Food Truck Market

Food Truck Market Size

The global food truck market size was estimated at USD 6.1 billion in 2024. The market is expected to grow from USD 6.4 billion in 2025 to USD 11.9 billion in 2034, at a CAGR of 7.1% according to latest report published by Global Market Insights Inc.

The use of GPS tracking, mobile payment processing and social media marketing enables operational convenience and visibility for the customer. Food trucks use digital tools to announce locations, streamline operations and promote brand loyalty. The use of technology allows operators to maximize revenue potential while promoting effective operational communications with customers throughout varying metropolitan markets.

The City of Raleigh started the Greenway Food Truck Pilot Program in May 2025, permitting food trucks to set up along parks and trails, to improve visitor experiences, support local vendors and encourage entrepreneurship. This program increases visitor access to food, by incorporating food services into recreational spaces - further extending food truck access to non-urban, community-oriented outdoor settings.

Customers are more frequently searching for experience, portable food and variations in their food choices. Food trucks respond to these changing preferences by offering a diverse food option of fusion, gourmet and healthy menu alternatives. This casual and open-air experience attracts Millennials, Gen Xers and visiting tourists, in a micro example of the continued global shift away from formal dining and informal dining and food exploration.

Food trucks offer a low-cost alternative to fixed, traditional restaurants, allowing for a decreased investment in a physical structure, equipment, and/or staff. This lower cost of entry and flexible labor fosters entrepreneurship and innovation in globally competitive food service. Entrepreneurs and chefs around the world can now gain entry into the food service sector, contributing to competitive growth and variety.

Consistent events and large gatherings are frequent. Festivals, competitions, concerts, sports events and corporate events all produce demand and excitement from mobile catering businesses. A food truck's ability to move easily creates going to larger events more attractive, allowing mobile vendors to participate in multiple events. This adds to stable incomes, enhances brand recognition and diversifies income potential beyond regular street-vending operations throughout the US and Canada.

Food Truck Market Trends

The most relevant trend that is currently impacting the food truck industry is the emergence of gourmet and specialty foods. The longstanding perception of food trucks as mobile containers of basic fast food has undergone a major shift with food truck operators developing menus featuring restaurant-quality entrees and specialty fusion cuisine as evidenced by Yelp's Top 100 Food Trucks to Track analyses. For example, Korean/Mexican fusion food developed by Kogi BBQ among others. As a point of reference, Kogi BBQ racked up over $2 million in first-year revenues and spawned innumerable clones in the U.S. and abroad as referenced in U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation case studies.

The Cousins Maine Lobster premium seafood experience, which gives insights into the existing capacity of consumers to price quality food options. Cousins Maine Lobster is upping sticks and moving to Wisconsin and upstate New York in 2025, which suggests that consumers are paying even higher prices for their shellfish sourced from food truck menus.

Digital transformation is a fundamental change in the way food trucks operate and technology adoption has taken a leap forward, particularly after the recent pandemic. According to BrightLocal consumer research, up to 70% of customers conduct online research of the food businesses they plan to visit, which makes digital presence completely necessary for any food business to be successful in the changing market. Social media, particularly Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, has become the primary channel for food truck advertising and 86.9% of operators are present on Facebook while 71.4% also maintain an active Instagram account.

Food trucks powered by solar systems and/or electric vehicles are also beginning to do well in both urban and traditional markets where zero-emission requirements have been implemented. Electric vehicles, in particular, can reduce operating costs for high-mileage operations by hundreds of dollars per year (up to 65% of operations costs during their lifetime), while giving operators an ability to cook on-board for 4-6 hours without a generator. Major cities including Los Angeles, London and Paris have started to implement incentive programs for food trucks that are zero-emission, thus increasing the adoption rate.

Temporary partnerships with breweries, festivals and local businesses have been very effective Goodfynd's marketing research states pop-up events have a 30% higher engagement from Eventbrite data compared to typical marketing efforts. These partnerships help each other by providing food trucks access to established customer bases while establishing brick-and-mortar venues enhance public food offerings without the commitment of a permanent kitchen.

