Somehow your menu board should be just as appetizing to your customer as when the customer sees the actual meals your food trailer prepares. No, this does not mean that you should have images of your food on your menu board, per se. Instead, your menu should be visually appealing. Close your eyes and imagine the menu of your favorite restaurant, or even fast food, in this case. Is the menu simple, bold or bright? How is the text formatted? Chances are the menu at your favorite place is aesthetically pleasing in one way or another.
So what does having a good menu have to do with your catering truck? All. Your menu lends credibility to your food, especially when a new customer stops by your mobile food stand. If your menu board is confusing, boring, or just plain ugly, you’ll lose visitors before you have a chance to convert them into customers.
Remember, your menu board is your message to your customers. Your job is to sell your meals. To use this tool effectively, the board must communicate the right messages and guide their guests to the most beneficial items.
So how should you design the menu board for your food truck?
First of all, consider the theme and concept of your truck. Is there a specific font and color scheme that you use to decorate your food trailer? If so, you may want to use them on your menu board. However, if the fonts are difficult to read in smaller letters, consider using more readable font types such as “Times New Roman” or “Arial”. The same principle applies to color; make sure the color can be easily read against the background color of the menu board.
When designing your board, you should also carefully plan your menu design. Side dishes, entrees, and desserts should be grouped into titled sections, just as they are found on restaurant menus. The description of each article should not occupy more than two lines below each title. The description area is an opportunity to describe and sell the product to the customer. It should be simple and attractive. No one wants to read a novel when they’re ordering a meal, especially at a mobile food stand.
In addition to your menu board, you may want to create printed materials to hand out to your customers when they visit your booth. These types of materials also serve as advertising promotions, since the client can show the menu to his friends or hang it at work. You can also offer a catering menu, if you want to open this opportunity for your mobile food stall. You’ll be surprised how many customers come up to you to ask if you’re open.
Here’s my take: Ask a professional graphic designer to help you with your menu. It may seem like a simple task that you want to complete on your own, and I get it. But this is a chart that all of your clients are going to see every day. And, if you create accompanying print materials, this menu will get even more exposure. It’s critical that your food truck brand is always portrayed in a positive light, especially when your delicious foods aren’t there to back it up.