Event Catering: The Food Truck Revenue Booster
Daily sales at your regular spots are your baseline. But events can represent 30 to 50% of your annual revenue with much higher margins. A single wedding can earn as much as an entire week of street food service.
Most Profitable Event Types
Weddings and private parties
- Average budget: €1,500 to €5,000
- Margin: 60-70% (fixed menu, predictable quantities)
- Season: April to October
- 👉 Most profitable, but requires premium service
- Average budget: €800 to €3,000
- Recurrence: companies come back every year
- Advantage: fast payment, large volumes
- 👉 Excellent for regular revenue
- Budget: pitch fee €200 to €2,000 + free sales
- Potential revenue: €2,000 to €15,000 per weekend
- Risk: weather, on-site competition
- 👉 High potential but more unpredictable
- Budget: €500 to €1,500
- Volume: lower but loyalty-building
- 👉 Great for local word-of-mouth
How to Land Event Contracts
1. Create a dedicated offering
- Event menu separate from your street food menu
- 3 packages: Essential (starter + main), Comfort (starter + main + dessert), Premium (appetizer + starter + main + dessert + drink)
- Per-person pricing (€15 to €35/person depending on package)
- Dedicated "Events" page on your website
- Profile on platforms: Mariages.net, EventBrite, TruckBooking
- Photo portfolio of past events
- Event-specific Google reviews
- Wedding planners and event organizers
- Company works councils
- City halls and tourist offices
- Reception venues without dedicated caterers
- Respond within 24 hours
- Send a professional, detailed quote
- Offer a tasting (converts extremely well)
Event Logistics
Event catering requires more preparation:
- Venue reconnaissance: truck access, electricity, water, space
- Advance prep: maximum preparations done the day before
- Extra staff: plan 1 person per 30-40 covers
- Specific equipment: plates, cutlery, decoration if requested
- Weather plan B: for outdoor events, have a rain solution
Event Pricing
| Package | Content | Price/person | |---|---|---| | Essential | 1 main + 1 drink | €15 - €20 | | Comfort | Starter + main + dessert + drink | €22 - €30 | | Premium | Appetizer + starter + main + dessert + drink | €30 - €45 | | Corporate | Buffet + unlimited drinks | €25 - €35 |
Add options: welcome cocktail (+€5/person), dessert bar (+€8/person), live cooking show (+€200).
Mistakes to Avoid
- Underpricing out of fear of losing the contract — you deserve a premium margin
- Accepting without visiting the venue — access and logistics can be a nightmare
- Skipping a written contract — detail everything: menu, times, cancellation terms, deposit (30-50%)
- Forgetting extras — additional kilometers, overtime, dishes, cleanup
How FoodTracks Optimizes Your Events
FoodTracks helps professionalize your services:
- Precise quantity calculation via AI predictions based on headcount
- Food cost per event to guarantee your margins
- Event revenue tracking separate from daily revenue
- Dedicated stock management so you don't forget anything on the day
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much to charge for a food truck at a wedding?
- Between €25 and €45 per person depending on the package, plus options (welcome cocktail, dessert bar). For 80 guests on Comfort package, expect €2,000 to €2,400 excl. VAT.
- How to find events for your food truck?
- Register on Mariages.net, EventBrite, and TruckBooking. Contact wedding planners, company councils, and city halls. Create an Events page on your site with a photo portfolio.