Food truck parks and dedicated mobile food courts are developing rapidly and offer centralized opportunities that can attract higher customer volumes with lower marketing dollar investments. They offer shared amenities, the potential for increasing foot traffic and the added process simplification than similar venues. Food truck parks are certainly attracting new operators and providing spaces to chefs who operate out of trucks.

Food Truck Market Analysis

Learn more about the key segments shaping this market

Download Free PDF

Based on offering, the food truck market is segmented as fast food, beverages, bakery & confectionary and others. Fast food maintains the dominant position with 45.1% market share in 2024, valued around USD 2.8 billion, reflecting continued consumer demand for convenient, quick-service options.

• The fast food segment also serves the same value propositions that consumers needs that the food trucks have to offer that includes speed of service, convenience of service and low prices. Gourmet burgers, unique sandwiches and fusion ideas are also a part of the traditional offerings, which take the standard fast food products to the next level utilizing innovative food preparation methods and premium ingredients.
  
• Beverages represent the fastest growing segment of offerings with a CAGR of 8.4%, growing to an estimated $2.43 billion by 2034. This growth is influenced by several reasons, including higher profit margins, ease of operations and increasing consumer demand for specialty beverages. Beverages especially successful include mobile cocktail and craft coffee operations and fresh juice offerings; they also tend to have a premium price while requiring less complex kitchen equipment than food preparation.
  
• Consumers who enjoy indulgent food choices and dessert items tend to opt for the bakery and confectionery selections and these items generally sell at a higher margin than savory options. The bakery food truck type of business that concentrates on fresh baked food, gourmet style donuts and custom cakes tend to be particularly successful in urban areas and event-based business.
  

Learn more about the key segments shaping this market

Download Free PDF

Based on cuisine, the food truck market is fragmented into american, mexican, chinese, japanese, italian, asian and others. American cuisine held a share of 30% in 2024, leadership reflects familiar flavors and broad consumer appeal, encompassing everything from gourmet burgers and BBQ to regional specialties.

• Food trucks showcasing Mexican cuisine have all the right ingredients to flourish thanks to a solid combination of original flavors, low average price points and broad demographic appeal. The segment's expansion will also benefit from the growing Hispanic population in key markets and the increasing social acceptance of Mexican food, which has spread to all demographic segments, as indicated in Grand View Research demographic analysis.
  
• In several markets, taco trucks have simply become synonymous with food trucks, given their operational simplicity, ingredient flexibility and the ability to customize orders, which suits the mobile food market perfectly. Premium Mexican concepts focused on regional specialties, preferences and authentic preparation will demand higher price points, while benefiting from significant volume growth.
  
• Chinese cuisine has a food truck market share of 15.3% and a 7.3% CAGR, which demonstrates that dining consumers are increasingly interested in authentic Asian flavors. The Chinese cuisine segment benefits from advantageous fundamentals such as ingredient versatility, familiar cooking methods. Chinese food trucks often operate with a limited menu based on staple dishes like fried rice, noodles and dumplings, which are easily consumable and are transferable in terms of temperature, texture, consistency and quality when served mobile.
  
• Japanese food, as a horizontal segment, also capitalizes on the growing dining consumer interest in healthy and fresh ingredients, as well as unique flavor profiles. Sushi trucks, ramen concepts and Japanese-fusion operations are finding great success in urban market spaces and dining demographics that are more adventurous.
  

Based on vehicle, the food truck market is classified into expandable, boxes, buses & vans, customized trucks, others. Customized trucks segment is leading the market with 31.6% share, valued at USD 1.93 billion in 2024.

• Customized trucks will be charged premium prices as they are a more specialized product with more features than normal vehicles. Custom builds tend to be more profitable on a unit basis as well as more profitable with less operating cost, which subsidizes the increased investment outlay. The trend of experiential and Instagram food has contributed to the need of distinctive style of cars that provide a visual experience.
  
• Box trucks are a good lower-cost option for operators that prioritize functionality over customization, as they have a standardized build that allows for more immediate operation and lower capital expenditure, benefiting new market entrants and operators with multiple units.
  
