Mobile Food Trucks Revitalised

They have existed in the US for decades and have a sub culture following, but more recently the iconic street food trucks have gone gourmet and with a fan base managed and promoted through social media. The US has seen local communities and cities really embrace the new age of upscale mobile food trucks such as the taco truck Kogi Korean BBQ with a Korean twist,  Big Green Truck serving Italian wood fire pizza, Dessert Truck serving luscious desserts and America's first "bustarant" named World Fare.

The culture has become so popular that even mobile apps are popping up such as Food Truck Fast Pass which connects food trucks with their fans and broadcasts their location, daily specials and sold out items. The strEATS mobile app maps out the sites of Washington DC's favorite food trucks and street eats locations.

It was only time that other parts of the globe would catch onto the rejuvenated and exciting new mobile food culture. In Australia this week, Sydney City Council Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced 10 successful businesses that are to service the Sydney area with mobile food trucks.

Over 30 operators lodged applications and went through the formal compliance process which involved finishing off with a cook off. The 10 successful operators are:

Agape, Al Carbon, Bite Sized Delights, Burger Theory, Cantina Mobil, Eat Art Truck, Lets Do Yum Cha, Taco Truck, Tsuru and Veggie Patch.

Foodie entrepreneurs its time to introduce the mobile food culture to your corner of the globe!

Ultimate Mile-High Club

There are some real over the top business ideas that we have seen over the years but this concept probably takes the cake.

Belgian company Dinner in the Sky offers event organisers a new option for their events that will shock and awe its clients and guests. Dinner In the Sky as the name suggests, host events such as weddings, dinners and entertainment events suspended via a crane 50 meters above cities in 40 countries around the world.

Their latest platform is more like a real restaurant. Patrons are seated in a roller coaster style seating with a seat belt and are served by waiters and chefs while they enjoy the view and experience. The platform can be customised to varies formations from one large table to 8 tables with 4 guests per table situated around a central bar.

Festivals are going to new levels to attract punters by adopting this concept. In an Australian first, an airborne bar named the Ele[V]ator will hold 20 fans suspended 50 meters above the concert crowd via a crane. On the 26th February 2012, as part of the Soundwave 2012 festival in Sydney, Foxtel TV music Channel [V] will be hosting the airborne suspended bar which will rotate above the crowd allowing high flying punters to look down onto the band stage.

Access to the Ele[V]ator is invitation only, via a competition run by Channel [V] through social media. Great innovative marketing and PR by Channel [V] at the same time providing shock and awe experience to punters and fans they will never forget.

Brands, great PR idea for your next major event!

Football Team Managed By Fans

Back in April 2011, we spotted the "crowdsourcing a concert" concept where music fans direct song list order and what videos get projected on stage for their favourite band. Well it appears that similar crowdsourcing concept is going strong and is showing no sign of slowing down in the sporting arena.

In Mexico, the Murcielagio Football club from Guamuchil which plays in the Mexican football second division national league takes the concept to another level. The team has no coach/trainer but are managed by the fans who use SMS and the club's website to manage the team.

Whenever a decision is required, a voting system is used by fans to make the decision. The fans make decisions such as, basic team line-up, substitutions, what players to chat with at half time along with player of the match who then earns a financial bonus. 

Perfect example of embracing the crowdsourcing concept where the crowd drives decisions and truly impacts on the outcome.

Have you thought about how your business can embrace a similar concept?