Dosa Inc’s Recipe to Run a Food Truck

Food trucks are all the rage in the NCR. It definitely looks fun to do. In fact we know quite a few people who wouldn’t mind giving up their desk job to drive a truck that spreads good food and joy the way Dosa Inc., the South Indian cuisine experts do.

If you're thinking of starting food truck business, then these tips from the Dosa Inc. management will definitely help.

How does one go about starting a food truck business in India?

It is really the Wild Wild West for the food truck business in India. There is no particular path and no set model, each of us in this space is experimenting with the process. There is also no real clarity in terms of regulations and permits.

You would basically start with the purchase and building of the vehicles. Here again one needs to be careful to know the rules and regulations governing each category of vehicle. You would need to have a base kitchen, a crew, decision on the type of cuisine. Some of the permits would overlap with what is needed for restaurants and catering kitchens.

How much does it take to start a food truck business in India?

It can be done with as low an investment as rupees 10 lakh which can go up to rupees 25 lakh, depending on the type of vehicle, the equipment needed, and all the other bells and whistles.

What are the licenses you need to start a food truck business in India?

There are no defined licenses for food trucks in India. Everyone operates in a grey zone, getting the licenses that cover restaurants to having the permits for the vehicles. But some of them that are needed include the FSSAI license or registration along with the Health Trade License.

The food truck business in India – do they make profits?

It can be profitable. We certainly are. But the business is not like what you see on television, or in the west. In the west, food trucks occupy the space of experimental/ fusion street food. Here, you would find it hard to make money on the streets. However, creating a hub or a space for food trucks (and thereby a culture around it) like many have done in Gurgaon is a good way to start.

5 companies who can help you set up your food truck business

If you have sent out this questionnaire to the others, most people will tell you that they had their truck built in Meerut. However we started our work before most others and have used local vendors in Delhi, who worked on the specifications and the know-how that we have provided.