• The bus & vans segment benefits from urban density because smaller vehicles can access more locations than larger vehicles and cost less to park. Vans are especially appealing for beverage business models and for certain concepts that won't require excess cooking equipment, as their fuel efficiency and ability to facilitate daily operations make them well suited for urban markets, where access is limited outside of hour restrictions for larger vehicles.
  

Based on platform, the food truck market is segmented into on-the-go service, catering services and online delivery. Platform analysis shows on-the-go service dominating with 55.1% market share, valued at USD 3.36 billion in 2024.

• On-the-go service is the trucks and carts concept, which has been inspired by traditional food trucks, which focus on the ability to move and the flexibility of location to make the most of the demand and earn maximum revenues. The segment has a 6% CAGR, reflecting steady growth while benefitting from urbanization and growing consumer acceptance of mobile food service. Certain successful pioneers of on-the-go service models build route optimization tactics to integrate information analytics and peak demand that, discover areas with dense foot traffic.
  
• Catering services are the market's fastest-growing channel with a CAGR of 8.8%, growing from USD 1.65 billion in 2024 to USD 3.77 billion in 2034. The catering services offer better margins and more assured income than street vending. Corporate events, weddings and personal events are events that allow premium pricing and reduce operational issues.
  
• Online delivery holds 17.9% market share in 2024, having benefitted from a pandemic-fueled acceleration in delivery adoption. Food trucks have an opportunity to use third-party delivery services to expand the radiuses of service and seize the demand during adverse weather conditions and high street vending-market opportunities.
  

Looking for region specific data?

Download Free PDF

The food truck market in US dominates regional revenue with approximately 85% share, supported by over 48,400 active food trucks generating average annual revenue of USD 346,000 per unit. The market in US hold a revenue of USD 2.1 million in 2024 and is expected to experience significant and promising growth from 2025 to 2034.

• Cities are developing pilot zones, as well as park programs that allow trucks to operate in public spaces that are not traditional for food service, thus creating new operating locations. This style of foodservice nurtures entrepreneurship but depends on municipalities to create a transparent framework of health and zoning regulations to mitigate both pedestrian safety and equal access for vendors.
  
• Single trucks that become successful transition into multiple truck operations or brick-and-mortar locations through franchising. The brand system of a concept and operational standardization allow growth on a national level, attracting the support of investor capital for pre-existing or new concepts and allowing the systemization for professional management to assist with the operational management of new concepts and franchise prototypes. A franchise not only increases competition but creates even more competition.
  
• Consumers are asking for allergen disclosures, nutritional information and transparency throughout the food production chain. Food trucks that emphasize clean kitchens, ethically sourced products and clear menus are likely to build a customer trust, repeat business and credibility, particularly in health-conscious urban markets.
  

North America region holds highest market share of 40%, valued at USD 2.44 billion in 2024. The region benefits from mature market infrastructure, established consumer acceptance and relatively favorable regulatory environments in key metropolitan areas.

• In North America, universities, business parks, and stadiums are increasingly collaborating with trucks to form consistent revenue streams. The trend of trucks connecting with institutions is especially prevalent in the U.S. and Canada and allows reliable consumer access, less dependence on permits and ongoing regional brand development.
  
• In the U.S., chef-driven gourmet food trucks creating specialty dishes and employing by-the-book brand marketing are elevating street food to an upscale food service offering. Cities like Los Angeles and Austin demonstrate how niches and festivals on the food truck calendar create customer loyalty in brackets and elevate the overall perception of the food truck industry.
  
• In Canada, we are seeing food trucks use electronic menus, GPS applications and digital payments to improve vendor access and business efficiency. These advances help food truck vendors plot their routes, manage their inventory and quickly let customers know their locations, thereby leading to better communication and improved customer engagement with a tech-savvy urban consumer base.
  

The food truck market in Europe is expected to reach USD 3.5 billion by 2034. The region is growing at CAGR of 7% between 2025 and 2034, reflecting growing consumer acceptance and improving regulatory frameworks.

• In the UK, food truck festivals and markets (for example, London’s Street Feast) are rejuvenating urban places. These events attract both residents and tourists, provide creative street food and contribute to tourist economies and urban vibrancy.
  
