MEET NYFTA

The New York Food Truck Association, NYFTA, is a collection of New York’s top street food vendors: a diverse, vetted group of culinary professionals who operate in the five boroughs of NYC, Long Island, and Westchester. 

We believe that food brings people together, which is why we are committed to connecting New Yorkers to our members for unique food truck catering experiences, while at the same time, working diligently to protect New York’s iconic street food culture through our advocacy work. 

Above all else, we are community-driven— always aspiring to sustain high-quality food, enforce street safety, and elevate the overall food truck experience. 

Branded promotion example banner

Food Truck Catering

NYFTA focuses on full-service mobile catering. We curate unique, memorable experiences by connecting clients to a wide array of local food truck vendors. Boasting over 100 members, we provide endless options in food trucks and cuisines, sure to satisfy any craving and elevate any event. 

The events we cater range from weddings, birthday parties, and bar mitzvahs to corporate and employee appreciation events, happy hours, and festivals. Whatever your event, we have the solution.

Project Cycle

Here’s how it works

Give Us Details
1

Give us details

date, time, location, and number of people

Pick your cuisines
2

Pick your cuisines

from 50+ premium food trucks with eclectic menu variations.

Customize your experience
3

Customize your experience

by designing your own menu board, or adding on interactive elements such as a photo booth

Sit back relax
4

Sit back, relax

and enjoy your event while we ensure seamless execution

Concept development
1

Concept development

whether it’s a detailed marketing plan or a big idea you need help polish, we will collaborate with you to ensure your vision comes to life.

Location selection
2

Location selection

we know NYC and can ensure you reach your target audience in optimal high traffic locations.

Truck Customization
3

Customization

endless customization possibilities, from a unique wrap design, to custom menu development, to branded collateral and so much more!

Branded Truck Promotions
4

Execution

we’re pros, which means you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your event while we ensure it goes off without a hitch. This is what we do best so sit back and relax as we ensure you have a successful event!

Advocacy and Empowerment

The New York Food Truck Association empowers local food truck businesses in two unique and important ways. 

First, NYFTA ensures that our vendors are opened to a world of new business opportunities through event catering and other streams of revenue. Because NYFTA was founded by Ben Goldberg, a former food truck owner who experienced first-hand how challenging it can be to rely solely on fickle street sales, our association is designed to ensure our vendors stay relevant and busy year-round through these catering opportunities that, in turn, empower our members to grow their businesses. 

Second, NYFTA spends a significant amount of time and resources lobbying the city and state government in order to represent the best interests of our members, as well as the food truck industry at large. When it comes to potential policy changes, rules, or regulations that have a direct impact on our members, we don’t miss a beat. NYFTA always has its finger on the pulse of the industry, so we can use our expertise to make the voices of local mobile businesses heard.

NYFTA Truck

why choose us

  • The best eats on the streets - from helping develop customized menus, to picking from our hand-selected vendors, we know good food. We offer over 50 types of cuisines, and we’ve tried everything on the menu to make sure you’ll like it just as much we do.
  • Experienced professionals - With 200+ yearly events under our belt, we can identify and prevent problems before they occur and fix those that arise unexpectedly.
  • Compliance and success - It’s more than just ensuring trucks show up on time. We handle all logistics from insurance paperwork to securing the proper permits, to managing a point of sales system.
  • Premium vendors - our members are properly insured and up-to-date on their health inspections, as well as personally vetted for food quality, cleanliness, reliability, and customer service.

nyfta faq’s

Is NYFTA a New York State Department of Education vendor? arrow

Yes, NYFTA is a licensed vendor with the New York State Department of Education.

Can your trucks accommodate food allergies? arrow

Yes! After filling out our event catering form an event coordinator from our team will reach out. Please discuss any allergies or restrictions with the event coordinator. All of our trucks have gluten and dairy-free options available.

Can I reserve a rain date? arrow

Unfortunately, we cannot schedule rain dates as trucks have to pass up other opportunities and purchase food for the event.

Can a food truck park in Central Park or near another Public Park? arrow

Yes, for a cost of around $20K we can get a permit for you to go into all NYC parks.  For smaller events, we are able to park very close to the Public Park (across the street or nearby street) but would not be able to park directly on them without permission through the parks department.

What is your cancellation policy? arrow

Given the nature of food products and other passed up opportunities by the truck, any cancellation of this contract will incur a 50% cancellation fee (based on the total contracted amount) if the cancellation occurs 14 days prior to the event. If the event is canceled within fourteen (14) days prior to the event for any reason the client will be responsible for the full amount of the contract.

Can the NYFTA provide a COI (Certificate of Insurance) for my event venue? arrow

Yes, we are able to provide a COI and you just need to provide us with the name and address of who you would like listed on the policy.

Where will the food truck park? arrow

Unless you are able to secure a location for the truck, they will park as close as possible to your desired location. If you need the truck to be in a very specific location and are unable to secure a parking spot, you can speak to us about our spot holding services ($1,000-$1,500) which can be added to your booking and will ensure a specific spot is available. Depending on the location, a special event parking permit might be required through the city and we would be able to handle that as well ($5,500). The special event parking permit would be able to fit about 4 trucks. 

What type of payments does NYFTA accept? When do payments need to be made? arrow

NYFTA can process payment via Check or ACH for no additional fee. We can also accept credit card payments but those would be subject to a 3.5% convenience fee. We require that contracts be paid in full upon signing. Our Food Truck vendors are reserving dates (in favor of other opportunities) and arrangements are immediately set in motion upon signing.

