{"id":39321,"date":"2019-06-14T12:02:22","date_gmt":"2019-06-14T11:02:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/?p=39321"},"modified":"2024-02-27T10:38:05","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T10:38:05","slug":"setting-up-a-food-stall-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/setting-up-a-food-stall-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Set Up a Food Stall at a Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

The UK festival scene is booming \u2013 with the current figures suggesting they contribute upwards of <\/span>\u00a3200 million to the economy<\/span> each year. In fact, spending on food and drink at festivals has nearly doubled over the last 10 years, with the average consumer spending between \u00a350 and <\/span>\u00a3115.58 per head.<\/span><\/a> With these figures, it\u2019s easy to see the appeal of pitching your food business in, quite literally, the heart and soul of the party. <\/span><\/p>\n

In this guide, we\u2019ll help you explore which festival may be right for you, identify exactly what you need to apply for a pitch and give some tips to ensure you\u2019re ahead of the competition. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Which Festival is Right for Your Food Business?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When you think of festivals, it\u2019s likely that the 200,000 plus attendees of Glastonbury, Leeds\/Reading and other such household festival names spring to mind. Of course, this kind of exposure could be fantastic for your food business. However, if this is your first attempt at setting up a food stall, it is advisable to apply for pitches at much smaller scale festivals.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This will give you a good understanding as to what you can realistically achieve and an idea of how to progress in the future. The <\/span>Association of Independent Festivals<\/span><\/a> is a great place to start your search for the perfect event. It has over 50 listings, detailing festivals from all over the UK that range from a few hundred to a few hundred thousand attendees. This will help you shortlist several festivals that attract a level of custom you think you can manage. <\/span><\/p>\n

When assessing which festivals to apply for, consider your target market and compare this to their usual audience. If your food business specialises in fine dining and delicacies, larger scale festivals may not be the best option as convenience food is the top priority. Similarly, if trendy street food is your expertise, a traditional festival celebrating local acts and products may not yield great results.<\/span><\/p>\n

Find Out What\u2019s on Trend <\/b><\/h3>\n

Your food business may cater to a variety of food tastes. If this is the case, do some research and find out what\u2019s in demand at the festival you are looking to attend. Festival forums, such as <\/span>efestivals.co.uk<\/span><\/i>, can provide valuable insight for both first-time and experienced business owners. For example, if you come across conversations requesting healthier food choices at festivals, you may want to reflect this in your menu. Offer healthy food options and consider displaying the nutritional or calorie information alongside it. Small additions like this will help to set you apart from the rest of the vendors. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, you need to assess your realistic budget, the clientele you cater for and the amount you will have to sell to make a profit. We\u2019ll talk more about costs in the next section. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Costs of Setting Up a Festival Food Stall<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Festival food stall costs range from a fixed basic price plus VAT or a percentage (around 20%) of your net takings, depending on which is greater. <\/span><\/p>\n

Basic fixed prices can range from \u00a3300 to over <\/span>\u00a310,000.<\/span><\/a> These costs will have to be paid in full before the event. There are several factors affecting the price, including:<\/span><\/p>\n