operate your Food Truck business in Sydney, you will need to demonstrate that you have obtained an appropriate and valid NSW Food Truck registration or licence from the NSW Food Authority.

You will also need approval from Sydney Water before Sydney will issue you a Food Truck licence to start your business. The NSW Food Authority is responsible for the licensing of food vendors who use vehicles in their businesses. The Authority also licenses and regulates the sale of foods by food vendors in interstate markets, including vending machines, trolleys and other equipment used to display and sell food. 

Food Safety

The main step is to create a detailed plan for managing your business. This will help outline how you will manage food safety and operational issues. The plan will illustrate the steps needed to ensure that the food you sell is safe to eat. It will also include how you will determine and manage food safety and environmental impacts such as noise, litter, and odor. Your plan should include the following

1- What will you do with the leftovers?

2-How will you treat odor problems if you face any

3-How will the litter be managed

4-How will you clean your food truck

You must obtain the appropriate health inspection report and attach it to the application. Local council Environmental Health Officers or the Food Authority of New South Wales will inspect a commercial kitchen used as the main area for food preparation or storage. This check must be carried out before and within 12 months of submitting your mobile food vending application. Food truck operators must notify the Food Authority NSW of their food business before trading.

Keep in mind that when storing and displaying potentially hazardous foods, they should be stored under temperature control. Temperature control means keeping cold food at 5 degrees or below and hot food at 60 degrees or above.

Do Your Research

When you are planning to start a new business, it is always smart to do market research. It will help you understand the market situation and what arrangements you need to make to run a successful Food Truck business, such as the areas you should operate in or what type of people live here, and what they prefer more. Who is serving this market and how will you stand out? And also things like Is there enough demand in this market to support another mobile food vendor?

You can do your research by talking to existing food truck owners and organizations, or by visiting events and observing what types of trucks are there and how busy they are. Also, contact industry associations for more insight. Your research also includes searching for the right truck to buy. This is a crucial step as you need to make sure you do not make a bad investment.

Whether you are buying second-hand or commissioning one to be built, take the time to do due diligence on your vendor. Visual appeal plays a big role in standing out in a crowded market, so make sure you leave some budget aside to add some unique elements to your truck. People always appreciate a good sight while they eat and an attractive setup will help you get more customers and this will make them return to your food truck again and again.