Thinking about starting a mobile ice cream business? While the ice cream truck has become a fixture of American summertimes for decades there are important considerations frequently overlooked when it comes to installing ice cream truck equipment. Common pitfalls when installing an ice cream machine can be the lack of electrical power inside the vehicle, insufficient storage, or simply the lack of space to operate comfortably.

Q & A With Jeremy Adams (Prestige Food Trucks)

In an effort to help you avoid these common mistakes we reached out to Jeremy Adams, Founding Partner & Creator of Opportunities at Prestige Food Trucks. Adams has helped hundreds of food entrepreneurs take their business mobile and has some straight-forward advice to ensuring your frozen dessert food truck is road ready in today’s Q/A interview:

Question 1: Tell us a little about yourself and your company’s experience manufacturing mobile food units?

Answer: I started Prestige Food Trucks in 2012. Worked with some large clients, and could no longer keep up with manufacturing. In 2015, we partnered with Custom Concessions in a JV to be able to build more units and help more people. They had been building since 2001. Combined, we have probably built over 1,000, super high-quality total units. Custom Concessions used to pump out lower-cost trailers back in the day :)

Question 2: What considerations need to be made when installing an ice cream machine on a food truck?

Answer: It’s very important to know your electrical when it comes to soft service type units. Not only do they pull an insane amount of power, sometimes they can even be 3 phase units which require a completely custom generator and electrical set up! Definitely investment in a commercial diesel generator to handle these types of units as well.

Question 3: What are some complementary features or appliances that you recommend being installed on a mobile unit selling soft-serve or frozen yogurt?

Answer: To go with soft-serve machines, it's very important to try and have tons of storage and additional ice cream truck freezer and refrigeration space. In some cases, it’s also extremely important to have a few AC units on board inside the truck/trailer to help keep the machines cool.

Question 4: Does soft-serve, frozen yogurt, or gelato perform well as a mobile business versus brick-and-mortar?

Answer: The most successful soft-serve/froyo concepts I see are the ones that create special strategic partnerships. Partnering with schools, universities, etc. Get paid for the headcount up front, or charge a flat $10 for a large, “all you can fit” type concept. Remember, you normally are the only option out there. Charge a premium, but also deliver quality value!

Question 5: Can an ice cream truck still be profitable in locations with four seasons like New York?

Answer: There are many studies that show ice cream consumption can sometimes increase in colder climates! With that being said, it still can be difficult to have people go outside and go to a food truck. This is a great opportunity to maximize on the catering side of your business. Deliver ice cream for 100 people at a conference or school. Make it easy on them! Then, as soon as it’s a little warmer, back to business as usual.

 A Small Thank You... And Recommendation

We want to thank Jeremy Adams for taking the time to share his insights on the building a quality ice cream truck that lasts and Brett Lindenberg for providing us with this information & much more through Food Truck Empire.

FoodTruckEmpire.com

If you’d like to learn more about starting your own food truck or mobile food business, FoodTruckEmpire.com is an excellent resource on how to start and operate this type of business.

On their website you can hope to find:

• Resources on social media marketing, insurance, payment processors and sourcing supplies.
• A directory of food truck manufacturing companies that have been verified & can easily be searched by state, pricing, and other options.
• Strategies used by other entrepreneurs to raise capital for a new or existing mobile business.
• A place to sell your food truck without having to pay a brokerage fee

Whether it be a frozen yogurt food truck, a soft-serve ice cream truck, or even a frozen drink mobile unit, we are here to help. We have the perfect machines to fit your needs ranging from frozen yogurt machines to commercial lemonade machines. Let us help you increase your bottom line and assist you in continued success. If you need an ice cream or frozen beverage machine for your food truck, click the link below!

check out our frozen dessert machines

or call us: 352-888-1107

* Follow all local and national health codes. Always refer to local and national rules. This article is just a suggestion. 

Edited 8/27/2020