Include Cause Marketing In Your Food Truck Marketing Plan

Here’s a question for the food truck owners out there. How many times a week does somebody reach out to your mobile food business and ask for donations? Once…twice…ten times a month? Food truck owners I have spoken with about this topic seemed annoyed with all of these people asking for donations of food, time and money. Yes, it can be a hassle, yes it can cost you money, but have you considered the upside cause marketing can bring to your food truck business? It’s what you do with this opportunity that can have a significant impact for your business.

Why Cause Marketing Will Help Your Business

Unfortunately, most organizations just want a cash donation with nothing in return for you or your business. Most proactive food truck vendors have created their own marketing plan around this type of opportunity.

This plan usually involves their food truck and one day events that help them blend into the fabric of the communities their food truck serves.

Here are some facts to consider:

76% of American consumers have taken part in at least one cause related marketing campaign in the last year.
77% of women and 64% of men consider a company’s reputation for supporting causes when making a purchase.
89% of Americans are likely to switch brands to one associated with a cause, given comparable price.

These are some compelling reasons to involve your mobile bistro with a cause as part of your food truck’s overall marketing plan.

So is it profitable for your mobile food business? Consider the top three goals any food truck vendor should have:

Gain more customers
Get customers to spend more
Have customers come back.

Based on the statistics above, cause marketing hits all three of these targets. It also lessens the need for you to start discount or Groupon-like programs which can severely erode your profit margins.

The Bottom Line

As you think about your marketing plan, consider adding cause marketing if you haven’t already. One of the most common complaints about food trucks is that they swoop in and swoop out of towns on a daily basis. They are accused of taking business from restaurants that by location alone are part of these communities.

The best way to help mitigate these charges is to become part of the community as well. Not only will joining local causes help you grow your mobile food business but it will develop a stronger tie to the communities you serve in for years to come.

Additional Cause Marketing Tips?

Do you include cause marketing in your food truck marketing plan? What advice do you have for other truck owners on this topic? Share your thoughts in the comment section below or on social media. Facebook | Twitter

By Richard Myrick|2018-02-21T08:26:46-05:00Feb 9, 2016|Marketing|

About the Author: Richard Myrick

Richard Myrick is an architect by degree (Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan) who began his career in real estate development and architectural planning. In September of 2010 he created Mobile Cuisine Magazine to fill an information void he found when he began researching how to start a mobile hotdog cart in Chicago. Richard found that there was no central repository of mobile street food information anywhere on the internet, and with that, the idea for MCM was born. Richard also wrote the "Running a Food Truck for Dummies" available in bookstores everywhere and Amazon. You can reach out to Richard by email at: [email protected].