How long is my truck booked for? arrow

Typically, each booking comes with a 3-4 hour serving window. If you need the truck for an extended period of time there could be an additional fee depending on the total portions

How does the booking process work? arrow

Once we agree on the truck(s) selection and pricing, we will send over an event portal for you to review the booking and sign off in order to confirm. After that you are all set and an invoice will be sent over.

Can staff from the food truck bring food from the truck indoors? arrow

The food truck staff is not able to bring food indoors but we can add an additional staff member specifically as a runner/buser if needed (~$300-$500 per person).

Can we provide our own cutlery and/or packaging for the food trucks to serve with? arrow

Yes, the trucks can serve the food with what you provide for them at the event.

What happens if we need to go over the number of portions originally ordered? arrow

Trucks will typically bring about 15-20% buffer of food.  The trucks will seek your approval before going over any prepaid portion amount as to prevent unexpected charges after the event.  Certain options of food can eventually run out if the prepaid portion was too low in comparison to the number of guests at the event.

How big is a food truck? arrow

Trucks can vary in size but typically they are 20-24 ft long x 8.5 ft wide x 10ft tall.

Can the staff working the food truck get Covid tested before the event? arrow

Due to their busy schedules, the truck cannot get pcr tested at a testing facility. However, food trucks can come early to your event if you are able to provide on-site tests beforehand.

Can you schedule a tasting? arrow

Tastings can be difficult to schedule since most vendors are booked for private events and not regularly operating street sales. Sometimes they can be arranged with advanced notice but they are not guaranteed.

Will the food truck have any buffer food if they run out? arrow

Typically, trucks bring a 15%-20% buffer of food and can go over the prepaid portions slightly if needed on the event day. However, trucks can run out of certain options and food altogether if the prepaid portions are too low for the number of guests at the event.

Are all the menu options included for my event? arrow

On our website, you can see our individual members’ pages and their menus. For most events, we will need to limit the options to 3-4 main dishes of your choice (sides and drinks are optional and would cost extra per person). This is done in order to expedite service and to limit food waste for the vendors. If you have any special menu requests, please let us know and we will try to accommodate your needs.

How many servings can the trucks prepare? arrow

If the trucks are cooking to order they can serve ~100-150 guests per hour. For much larger events we can recommend trucks that are able to do pre-packaged meals in order to expedite service time significantly.

How far will NYFTA food truck members travel for an event? arrow

NYFTA members will generally travel within the Tri-State area, depending on location. Additional fees apply for events outside the 5 boroughs.

Can we customize the food truck for our event? arrow

It is possible to add some small signage/decorations onto the truck that can be easily removed after the event without damaging the vehicle. We would recommend using command strips and there would not be any additional charges. If you are looking for a fully branded truck, the price for this service is expensive and begins at ~20-25k. We handle those events through our sister company, Food Truck Promotions, please feel free to contact them at [email protected] for more information.

How much does a branded promotion cost? arrow

The minimum cost to produce a branded promotion is $15k, but pricing can vary depending on the scope of your project. Please fill out a form and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss your project in more detail. 

How does parking work? Do you supply permits? arrow

Although street parking in NYC can be extremely complicated, the NYFTA will work with you to find the perfect parking spot or obtain the necessary parking permit for your branded promotion.

Do you provide brand ambassadors? arrow

Yes, we believe that brand ambassadors (BA’s) can help create genuine interactions and meaningful moments for consumers interacting through the promotion. We work with a great roster of brand ambassadors who are bubbly and love sharing their passion for your product. We can provide you with as many brand ambassadors as needed for your event. Our brand ambassadors are highly trained with the latest data capture programs, so that once the activation ends, you can harness the valuable data and insight that has been collected.

What kind of customization do you do? arrow

Every aspect of our branded activations are highly customizable. We handle everything from custom wraps, to interior/exterior fabrication, branded goods and packaging, and custom menus. Our in-house culinary team can create almost any food and beverage items imaginable for the tastiest interactive experience!

How much lead time do you need for a branded promotion? arrow

Typically about 2-3 weeks prior to the start of the activation, however, every project varies in scope of work and might require additional production time. We recommend filling out our Branded Promotions Form as soon as possible so a member of our team can discuss your project in more detail.

How does the design process work? arrow

After finalizing which truck/cart would best suit your needs, our team will send you a template for your graphic designer to use when creating the graphics for your custom vinyl wrap. We are happy to design the wrap on your behalf, but additional fees will apply.

Do you secure permits? arrow

We do not help food trucks secure necessary health permits and mobile food vendor licenses.

Do you do custom build outs? arrow

We do not handle custom build outs for up-and-coming food truck owners. We only work with pre-existing food trucks that are registered with the department of health and are properly insured.

What are the benefits? arrow

NYFTA will contact you about exclusive event listings, as well as additional branded promotions opportunities as they arise. You will gain access to our vast network of food truck owners and operators in the New York area, as well as receive free marketing from the NYFTA on our social media channels. Additionally, we are always working to change the rule and regulations in favor of food truck owners, and as a member of the Association, we will fight on your behalf for these changes.

What are the fees associated with being a member? arrow

Membership to join the NYFTA is always free!

How do I become a member? arrow

If you are already an existing food truck, please complete this form and a member from our team will get back to you as soon as possible.