• The demand for compact, modular trucks on the streets and in limited vending spaces will be driven by urban centers in Spain. They facilitate efficient operations while conveying a sense of sustainability and visual appeal. These vehicles are designed to offer the operator an efficient space that includes premium presentation.
  
• In France and Germany, the government is harmonizing municipal vending and food safety regulations. This facilitates cross-border trading and assists in fostering a common European food truck standard, though costs for compliance can impose burdens on small operators.
  
• In Italy, consumers prefer food trucks that source ingredients from nearby farms and use compostable containers. These practices improve food quality through freshness and meet environmental directives from the EU and consumers.
  

Germany leads European growth, accounting for market share of approximately 33.6% of regional revenue. The country's strong festival culture and supportive municipal policies create favorable operating conditions for food truck businesses.

• In Germany, strict business and hygiene regulations ensure that food trucks operated by manufacturers and their staff uphold a professional quality and safety standards. In return, this professionalism creates an environment where customers trust German manufacturers as representatives of a German standard that is guaranteed to represent the best European regulated levels of compliance.
  
• Cities in Germany, such as Berlin and Munich, are now welcoming food trucks that are electric or hybrid, helping to reduce emissions in the city. Food truck operators, running on green technologies, have access and entry into low-emission zones, improving brand image and achieving improvements with regulatory access.
  
• Food trucks in Germany are involved in regional markets and cultural festivals contributing to food culture, including regional foods or dishes such as currywurst or schnitzel. The engagement of the food trucks provides regional taste while embracing the cultural mobility of the modern features of food trucks.
  
• In Hamburg food trucks are developing partnerships with cafes and breweries to share common space and customers. This allows food trucks to participate in business ties that reduce the risk of being independent truck reliant on location.
  

Asia Pacific represents the highest growth opportunity with 9.4% CAGR between 2025 and 2034. China leads regional expansion with 42.3% of Asia Pacific revenue, benefiting from rapid urbanization and growing middle-class disposable income.

• In India, young professionals in cities like Bengaluru and Delhi are pushing the need for affordable stylish food. Food trucks serve this demographic with global flavors served rapidly that foster social interaction and are accessible to everyone easily.
  
• In Singapore, cashless and mobile first consumer behaviour is encouraging food trucks to leverage super-apps like Grab and PayNow. By utilizing super-apps food trucks can access new consumers through on-line ordering and delivery, while serving a custom-built audience outside of walk-in traffic.
  
• Across Thailand operators have managed to echo the mutually beneficial relationship of western flavours and traditional street foods such as pad thai to attract tourist and local customers alike. In this way they can continue to preserve culinary heritage but offer modern high-margin foods.
  
• In the Philippines municipalities vary from very inconsistent to a general lack of vendor infrastructure making it very difficult to grow in structured ways. However, cities that have marked out vendor zones and connected utilities to vending have experienced rapid professionalization and acknowledgement of more small businesses.
  

The food truck market in China is estimated to hold market revenue of USD 645.1 million in 2024 and is expected to experience significant and promising growth from 2025 to 2034.

• In China, food trucks are highly integrated into technology platforms like WeChat, Meituan and Douyin that can provide mobile ordering, delivery and live promotional offers to customers. Social media influences increase visibility and foot traffic for food trucks through short videos that drive visibility at lighting speed. This heavy reliance on digital technology improves sales efficiency and brand recognition in urban environments.
  
• Cities in China such as Chengdu, Wuhan and Shenzhen currently have food trucks revamping traditional night markets by placing food trucks in clusters. These formalized spaces provide more safety and regulated food vending, help bring tourism to a city while showcasing specific regional foods. Government support for vibrancy in cities and local entrepreneurship further contributes to the growth of this emerging night economy.
  
• China's robust industrial heritage and local manufacturing capabilities, allow food truck operators to have access to low-cost and customizable food trucks that provide operators with the ability to grow and scale their business in various provinces with the new, incredibly low labor costs of entry, while ensuring that the design innovations and technical aspects continue to improve performance. All these factors reinforce China's importance as a worldwide producer of food trucks.
  

The Latin America food truck market is projected to grow at a remarkable CAGR of 6.2% between 2025 and 2034.

