It’s happening, the UK’s food truck scene is having a moment and it’s not just being driven by ‘foodie’ entrepreneurs, but by professionally trained Chefs who have swapped the restaurant for the road.

The Rise Of Mobile Food Vendors

The number of mobile food vendors in the UK has risen significantly in recent years. There are currently over 7,000 street food vans in the UK, showing a growth of 20% year-on-year, and the industry is now worth £1.2 billion. We are no longer seeing a greasy spoon on wheels, but rather Korean-Mexican fusion tacos, artisanal patisserie, and speciality coffee vendors. For many of these traders, the journey began not in a lay-by, but in a professional kitchen.

Food Trucks Require Less Capital Investment Than Restaurants

This shift for Chefs often comes down to a single word, ‘freedom’. Be this creative, financial or personal freedom. The expense of running a restaurant is notoriously high, with rents, energy costs and staffing challenges eating into profit margins. By contrast, a food truck requires less capital investment and lower overheads. A food truck enables a chef to take their experimental, seasonal menus directly to their customers and react to food trends almost instantly. Recent data shows that 64% of UK diners would spend more than their usual lunch budget on street food, especially when it is offering restaurant-quality dishes in an accessible setting. The influx of culinary talent into the street food pool is raising the game.

Food Trucks Arguably Allow For A Depper Customer Connection

Having a deeper customer connection is an invaluable advantage. Typically, a restaurant’s kitchen is hidden away. Food Trucks allow diners to watch their food being prepared and chat to the person who created the recipe. The opportunity to build loyalty almost immediately, along with the opportunity for creating social media hype, is significant.

Crafted Food Truck Designs Empower Operators

We are in the age of immediacy and consumers are constantly seeking the next big food trend. That means we can expect to see even more Chefs taking to the streets, reshaping the UK street food scene through quality, creativity, and innovation. As manufacturers deeply embedded in this world, we see first-hand how thoughtful truck design and well-planned kitchens can empower operators to deliver unforgettable food experiences.

GHST KTCHN™ Build Food Trailers That Stand Out From The Crowd

So, who are ? We’re GHST KTCHN™ (trading as Catering and Exhibition Ltd). We build food trailers, mobile carts and kitchen setups for brands that refuse to blend in. Born from a love of vintage Citroën H Vans, we took the retro icon and reimagined it into sleek, high-performance replicas built for festivals, streets and brand activations. From custom one-offs to ready-to-roll trailers, bold signage to plug-and-play water and electricity kits, and even DIY kitchen packs, we give businesses the tools to own their space.

We are obsessed with our customers and driven to find solutions that hit harder, look sharper and work smarter. Every build is crafted with the same precision and attention to detail you would expect from a premium brand because good enough is never good enough.

Come and have a chat with us when you are at the Street Food Expo. We are stand 101 and look forward to seeing you there!