The food truck scene in the UAE is about to get much bigger. By the end of next month, 12 new food trucks will hit the streets – and there are many more to come, a result of the Roundup Food Truck Division from 54°east, a company with a focus on the food and beverage industry.
With full support of the government, Roundup streamlines the start-up process for food-truck entrepreneurs, taking care of everything from licences and permits to delivering customised, fully operational food trucks. And the biggest boon for new operators? They have a licence to roam throughout the country.
Kris Haggie, senior director of consultancy and director of Roundup, talks about the company’s vision for the country’s food-truck scene.
Why is there a need for a programme like Roundup?
Before Roundup, there was very limited approval, support and authorisation of mobile food trucks in the UAE. The food trucks you have seen before Roundup are basically pop-up shops and did not provide the access and mobility that food trucks deserve and are known for. We understood this missing aspect and wanted to offer the full benefit of food trucks in the region.
Why do you think there is so much excitement around food trucks at the moment?
We do not believe it will be exciting only for now. It will be a whole new culture that will be here for many years to come. It is exciting for the region because many people have moved from fine dining to casual. Food trucks bring a quick and entertaining aspect to the industry.
How much does it cost to start a food-truck business with Roundup?
The price ranges from Dh480,000 to Dh800,000 depending on the equipment and services entrepreneurs select.
What kind of services do you provide for entrepreneurs?
The process is different for each individual. Some have experience in the food and beverage sector but most see food trucks as an opportunity to enter into this fast-growing industry. We offer full support. We provide all requirements, approvals, licencing, RTA and civil defence approvals, event permits [and more], including the trucks and equipment. Clients can have their own concepts, designs and logos.
Is there a limit to how many food truck entrepreneurs you can help?
We believe food trucks in the UAE will be a new food and beverage culture and we see, by the end of this year, we will have more than 100 trucks as a division. There is no exact number on the growth of this division and venture.
How can people track and find these food trucks once they launch?
We have an app called Roundup Food Trucks available for ISO now and with Google store soon. Everyone will be available to “follow”, “like”, and receive notifications about when and where trucks will be located.
How does one start a food truck through Roundup?
Anyone interested in owning and operating a food truck in the UAE can contact me at kris@54east.com. They can come up with their own concepts – we can assist in creating a concept for them or they can take one of our franchises. All trucks that become part of Roundup are bought by the client through our factory and supported by Roundup. For Emiratis interested in a food truck, funding is available through Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• For more information, visit www.roundup.ae
sjohnson@thenational.ae