• A street food culture prevalent in Brazil motivates food trucks to adapt traditional menu items, such as acarajé and tapioca, to cater to busy urban consumers. This process offers the opportunity to bridge traditional cuisine and contemporary practice while enhancing access, sustaining local identity and appealing to both regional residents and tourists interested in authentic and contemporary food experiences.
  
• Governments in Mexico have been promoting formalization of the informal economy by facilitating food vendors in meeting their compliance requirements and registering formally in the economy so they can access loans, affordable insurance and participate in organized events. Although formalization may have an adverse effect of raising costs of compliance it is an opportunity to enhance professionalism and increase food safety and transition informal vendors into the formal economy.
  
• Food trucks in Peru are also still on their way to success in tourist destinations like Lima and Cusco, where international tourists can savor local dishes like ceviche. Tourism and seasonal festivals increase foot traffic and profitability while also fostering relationships with local tourism boards to enhance the Peruvian culinary brand identity.
  
• Argentina has seen a struggle for mobile food entrepreneurship, due to limited funding for many years. Emerging options for microcredit financing and grant funding for startups have begun to provide entrepreneurs with an opportunity to utilize quality equipment and branding; thereby encouraging small businesses to sustainably scale their efforts and enhance the operational quality of their products within urban and regional markets.
  

The MEA food truck market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% between 2025 and 2034. The region held a market share of around 1% in 2024.

• Rapid urbanization and a youthful population are encouraging casual, social dining in South Africa. Food trucks in South Africa, where local cultural identities and global citizenship coexist, have become mainstream social sites in the urban dining scene of Johannesburg and Cape Town, providing gourmet food at a reasonable price point and fostering an inclusive, outdoor food atmosphere consistent with updated lifestyle changes.
  
• In the United Arab Emirates, food trucks are mostly found in malls, coastal promenades and local events like Dubai Food Carnival. They maintain their presence in certain environments through strategic relationships with event planners and property developers, allowing for great exposure, foot traffic and trending toward luxury lifestyles by residents and tourists.
  
• In Kenya, the licensing process is slow and cumbersome, the import tariffs are high and there are too few designated vending zones for the growth of food trucks. Initial government plans to create metal vendor carts (uncommon in actual use until pandemic-related regulations) towards planning regulations for street vendors provide some clarity, albeit gradually. This initial effort at tracing regulation provides small entrepreneurs an opportunity to better weather the compliance process when engaging in selling at formal markets, with accompanying infrastructure and reduced vendor burden.
  

Food Truck Market Share

The top 7 companies in the food truck industry are Bostonian Body, Food Truck Company, M&R Trailers, MSM Catering Trucks Manufacturing, Prestige Food Trucks, The Fud Trailer Company, United Food Trucks, contributing around 4.4% of the market in 2024.

• Prestige Food Trucks is a key player in the manufacturer and customization segment, focusing on customized quality food trucks. The company's strength is in design ability and customization options to provide operators with distinctive brand experience. Prestige Food Trucks has developed a strong reputation for quality manufacturing and is continuing to gain traction through design ability and customizing options.
  
• United Food Trucks has significant market presence through their wide brand of food truck models and their wide distribution network of their model. The company's strategy relates to their existing local entrepreneur relationships and support services that provide value for new operators entering the market. United Food Trucks can take advantage of their distribution channels to access other geographic markets and position themselves competitively.
  
• M&R Trailers have a significant share in the market segment through their focus on premium, customized trucks, specific to food types. M&R has a range of options, which allow them to service multiple market segments while maintaining efficiency. M&R's strategy emphasizes expanding service lines for different categories of customers and in turn strengthening the customer relationship through quality service and best solution selection.
  
• MSM Catering Trucks Manufacturing has created a market presence utilizing practical and functional designs grounded in reliability and operational fitness. The strength of the company lies in its recognized market presence and history of manufacturing reliable vehicles that satisfy operators' operational needs on a day-to-day basis. MSM's focus is on collaboration with local businesses to enhance both market penetration and establish relationships with local clientele.
  
