Street food has grown hugely in popularity on the streets in the UK in recent years, and despite the economic impact of COVID this year, many fast food vendors have remained in business.
To cater to the ever curious taste buds of the nation, many business owners took advantage of apps like BestFoodTrucks and Street Food Finder, as well as some food festivals taking place,like the Manchester Food and Drink Festival . Truck drivers have also been looked after with the Federal Highway Administration allowing food trucks to remain on highway rest stop areas.
Adaptable and inventive, fast food vendors cater to the now ever-changing nature of our world whilst continuing to tantalise our tastebuds with the latest creative fusions from renowned chefs who prove fast food doesn’t mean unhealthy anymore. Instead it equates to the next best culinary experience whilst listening to our favourite musicians in an open field during British summer time.
The origin of the Fast Food Truck
Dating back to 1866, a Texas rancher named Charles Goodnight changed the hospitality industry forever and invented the first food truck: the chuck wagon. Originally a portable kitchen equipped for his first cattle drive, he created a mobile vehicle with all the fittings. Shelves, a hinged lid to create counter space, a water barrel and a space for firewood.
To ensure the preservation of food he chose mostly preserved foods like dried beans, cornmeal and salted meats. By the 1870s food stalls became increasingly popular, and by the Second World War food trucks became common in the UK with the advent of motorised transportation.
Fast Food but Fancy
Almost a century later, fast food trucks serving street food have exploded across the country with a growing interest in high-quality and freshly made meals and snacks infusing cuisines from across the globe.
The British street food industry has grown 20% year-on-year with the increased interest in street food and live music events across the country. In 2018, festival attendance in the UK reached its highest in 4 years,with over 1,000 festivals taking place across the country. So the demand for delicious meals on wheels is now a staple at festivals, transforming many small business owners into fully fledged restaurants and even renowned celebrities.
What’s on the menu: The diversity of modern fast food
Walking through the streets of London, fast food vendors have popped up everywhere having become the favoured place for millenials to hang out with friends, drink craft beer and try the latest take on international cuisine.
From pulled pork tacos and jerk chicken to beef brisket sandwiches and Italian pizza, chefs with fast food trucks are pushing the boundaries to provide punters a taste of cuisines from every culture.
Famous Fast Food
One success story is that of childhood friends Baz Henriques and Fred Hicks in 2012. What began as a single mobile catering van, is now a fleet of vehicles under their flagship Baz & Fred, which travel across the country serving their delicious pizzas at weddings, festivals and pop up events.
When it comes to the nation’s favourite fried fish, Richard and Pauline Ramsay worked out of their van for over 40 years before retiring last year, becoming famous throughout the Yorkshire Dales. The well loved fish finger sandwich was vamped up by famous chef Mark Hix in Lewisham College car park in the Fishdog van by combining the infamous British favourite in a hot dog bun with mushy peas and tartare sauce.
To add to the cuisines coming from the US where the fast food truck originated, Mother Clucker at Brick Lane’s Truman Brewery have converted a US Army ambulance and parked up in Ely’s Yard to serve their take on buttermilk-soaked, twice battered southern fried chicken accompanied with cajun fried and mac ‘n’ cheese.
The list continues to expand as the fast food truck craze captures the hungry eyes of the British public, who are looking for a way to eat good food without the limits imposed by the COVID-19 restrictions.
If you’re looking to set up your own fast food truck, or have already have one, then consider Frymax as your chosen frying medium. Made from sustainable palm oil, Frymax has been used by the UK’s finest fish and chips shops for decades, ensuring the highest quality of fried foods at a reasonable price. Get in touch to discuss what we have on offer and how we can help you.
