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Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Festival food trucks: ‘People definitely think you're making more money than you are. Sometimes you just break even'
Freshly shucked oysters. Kombucha stations. Filipino adobo. Acai bowls. Vegan spice bags. It sounds like a line-up from a fancy food event, but these are just some of the things I ate last year at Irish music festivals: the quality of the food they offer has soared over the past decade. So have the prices, however. When a typical festival feed is edging close to €20, what exactly are you paying for? Turns out it's a lot more than just food. Full disclosure before we delve into things. I'm a festival worker as well as a food-and-drink writer. Since Electric Picnic's Theatre of Food debuted, Irish festivals have used food stages as an additional draw. And lots of us writers host and book these food-and-drink stages. It has also meant that, over the years, I've been asked to help find food trucks and traders. But I soon discovered that this is not my forte. It involves much more than knowing about good food. Sourcing food traders for festivals requires a unique skill set: knowing how many traders are needed, what customers will want to eat, when they'll want it and whether the traders' set-ups can handle the pressure of feeding thousands of people in a field over a long weekend. That's when someone like Vanessa Clarke, a stalwart of Irish food, steps in. She has been booking traders since the very first Electric Picnic, in 2004, when John Reynolds , the festival's late founder, tasked her with filling the fields without relying on the usual event fast-food vendors. 'He told me food is a headline act: we've got to look after our food.' READ MORE Since then, food's role has grown so much that traders' names often appear on posters alongside those of music acts, adding another layer of buzz. Will Rolfe, music booker and curator of Forbidden Fruit , In the Meadows and All Together Now , agrees. 'Our audiences expect a quality and considered programme,' he says. 'For me, food and music are two things that are unavoidable, so it's worth getting both right.' He notes how food shapes a festival's reputation and talks about the word-of-mouth that spreads about who's serving the best grub in the same way people might talk about which bands they've seen. Food's headline status might make it sound like all fun and good craic, but, as Clarke says, 'Trading at a festival is really, really hard work. You need huge stamina and must be prepared to take a gamble.' That gamble is something Kwanghi Chan of the Bites food truck knows only too well. After years of festival trading, he now only picks events he knows will be successful. He charges about €17 per meal. 'It's not just the food you pay for,' he says. 'There's insurance, fire certificates, trailer servicing, staff welfare. Costs add up, so prices have to reflect that.' We are festival folk, and we were sick of seeing some of the rubbish offerings – people just taking frozen burgers and chips out of a box and chucking them in a fryer. If you are there to have a good time, you need some good nourishment, and that's what we are all about Last year at All Together Now, his meals of dumplings and spice bags were a big hit, drawing constant queues and fans, myself included. Next door to Bites was the equally busy Bahay , a Filipino food truck. As Alex O'Neill, one of its founders, points out, busy doesn't always mean profitable. Bahay became a firm festival favourite after bursting on to the scene five years ago, yet this summer they've largely stepped back from festival life. 'It's just become unsustainable,' she says. 'Everything – festival costs, food and labour – has gotten too expensive. We can't make it viable any more.' Theatre of Food at Electric Picnic As an avid festivalgoer herself, O'Neill worries that the vibrant Irish festival food scene is under threat. 'It used to be a place where smaller, independent businesses could get a start, but soaring costs are hitting them hardest. It's a real shame, because festival crowds want good food – they need it – and without it the whole experience suffers.' The struggle to balance quality and costs is something Matt Murphy and Seán Hussey know all too well. Four years ago they launched BishBosh Kitchen . 'We are festival folk, we love it, and we were sick of seeing some of the rubbish offerings – people just taking frozen burgers and chips out of a box and chucking them in a fryer. If you are there to have a good time, you need some good nourishment, and that's what we are all about.' With at least 12 music festivals lined up this summer, they've felt firsthand the pinch of rising expenses, from the prices of ingredients for their signature pomegranate garnish, which have tripled, to wildly fluctuating electricity costs. For them every event is a gamble. 'The spot you end up in and the Irish weather can make or break a weekend,' they say. Their prices, inevitably, have to reflect these realities. [ Electric Picnic food: Is it really overpriced or is there more to it? Opens in new window ] Philly O'Neill, who runs the Salty Buoy food truck with Niall Sabongi , knows this gamble well, too. After being stung by a bad location in past years, he's more cautious about which festivals to take on. Specialising in fresh Irish seafood and €20 lobster rolls, the Salty Buoy's offering isn't cheap; the ingredients, of course, are part of that, but O'Neill also cites needing skilled staff, not casual event workers, to handle delicate tasks such as oyster shucking. 