• VS Veicoli Speciali has an internationally recognized market presence and a specialist vehicle manufacturing capability and services that include food trucks. The company's focus on trailer manufacturing tecbrand provides opportunities for competitive advantage with respect to the company's manufacturing processes, while the focus on quality control while manufacturing strengthens the brand presence in international markets.
  

Food Truck Market Companies

Major players operating in the food truck industry are:

• Bostonian Body
• Food Truck Company
• Futuristo Trailers
• M&R Trailers
• MRA
• MSM Catering Trucks Manufacturing
• Prestige Food Trucks
• The Fud Trailer Company
• United Food Trucks
• VS Veicoli Speciali
  
  
• Fud Trailer Company is catered to gourmet and specialized food service operators offering creative design solutions that cater toward customization and niche market usage. Fud's emphasis on specialized designs allows them to approach particular market segments while delivering tailored solutions which builds true customer loyalty.
  
• Food Truck Company offers multiple vehicle types which emphasize high-quality materials and product durability. Their strategic direction emphasizes and diversifies their product lines to avoid stagnation in changing market conditions while retaining a competitive posture based on build quality.
  
• Bostonian Body is present in the market providing specialized vehicle body manufacturing with a niche for food-service needs. Their competitive advantage exists based on engineering knowledge and performance tuning that attracts operators primarily focused on operational efficiency and reliability.
  
• MSM Catering Trucks Manufacturing focuses upon the essentials of practical and functional designs which have an emphasis on reliability of operation and overall cost effectiveness. The company's existing market position is due to its reputation for building dependable vehicles for food service operators' daily operational requirements. MSM designs focus on partnerships with local businesses, along with meaningful market involvement, to sustain product use post-sale.
  
• VS Veicoli Speciali encompasses international manufacturing expertise with specialized vehicle manufacturing capability that extends beyond food trucks and includes other commercial applications. The company's technological advancements in trailer production offer a competitive advantage, along with a highly reputable brand that is recognized globally as a manufacturer of quality trailers.
  
• Futuristo Trailers declares a specialty in mobile kitchen uses and trailer applications with a focus on sustainability and modernism. Its competitive advantage is based on being environmentally friendly and employing advanced technologies that attract environmentally friendly operators and markets that require sustainability and environmental responsibility.
  

Food Truck Industry News

• In July 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that since 2000, employment in the food truck industry has increased over 906.6%, with the industry employing 44,119 food truck workers with 4,383 growing into 44,119 workers in that period. The growth rate exemplifies the transformation of the food truck industry into a driver of employment in American food service.
  
• In June 2025, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced a new food truck permit program intended to encourage nightlife and al fresco dining. The program includes new vending areas, simplifying the permitting process, while increasing opportunities for mobile food vendors in all of Boston.
  
• In June 2025, Cousins Maine Lobster extended the reach of its food truck business by launching service in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This represents ongoing geographical growth for the brand and also represents how established mobile food businesses are continuing to penetrate new regional markets.
  
• In June 2025, Roark Capital completed a USD 1 billion acquisition of Dave’s Hot Chicken originally launching as a food truck. This acquisition represents the largest exit ever for a mobile-origin brand signaling market confidence in the concept of scaling food truck-to-restaurant management.
  
• In April 2025, LSG Sky Chefs Americas declared that they had invested in 230 new modern catering trucks worth USD 60 million which would have cameras to help in intelligent auditing and anti-collision. Although it is about aviation catering, this transaction is indicative of a technology and modern food truck merger and a trend to modernize food truck fleets.
  

The food truck market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecasts in terms of revenue ($Mn) and volume (Units)from 2021 to 2034, for the following segments:

Click here to Buy Section of this Report

Market, By Offering

• Fast Food
• Beverages
• Bakery & confectionary
• Others   

Market, By Cuisine

• American
• Mexican
• Chinese
• Japanese
• Italian
• Asian
• Others

Market, By Vehicle

• Expandable
• Boxes
• Buses & vans
• Customized trucks
• Others    

Market, By Platform

• On-the-Go service
• Catering services
• Online delivery

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • US
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
  • Nordics
  • Netherlands
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • ANZ
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
  • South Korea
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina 
• MEA
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE