James Tipping March 5, 2020

WE used to call it fast food. Those who had travelled to exotic eastern climes called it hawker food. These days it’s known as Street Food, but don’t get all grumpy-old-man over the trendy terminology, because this could help save our market places.

Street food is increasing footfall from exactly the people we’ve been missing: the younger generation. In this internet age, young folk aren’t following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents. When they want to buy something, they all too often buy online.
Happily, the proliferation of street food vendors is helping to change all that. The sights, smells and sounds of all the cuisines of multicultural Britain can be enjoyed on your local market place — and it is pulling in the younger generation. In fact it is often becoming an inter-generational affair — a family outing, no less.
Once they’re there, it’s the job of market managers and traders to keep them there. Entertainment helps and so does the banter and atmosphere of a good, old-fashioned market. That’s important, because it plays a huge part in keeping these new customers and ensuring that they see our vibrant market culture as a place they will want to return to again and again.
This is of course to be encouraged, but starting up a street food stall isn’t as easy as it sounds. If you are selling food to the public, there are a lot of hoops you’ll need to jump through. To help you get started, the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS) have kindly offered to give you some advice . . .
So you want to be a street food trader?
Most markets have some opportunities for food traders, regardless of their main focus. In recent years food-to-go has begun to play a greater role in provision at markets and has started a bit of a renaissance in the market industry.
As a new business it’s safe to assume Environmental Health officers, event organisers and insurance providers will consider you a higher risk than experienced catering businesses. If you’re just starting out it’s critical that you start the right way and trade legally, safely and profitably.
Every catering business in the UK must adhere to a series of legal requirements in order to trade:
• Register with your local authority: It is a legal requirement to register your business with the Environmental Health Department prior to trading. Mobile caterers must register with the Local Authority in which their premises are kept.
Within your first three months of trading, your Environmental Health Department will carry out an inspection of your premises to ensure that you are trading legally and safely.
• Get the right licences to trade: If you trade on public streets or roadsides, you will require a Street Trading Licence. They are not required if you operate solely on private land or at events or shows, provided the organiser is in possession of a valid licence.
• Do a Risk Assessment / HACCP: All food businesses in the European Union must have a Food Safety Risk Assessment based on HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points) principles. Members of NCASS have access to an online risk assessment tool that allows them to create Food Safety, Health & Safety, COSSH, and Fire Safety risk assessments on the fly.
• Get Food Hygiene Training: Anyone who works on your stall must receive training
• Get the right Insurance: It is a legal requirement for caterers to have Employers’ Liability Insurance if they employ one or more staff members. All caterers should also have Public Liability Insurance which protects business owners should customers or members of the public suffer personal injury or damage as the result of your business.
Nobody knows more about market traders’ insurance than our resident expert, Bill Imber (phone 01342 327250 or visit www.gmisl.co.uk).
• Get a Gas Safety Certificate: All gas equipment which is used for catering purposes must be inspected and tested annually by a gas safe engineer. This is a legal requirement.
• Hand Washing Facilities: By law, all food business must have separate hand and pot washing facilities.
Event catering
Event catering is another option for the street food vendor. There are thousands of outdoor public events across the UK every year, ranging from small community events like school fetes or village fairs, through to music festivals and sporting events.
There is definitely money in event catering, but the price of a pitch at big events can be eye-watering — and what happens if it pours with rains and the event’s a wash-out?
At the end of the day, a sensibly-priced pitch at your local markets is a safer bet — especially for newcomers.
NCASS MEMBERSHIP
The Nationwide Caterers Association is helpful to start-up catering businesses.
Find out more at
www.ncass.org.uk or
call 0121 603 2524.