'People definitely think you're making more money than you are. Sometimes you just break even,' he says. But, for now, he can still see the value of being at music festivals such as All Together Now. 'It's good to be seen there, and we think the demographic will suit us. It's a crowd that enjoys food.' Philly knows this crowd well, because he's one of them. When he's off duty at a festival, he plans his food line-up with the same care as his music schedule. 'You scope the whole arena on day one and decide what you're going to eat over the weekend,' he says. For him, and many others, food is a highlight between the acts. So here's a thought for your next festival trip: don't just map out the bands; map out your meals, too. Seek out the independents if you can, because you're not just paying for a bite: you're also supporting a struggling Irish food scene. And who knows? You might just discover your new favourite dish between the dancing. Festival food prices: A very rough guide A whole load of costs are involved in providing festival food. Here's an approximate breakdown of the price you pay. Festival fees: 20-30 per cent The festival might charge a pitch fee, take a percentage of your sales, or both. Many of them see taking a percentage of sales – typically from 20 per cent upwards – as fairer than a big upfront pitch fee. Electricity is a big expense on top of that (and seems to cost more at the bigger events). Each plug you need comes at a cost; vendors might also need to hire a refrigerated van. Staffing: 20-25 per cent Most are paid per hour, hours are long and the minimum wage is €13.50 an hour. Traders might also pay for staff travel, cover camping costs and feed their team while they're on site. Overheads: 10-15 per cent Trading at a festival also involves extras costs such as taking out insurance, servicing your trucks or marquee, making sure every cert and health-and-safety requirement is up to scratch, and funding travel to and from the festival. Ingredients: 20-30 per cent The cost of the food itself varies, depending on the type and quality of the ingredients, but it will typically be about the same as the festival fees that a trader pays.
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Aviva chair appointed president of the Institute of Directors
Aviva Life and Pensions chairwoman Helen Nolan has been appointed president of the Institute of Directors (IoD). IoD, which is the membership body for directors and business leaders, made the announcement at its annual general meeting on Tuesday. Ms Nolan replaces John Reynolds who has held the position for the last two years. Ms Nolan is also a non-executive director of US-listed fresh produce company Dole and of Companjon Insurance, where she chairs the audit committee. READ MORE A KPMG-trained chartered accountant, she has held several senior roles with Bank of Ireland, including group secretary, group chief internal auditor, and divisional finance officer for the capital markets division. 'As the commitment of being a director and business leader evolves and expands, with technological advances driving transformational changes in businesses, IoD will be there to support the needs and concerns of its members,' said Ms Nolan. 'Our ambition is for Ireland to be considered an exemplar of corporate governance. We will continue to instil stakeholder trust and confidence in organisations by educating, informing, and supporting directors and business leaders. 'I would also like to acknowledge former president John Reynolds for his leadership and commitment to IoD Ireland over the last two years. 'I look forward to working with the IoD executive and council in supporting our members while we deliver what directors need to lead in times of ceaseless change. 'By championing innovation, lifelong learning, and good governance we can help shape a dynamic future of Irish business from the inside out.' Mr Reynolds said: 'I would like to express my appreciation of the work and commitment of each of the members of our council and executive during my tenure as president. 'I am delighted to pass on the baton to Helen and watch IoD Ireland continue to go from strength to strength.'
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New measure to support small businesses unveiled
A new measure to help support small and medium-sized businesses has been unveiled by a government minister. Business secretary John Reynolds said the government would create a board of experts to help firms export their products and grow the economy. He told BBC South East during a visit to Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex that the Board of Trade would not be filled with "dry academics", but people with "practical experience and brilliant business backgrounds". However, local record shop owner James Anderson said he would prefer to see financial assistance from the government. He added the focus should instead be on business rates relief rather than international sales. Mr Reynolds said the government was "tackling the real issues that businesses are struggling with". Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Kent's hospitality industry fears 'last straw' Factories tell of struggle to recruit young people Department for Business and Trade
